Rajdarbar Realty’s Radheecka Rakesh Garg on women shaping global real estate capital

For Radheecka Rakesh Garg, Director at Rajdarbar Realty, understanding how capital flows into real estate is central to evaluating opportunities in the sector. Within that landscape, one of the most significant changes taking place globally is the growing financial influence of women.Women today control roughly one third of global investable wealth1 in the European and United States, and their share of financial assets is expected to expand significantly in the coming decade. Research by McKinsey suggests that assets controlled by women in major economies such as the United States and Europe could approach 40 to 47 percent of total wealth by 20301.For long-term asset classes such as real estate, this shift has meaningful implications.

“Real estate markets ultimately reflect the priorities of the investors allocating capital,” Garg says. “As more women participate in investment decisions and wealth allocation, their capital becomes part of the forces shaping how property markets develop.”Women and the changing dynamics of property investmentWomen are becoming increasingly visible participants in property markets not only as homeowners but also as investors building diversified portfolios.

Globally, the amount of financial wealth controlled by women has been growing faster than overall global wealth, rising by about 51 percent between 2018 and 2023 compared with 43 percent growth in total financial wealth1. This expanding financial influence is gradually translating into greater participation in long-term asset classes such as real estate.Property remains one of the most preferred investment assets for wealth preservation and income generation.

As women gain greater control over financial assets and investment portfolios, property markets are increasingly becoming part of their long-term wealth strategies.For Garg, this shift reflects a broader change in how real estate is perceived within modern investment portfolios.“Real estate is no longer viewed only as ownership,” she explains. “Investors increasingly approach property as a structured asset that can generate income, preserve capital and benefit from long-term economic growth.”India’s real estate market in a strong investment cycleAt the same time, India’s real estate sector is entering a period of strong investment activity. Institutional investments in Indian real estate reached a record $8.5 billion in 20252, reflecting growing participation from domestic capital, private equity and global investors. Strong economic growth, rising consumption and large-scale infrastructure expansion are reinforcing investor confidence across the residential, commercial and retail property segments. For Garg, the growth of institutional capital has also changed how the sector operates.“Real estate today is far more integrated with capital markets than it was even a decade ago,” she says. “Developers increasingly have to think about how assets perform as long-term investments rather than simply how projects sell.”Infrastructure expansion driving property demandIndia’s large-scale infrastructure development is another key factor shaping property markets.

Transportation corridors, logistics networks and new economic clusters are reshaping where residential and commercial demand emerges.When infrastructure expands, economic activity tends to follow. Property markets grow around employment hubs, business districts and emerging consumption centres.“Real estate demand ultimately follows economic activity,” Garg notes. “Understanding where infrastructure investment and employment growth intersect is critical when evaluating real estate opportunities.”Looking Ahead: The next decade of real estateLooking forward, Garg believes the next phase of real estate development will be shaped by the interaction between infrastructure expansion, institutional capital and evolving investment behaviour.“Infrastructure projects are redefining how property markets develop,” she says. “Transportation networks, logistics corridors and emerging economic clusters are creating entirely new zones of demand.

Developers who understand these shifts will be best positioned to identify future real estate opportunities.”At the same time, the industry is gradually moving toward a more investment-driven model.“As institutional capital continues to grow within property markets, developers increasingly need to operate as long-term asset managers,” Garg explains. “Asset performance, tenant stability and long-term value creation are becoming central to how projects are evaluated.”Real estate markets have always followed capital. As women take a greater role in wealth management and investment decisions, their capital allocation choices are increasingly influencing where property markets grow and which developments move forward. In an industry where long-term investments shape infrastructure and economic growth for decades, this expanding role of women as real estate capital allocators is becoming an important force shaping the future of property markets.The article has been contributed by Radheecka Rakesh Garg, Director at Rajdarbar Realty.References:Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.