For Indian homebuyers planning space for children, parents, and everyday life, one factor matters more than ever: the availability of larger homes. And right now, Delhi is clearly ahead of the pack.
New research by eXp India shows that two out of every three homes listed for sale in Delhi are suitable for families. Nearly 66.1 percent of properties currently available in the capital offer at least three bedrooms, making it the most family-friendly housing market among major cities studied.
The study looked at current listings across leading urban centres and measured how many homes qualify as “family-sized”, defined as properties with a minimum of three bedrooms. The results underline how sharply housing choice can differ from city to city, especially for buyers seeking more space.
Ahmedabad, Surat and Kolkata Offer Strong Alternatives
After Delhi, Ahmedabad takes the second spot with 53.7 percent of listings offering three bedrooms or more. The city’s steady expansion, lower population density, and growing middle-class migration have helped maintain a healthy stock of larger homes.
Surat and Kolkata follow close behind, with 45.9 percent and 44.9 percent of homes respectively qualifying as family-sized. Both cities continue to attract buyers looking for bigger layouts at more reasonable prices compared to the larger metros.
These markets reflect a broader trend across many Tier-2 and emerging Tier-1 cities, where land availability and planned development still allow for spacious housing formats.
Southern and Northern Markets Show Balanced Supply
Several large cities fall into what can be called the “balanced supply” zone. Bengaluru (43.1 percent), Hyderabad (43.2 percent), Kanpur (42.3 percent), and Jaipur (40.7 percent) all show meaningful availability of family-friendly homes.
In these cities, rapid job creation and expanding infrastructure have pushed housing development outward into suburban and peripheral zones. This shift has helped maintain a steady supply of larger homes even as population density in traditional urban cores has increased.
Lucknow, with 38.1 percent, and Pune at 33.7 percent, still offer reasonable options for families, though competition for spacious homes is clearly rising.
Where Family-Sized Homes Are in Short Supply
At the lower end of the spectrum are cities where space is becoming an expensive luxury. Chennai has only 27.8 percent of listings classified as family-sized, while Nagpur stands at 28.9 percent and Indore at 23.6 percent.
The tightest markets, however, are Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Only 25.5 percent of homes in Mumbai qualify as family-sized, while Navi Mumbai records the lowest share at just 17.7 percent. High land costs, intense vertical development, and shrinking apartment sizes have steadily reduced choices for larger households in these dense urban centres.
For families in these markets, the trade-off is becoming increasingly stark: central location versus adequate living space.
Why Family Needs Are Shaping Housing Choices
According to Sam Chopra, family dynamics continue to be one of the strongest forces shaping buyer behaviour today.
He notes that buyers preparing for children or living with multi-generation households often find themselves needing to upsize sooner than planned. These life-stage shifts influence not just the configuration of homes people seek, but also the cities they are willing to consider.
The effect is visible in migration patterns as well. Families are more open to relocating to cities that offer better space, infrastructure, education, and lifestyle at a manageable cost.
A Global Pattern, Reflected in India
What is happening in Indian cities mirrors a broader global trend. Across international housing markets, family requirements often drive both domestic moves and cross-border relocations. Buyers moving countries look beyond jobs alone and closely examine school access, healthcare, neighbourhood safety, and availability of spacious homes.
Through its global network, eXp enables buyers to tap into local market knowledge across regions. Whether families are moving within India or shifting from overseas, access to on-ground expertise has become a key decision-making tool.
What This Means for Developers and Buyers
The sharp variation in family-sized housing availability carries clear signals for developers and policymakers. In space-constrained metros like Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, the pressure to innovate with larger layouts and better community planning will only grow. In contrast, cities such as Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad may continue to attract family buyers seeking better value and livable space.
For buyers, the message is equally clear. Families prioritising space will increasingly look beyond traditional high-cost metros to markets that balance infrastructure, affordability, and housing size.
As India’s urban population grows and household structures evolve, the demand for three-bedroom and larger homes is only likely to rise. And for now, Delhi is setting the pace in the national race for family-friendly housing.
