Mumbai, October 22, 2026: Sixty-one percent of Indian respondents intend to purchase overseas property for rental income and capital appreciation, according to a joint survey by Knight Frank India and IREX. The study, released on Thursday, highlights that investment returns are a primary driver in international residential property decisions among resident Indians.
The survey, titled “Keys Beyond Borders,” found that overseas real estate now accounts for 13% of respondents’ wealth portfolios, up from about 5% a decade ago. Real estate as a whole makes up 45% of total wealth allocation, with 32% in domestic property. Eighty-four percent of respondents already own property overseas, while 16% are prospective first-time buyers.
Preferred destinations and investment motivations
Indian buyers’ preferences span the Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America, with the UAE, Greece, Thailand, Portugal, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Bali (Indonesia), Canada, and Malaysia among the top choices. Other markets such as Georgia, Cyprus, Malta, and Latvia are also attracting interest, often influenced by residency programmes, investment potential, and lifestyle factors.
Residency and Golden Visa opportunities rank as the most important factor influencing overseas property purchases, followed by portfolio diversification, currency hedging, business expansion, tax benefits, children’s education, and lifestyle improvement. The findings indicate that overseas property acquisitions are increasingly viewed as part of a broader wealth and investment strategy, not just for financial returns.
Buyer profile and property preferences
Business owners, traders, and industrialists make up 53% of respondents, while corporate executives and working professionals represent 30%, up from 7% a decade ago. First-generation entrepreneurs account for 11%. Seventy-six percent of respondents are between 35 and 50 years old, underscoring the relevance of wealth creation and long-term financial planning in overseas property decisions.
In terms of property type, 69% of respondents prefer apartments and condominiums, followed by villas and townhouses at 26%, penthouses at 4%, and branded residences at 1%. Most buyers (85%) plan to invest between USD 250,000 and USD 1 million. Property size is also a key consideration, with 76% seeking homes between 1,500 and 2,500 sq ft—49% in the 2,000–2,500 sq ft range and 27% in the 1,500–2,000 sq ft category.
Remittance trends and regulatory context
Property-related remittances by Indian residents for overseas purchases rose 64% year-on-year to USD 528.70 million in FY2025–26, compared to USD 322.82 million in FY2024–25. This increase occurred even as overall outflows under the Reserve Bank of India’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) declined by about 2% during the same period. Property-related remittances accounted for around 1.8% of total LRS outflows.
The survey’s findings are based on stated purchase intentions and reflect the core investible market, excluding trophy or ultra-prime assets. All funding is assumed to comply with LRS, FEMA, and applicable tax rules in India and destination countries. Respondents include buyers and intermediaries, but the sample does not represent all resident Indian buyers.
Industry perspectives
Shishir Baijal, International Partner, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India, said the report maps destinations buyers may consider within the LRS framework and highlights the importance of evaluating each market against individual investment objectives, budgets, and regulatory considerations.
Lavanya Anand, Event Director at IREX, noted, “The growing interest among Indian buyers in overseas real estate reflects a more considered approach to global property ownership, where investment potential, residency options and lifestyle aspirations intersect.” Anand added that the collaboration with Knight Frank India builds on earlier research and examines how investment preferences and trends have evolved since 2017.
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