With Goa’s real estate sector attracting national and international attention, its architecture is experiencing a quiet revolution. Originally defined only by Portuguese-era residences, laterite stone walls, and long verandahs, Goa is experiencing an influx of new developments most of them guided by the impulse to preserve the essence of Goan design while accepting the demands of today’s residents and visitors. The state has emerged as a magnet for city professionals, NRIs, and hospitality investors who desire homes and spaces that blend cultural flavor with modern-day functionality.

Sunil Sisodiya, Founder & Chairman, Neworld Developers said, “This changing demand is transforming the way architects and developers design. Instead of replacing Goa’s visual and material heritage, numerous new projects today reinterpret it sensitively maintaining pitched tiled roofs, old courtyards, arched windows, and earth tones, but combining them with open-plan living, intelligent infrastructure, and sustainable elements such as solar integration and passive cooling mechanisms. The outcome is a built form that has a Goan sense of being but is solidly based on contemporary lifestyle requirements.”

The Emergence of Contextual Real Estate

The most fascinating thing about Goa’s real estate transformation is its increasing focus on contextual design particularly in sought-after belts such as Assagao, Moira, Aldona, and Siolim. In these pockets, homes are being conceptualized not to be noticed, but to be part of. Developers are hiring local artisans and using local materials such as red laterite, timber, and terra cotta tiles to make buildings merge with their environment. It’s not solely for aesthetics; it also provides climatic benefits. The use of courtyards promotes ventilation, deep verandahs minimize solar heat gain, and porous materials make buildings breathe in Goan tropical conditions.

Purchasers are reacting favorably to this story. While buying second homes or villas with hospitality in mind, they are focusing on identity rather than bling. A home that is reminiscent of a Goan village house instead of one lifted from an urban metro is likely to appeal to today’s mindful investor. Indeed, homes are increasingly being sold on the basis of their heritage-driven architecture and local finesse. This change has created a real estate segment in which tradition is both a design language and a market differentiator.

Fusion of Culture and Commerce

“Tourism has long been the hub of Goa’s economic narrative, and now it is impacting real estate in unforeseen ways. Travelers increasingly demand experiential stays over cookie-cutter hotels, and this has precipitated a proliferation of heritage-style villas as well as culturally authentic homestays. These developments, commonly in restored or revivalist structures, are intended to provide something beyond comfort—they provide story. They mirror the ground that they occupy and the neighborhood they are in. This need, in turn, makes developers create through a design-first, culture-aware process.” Mr Sisodiya added.

Public heritage areas such as Fontainhas in Panaji still act as points of reference—reminding the market what architectural continuity is about. Culture festivals, walking tours, and conservation operations within these precincts are not only saving Goa’s aesthetic heritage but also influencing modern development throughout the state.

Ultimately, the future of Goa’s real estate is not nostalgia versus newness—it’s about intersection. By embracing architectural design that honors history while meeting current demands, Goa is establishing a real estate paradigm that is unique in India: one that develops profitably, aesthetically, and responsibly. The state’s changing skyline might be evolving—but its heart remains roots-deep within its past.

Sanguem, July 4, 2025: Supporting the Government of Goa’s inclusive governance drive, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C) under the leadership of Hon’ble Minister Shri. Rohan A. Khaunte spearheaded digital inclusion efforts at the Awareness & Benefit Saturation Camp held in Sanguem, as part of the nationwide “Dharti Aaba Janbhagidari Abhiyan” — India’s largest tribal empowerment campaign led by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

As part of the initiative, the Department of ITE&C distributed 22 laptops to meritorious students from Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities for the academic year 2023–24, empowering them with tools for education and digital learning.
Organised by the Directorate of Tribal Welfare, the camp brought together multiple state departments to deliver welfare schemes, health services, and digital support directly to tribal citizens.

The camp was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, and Hon’ble Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant. The dignitaries marked the occasion by lighting the ceremonial lamp, symbolizing the beginning of the event. The gathering was also graced by several other dignitaries, including Shri Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Shri Subhash Phal Dessai, Ho’ble Minister for Social Welfare; Shri Ramesh Tawadkar, Hon’ble Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly; and Shri Ganesh Gaonkar, MLA of Sanvordem Constituency and Chairman of GTDC, among others.

The Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (ITE&C) highlighted how technology is being used to promote inclusive development across tribal regions of Goa. The department showcased its digital initiatives aimed at expanding access, including free laptops for meritorious ST/SC students, ICT training for youth and homemakers under the ITKC Program, and the Goa Online and Gramin Mitra platforms that collectively provide over 200 essential e-services across the state. Officials also shared updates on the Har Ghar Fibre and BharatNet 3.0 efforts, which are expanding 4G and broadband infrastructure in rural areas, enabling better access to education, employment, and public services.

In addition, the department set up a stall at the camp, where officials engaged in one-on-one interactions with community members, explaining various digital schemes, government e-services, and the long-term benefits of digital literacy.

Beyond digital empowerment, the camp provided free health screenings and on-site welfare support, including, Free routine screenings, breast and TB check-ups, dental assessments, and PMJAY health card registrations were conducted on-site, creating an integrated service delivery model that prioritizes both connectivity and care.

This initiative forms part of the national observance of 150 years of Janjatiya Gaurav, honouring the heritage, resilience, and contributions of India’s tribal communities.
The success of the event reaffirmed Goa’s commitment to tribal welfare, inclusive growth, and digitally enabled governance, paving the way for a more connected and empowered future.

GIFT City, July 4, 2025 : Artha Global Opportunities Fund, one of the largest Category III Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) operating out of GIFT City, has announced its debut private credit investment in India. The fund has invested INR 700 crore to fund the completion of Phoenix Triton, a 2.8 million square feet commercial real estate project located in Hyderabad’s thriving financial district.

Structured as a four-year non-convertible debenture (NCD), this investment introduces a pioneering variable return model directly linked to the project’s sales performance. With a floor and cap interest rate, the returns mirror the project’s revenue cycles, effectively easing cash flow pressures on the developer while offering attractive upside potential for investors.

“As we debut the first private credit investment from our over Rs 5000 crore Artha Global Opportunities Fund we are bringing to the market innovative structures that solve for real world business challenges faced by Indian entrepreneurs. This structured funding for this Phoenix Global Spaces project will provide last-mile financing for a high-quality project nearing completion,” said Sachin Sawrikar, Managing Partner, Artha Bharat Investment Managers IFSC LLP.

The legal framework and documentation for the transaction were managed by AZB & Partners, while BSR & Co (KPMG India) advised on tax structuring.

This investment forms part of Artha Global’s three-pronged strategy, which includes:

• Investing in distressed assets in India and globally,
• Providing private credit to profitable Indian businesses requiring flexible capital, and
• Active PE-style investments, including venture debt.

Phoenix Global Spaces, a key player in Hyderabad’s real estate sector for over 24 years, claims a commanding 40% market share. Its latest development, Phoenix Triton, is set on a 3.15-acre site and will feature a G+41 floor LEED Gold-certified tower designed to appeal to modern corporate occupiers. The project incorporates smart technologies, double-height lobbies, landscaped gardens, and sky lounges with panoramic views. Other planned amenities include a Clubhouse, Sports Arena, Business Centre, 100% power back-up, and 24×7 water supply supported by rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment systems. Once completed, Phoenix Triton is expected to emerge as a premier address for Grade-A office space, reinforcing Hyderabad’s status as a top-tier business hub.

“With our deep networks in India we look forward to connecting global capital pools with entrepreneurs with innovative value creating propositions that reinforce India’s attraction on the global stage,” said Sawrikar. The transaction highlights Artha Global’s commitment to supporting real-economy businesses with bespoke capital structures that align with project realities.

Artha Global Opportunities Fund was the first distressed asset Category III AIF registered as a Foreign Portfolio Investor (FPI) with SEBI to relocate from Mauritius to India. Today, it stands among the top 10 fund managers in GIFT City by AUM, office footprint, and employee strength.

With this investment, Artha Global signals a new era in India’s private credit landscape—one that combines innovative structuring with sectoral insight to create solutions that are both growth-enabling for entrepreneurs and rewarding for investors.

India, 03rd July,2025: For nearly three decades, Springwel Mattresses have been leading India’s sleep revolution. As a new milestone, they launched their Bamboo Charcoal Mattress Range, a revolutionary product that incorporates wellness into the sleeping routine.

While natural bamboo fiber has been around for a while, Springwel has taken innovation a step further. By carefully infusing bamboo charcoal directly into the natural bamboo yarn of the mattress’s top fabric layer, Springwel ensures consumers experience the natural wellness benefits directly on their skin. This thoughtful, fabric-based approach establishes a fresh standard in comfort and hygiene, perfectly suited to the demands of today’s Indian homes. Charcoal helps dissipate static electricity and studies have shown that reducing static electricity can decrease feelings of fatigue, pain, and overall stress, potentially improving work efficiency and well-being.

The Bamboo Charcoal range is specifically designed to enhance the user’s sleep experience through different features, like the anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and odour-resistant properties that keep the mattress fresh and clean. The hypoallergenic surface is ideal for people with sensitive skin and respiratory health issues. Also, the enhanced moisture and temperature regulation improves sleep quality across all climates.

With these features, the brand new range facilitates better sleep hygiene and long-term wellbeing, two of the most important pillars of today’s home environment. It’s a strategic response to both consumer lifestyle shifts and global wellness trends.

The launch is backed by Springwel’s fully integrated manufacturing and R&D infrastructure, ensuring total control over quality, design, and material innovation. Unlike many brands, Springwel has a wide range of flat-pack mattresses. Because these mattresses are never compressed or roll-packed, it preserves structural integrity and extends product lifespan.

The product portfolio ranges from the ultra-supportive OrthoAlign with high density bonded foam layer for spinal alignment to the naturally adaptive BioSleep 100% Organic Latex Mattress. Springwel’s Bamboo Charcoal range reflects a new era of wellness-focused sleep. Crafted for everyday comfort across all sleeping styles, Dualis, with dual firmness for evolving needs, or Essential, which combines natural resilience with bamboo charcoal’s antimicrobial power, each mattress in the collection is thoughtfully engineered. For couples, Harmony combines motion isolation with hotel-like plushness, making sleep undisturbed and luxurious. This is much more than just a range; it’s more like a complete ecosystem designed to address hygiene, comfort, and evolving lifestyle demands for every kind of consumer.

Springwel also provides a 150-night risk-free trial, giving customers complete peace of mind as they explore this new standard in wellness-led sleep.

“This is more than a product launch for us; the Bamboo Charcoal range was introduced to address growing consumer demand for natural, hygienic, and wellness-centric sleep solutions, especially in a post-COVID world where hygiene and health are non-negotiable,” said Mayank Jha, CEO & Head – Digital Transformation, Springwel Mattresses

In just a short time since its launch, the Bamboo Charcoal mattress has quickly become the preferred choice for 3 out of every 4 Springwel customers, reflecting just how deeply this new range resonates with Indian consumers seeking healthier, more hygienic sleep.

Notably in a short period, the Springwel Essential mattress has emerged as one of the top-trending products in Flipkart’s mattress category, reflecting strong consumer interest in bamboo charcoal innovation and wellness-driven sleep solutions.

Beyond mattresses, Springwel is also expanding into thoughtfully designed sleep and lifestyle essentials: pillows, protectors, and an upcoming line of home furniture, each created to enhance the everyday life of the modern Indian consumer.

– by Akash Pharande, Managing Director – Pharande Spaces

Recent headlines from leading real estate consultancies, as well as commentary from self-styled experts, seem to indicate that Indian housing sales are slowing down alarmingly. They mention double-digit drops in sales volumes in all the major cities. Not surprisingly, though perhaps not intentionally, these agencies and agents have caused concern among hopeful homebuyers – is the market in bad shape? Is now not a good time to buy a home?

Let’s take a closer look at the data and market dynamics behind it and see if these fears are justified or misplaced for genuine end-users.

What the Headlines Say

– A recent report by one real estate consultancy states that there has been a 20% drop in housing sales across the country’s top seven metropolitan cities in Q2 2025 when compared to the same period last year. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) saw a 25% decline.
– Another real estate agency estimates that there was a 23% annual sales decline in Q1 2025 across nine major cities and says that this drop is because of high prices and worries about India’s economic growth.
– Yet another agency found a 19% year-on-year decline in housing sales in Q1 2025, and that there was also a 10% decline in new launches.
– The consensus, if there is one at all, seems to be that premium and luxury housing has been most affected and that unsold stock in these segments is now high and may increase further.

While most of these agencies don’t say so, the impression these figures seem to signal is that the Indian housing market is now entering a downturn phase. Others seem to imply that perhaps, aspiring homebuyers should hold put off purchases for now.

What the Data Really Means

1. This is a correction, not a crash

– We should remember that the recent slowdown comes on the heels of three years of record-breaking sales and supply infusions after the Covid-19 pandemic. These levels were in any case not sustainable, and everybody knew it.
– The current decline is the kind of market correction which always follows a massive boom. It is not a sign of systemic weakness.

2. Investors are withdrawing, not end-users

– A major part of the current drop in sales is in the premium and luxury segments, which are heavily investor-driven segments. Very simply, speculative buying has caused prices to go too high in these segments and in some areas.
– One of the real estate consultancies referred to above clearly mentions that investors make up less than 10% of housing buyers now, and that the market is primarily served by end-users — people who buy homes to live in them, not rent out or to flip for quick profits.
– The pain that these experts infer is clearly in the premium and luxury segments while it is the affordable and mid-segment housing segments that most Indian end-users focus on. In these segments, there is less supply now because most big developers started focusing on the higher-margin categories – but demand and therefore sales in them remains robust

3. End-users now enjoy much better affordability

– Home loan interest rates are on the decline – the RBI has cut the repo rate by 100 basis points this year to date, so EMIs have become much more manageable.
– There are still Government schemes such as PMAY and various state-level incentives for first-time and affordable housing buyers in any part of the country.
– In most major cities, the affordability of housing has improved to its best levels since the Covid-19 pandemic.

For example, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad (PCMC) housing affordability has improved significantly with Pune’s affordability ratio now at 22% – making it the 2nd-most affordable major Indian city after Ahmedabad. PCMC has seen an 80% rise in housing sales and a 155% increase in property values since 2020, and it remains very affordable.

In Ahmedabad, homebuyers now have to spend only 18% of their annual household income on EMIs, which is very much under the 40% affordability threshold.

Even Mumbai, notoriously the least affordable city of India, has seen its affordability ratio drop below 50% for the very first time.

Why Genuine Homebuyers Should Ignore the Headlines

1. End-users buy homes to live in them, not to turn profits

– Most homebuyers in India buy homes to live in them, not as speculative assets. The security, stability, and long-term wealth creation potential of ownership housing remains intact, regardless of what the short-term sales trends are.
– End-users are not concerned with the volatility that upsets investors – who are far more concerned about price cycles and liquidity issues.

2. End-users benefit from the current market conditions

– Many builders are now offering attractive deals, including discounts, flexible payment plans, and various add-ons, to attract end-users.
– Rental values are rising constantly in most major Indian cities, often making owning a home a lot more financially viable than continuing to live in rented homes – especially given the current interest rates and tax benefits.

3. India’s long-term fundamentals remain strong

– Our GDP growth is still very robust, and household incomes are going up. This strongly supports long-term housing demand.
– The real estate sector is growing at a CAGR of over 24%, and housing remains – by far – the most incentivized asset class in India. No other asset class offers comparable tax breaks and other financial benefits.
– Homeownership remains the most aspirational goal for most Indians, and India’s rapid urbanization, the constant increase in nuclear families, and ever-rising migration into our cities will always guarantee steady end-user demand for housing.

Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Ever

No doubt, the market slowdown that these consultancies and experts report is real. But its implications need to be understood better. We are looking at data which shows that speculative activity, especially in the luxury segments, is cooling off after an unsustainable boom. This is not a collapse in end-user demand, or a crisis in the system. For genuine homebuyers, the fundamentals remain as strong as ever.

In fact, end-users are now firmly in control of the housing market and face far less competition from investors. They have more bargaining power than ever before. For those who are looking to buy a home to live in, the current market environment is, in many ways, more favourable than ever. Let the headlines spook investors – for end-users, this is the right time to make the most important investment of their lifetimes.

Akash Pharande is Managing Director – Pharande Spaces, a leading real estate construction and development firm famous for its township projects in Greater Pune and beyond. Pharande Promoters & Builders, the flagship company of Pharande Spaces and an ISO 9001-2000 certified company, is a pioneer of townships in the region. With the recent inclusion of Puneville Commercial into one of its most iconic townships, Pharande Spaces taken a major step towards addressing Pune’s current and future requirements for fully integrated residential-commercial convenience