New Delhi : Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) is representing India’s real estate sector at the prestigious World Urban Forum (WUF13), being held from 17-22 May 2026, where global leaders, policymakers, financial institutions and urban development experts are deliberating on the future of housing finance, sustainable urbanisation and investment-led city development under the aegis of UN-Habitat.
Speaking at the session titled “De-Risking Housing Finance: Unlocking Private Capital for Adequate Housing at Scale,” CREDAI President, Shekhar G. Patel, said, “De-risking housing finance requires affordable housing policies that remain aligned with economic realities and evolving urban costs. Private capital will participate at scale only when housing projects remain viable for developers, financially accessible for buyers and sustainable from a lending perspective. Housing finance frameworks must therefore evolve in a way that balances affordability, project viability and long-term investment confidence.”
Highlighting how India’s affordable housing challenge is increasingly becoming a policy-definition and project-viability issue rather than a demand issue, he noted that while demand for 60-90 square metre homes remains strong, many such homes no longer qualify as affordable housing because of the Rs. 45 lakh price cap. The definition framed around 8 years ago has remained unchanged despite inflation averaging nearly 6% annually and housing prices in several cities rising by 8-10% annually. Further, excessive taxation and approval-related costs, including GST, stamp duty, infrastructure charges and approval premiums, can account for nearly 35% to 50% of the final sale value in many cases, impacting affordable housing viability and creating a growing disconnect between housing policy definitions and economic realities.
In addition to the business roundtable, Mr. Shekhar G. Patel will also participate in another key session on “Housing Market Innovation: Blending Planning and Finance for Inclusive Urban Growth,” which focuses on the relationship between urban planning systems, housing finance structures and investment-led urban expansion. The session will bring together global experts from development finance institutions, academia, policy bodies and the real estate industry.
The World Urban Forum, convened by UN-Habitat, is among the world’s leading international conferences focused on urbanisation, housing, climate resilience and sustainable city development. The platform brings together governments, multilateral institutions, private sector participants, urban experts and industry bodies to discuss the policy and financing frameworks shaping the future of cities. This year’s discussions are focusing strongly on housing accessibility, climate-linked urban risks, infrastructure financing and long-term urban resilience.
CREDAI’s participation aligns with India’s ongoing focus on expanding housing access and improving urban infrastructure under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The organisation reiterates its commitment towards supporting the government’s vision of affordable housing, planned urbanisation and sustainable real estate growth through policy collaboration, industry participation and responsible development practices across the country.