2026 Mortgage Trends: What’s Shaping India’s Market?

Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I'm a Chartered Accountant and an Associate Life Member of the Institute of Directors, with 18 years of hands-on experience in the mortgage industry. Over the years, I've worked with both public sector undertakings and private commercial banks, including SIDBI, ICICI Bank Ltd, Aditya Birla Finance Ltd, PNB Housing Finance Ltd, ICICI Housing Finance Ltd, and Aavas Financiers Ltd. My work has taken me across Karnataka and much of Maharashtra, where I've managed a wide range of mortgage products—primarily home loans (HL), loan against property (LAP), and various segments like Prime, Affordable, and Urban Local Bodies (ULB). I've also played a key role in launching new business locations for PNBHFL, ICICIHFC, and Aavas Financiers Ltd, giving me end-to-end experience in setting up branches, driving growth, and managing portfolios. Currently, I lead an investment banking firm called InvestArc Corporate Advisors LLP, where we focus on fundraising through private equity, venture capital, venture debt, M&A, and NPA resolution.

Q2. From your experience underwriting mortgage borrowers, what is one early warning signal that investors may be missing when they look at …