Kolkata: Kolkata Metropolitan Area recorded a moderation in home registration activity in June 2026 and across the first half of the year, with real estate consultancy firm Knight Frank India attributing the slowdown partly to cautious market behaviour during the West Bengal Assembly election period and the high base of last year.According to Knight Frank India, 26,207 apartments were registered in KMA during H1 2026, a 14% year-on-year decline from 30,582 registrations in H1 2025. Despite the fall, the consultancy noted that transaction volumes remained healthy by historical standards. June 2026 saw 3,669 home registrations, also down 14% YoY from 4,260 in June 2025, while registrations moderated 21% month-on-month from 4,641 in May 2026.The data, released by the Directorate of Registrations and Stamps Revenue and analysed by Knight Frank India, includes both primary fresh sales and secondary resale residential apartment transactions.Knight Frank India CMD Shishir Baijal stated, “Residential registrations in Kolkata moderated during H1 2026 after the exceptionally strong performance recorded in the corresponding period last year. While the market was impacted by a high base and a temporary slowdown in activity around the state election cycle, transaction volumes remained healthy by long-term standards as underlying end-user demand remains resilient. The increasing share of mid-sized and larger homes, particularly the more than 110% year-on-year growth in registrations of apartments above 1,000 sq ft during June, reflects the gradual evolution of buyer preferences towards more spacious homes.”He further felt that as market activity normalises, the continued preference for mid-sized and larger homes will remain a defining feature of Kolkata’s residential market in the near term.Mid-sized apartments continued to dominate buyer preference. Homes sized 501–1,000 sq ft accounted for 58% of registrations in June 2026, up from 42% in June 2025. The share of apartments below 500 sq ft declined sharply from 54% to 31%, while homes above 1,000 sq ft increased their share from 4% to 11%, with registrations rising 112% YoY.The H1 trend reflected a similar shift, with 501–1,000 sq ft homes forming 58% of registrations and larger homes above 1,000 sq ft accounting for 10%. North Kolkata remained the leading micro-market in June with a 37% share, followed closely by South Kolkata at 36%. The top ten locations, led by Sonarpur, Khardaha, Baranagar and Rajarhat, contributed 48% of monthly registrations.“While the temporary decline in registrations can be attributed to the state election period, which prompted many buyers to defer purchases. Also no major developer has launched any project. But the housing market has continued to demonstrate resilience. The strong performance of the premium segment highlights the city’s evolving aspirations and the growing preference for high-quality, lifestyle-oriented developments. This premiumization trend is expected to remain a key growth driver for the market,” said Credai West Bengal president Sushil Mohta.
