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Indian investors are shifting from traditional real estate ownership to Category II AIFs, seeking diversification, transparency, and higher returns.
News18
Authored by Binitha Dalal, Founder & Managing Partner, Mt. K Kapital: For decades, real estate has stood as a pillar of wealth preservation for Indian investors. Its ability to withstand inflation, combined with the security of a tangible asset, made it a go-to choice for those seeking long-term capital appreciation. For a long time, owning real estate—be it a home or a commercial unit—was more than just a financial decision; it was a personal milestone, a mark of stability and success.
While the asset class still enjoys a reputation for being dependable, the way people engage with it is beginning to change. Investors are rethinking the conventional route of outright ownership. There’s a growing preference for models that combine flexibility with lower capital commitments, while also spreading risk and enabling portfolio diversification. This shift reflects a broader appetite for smarter, more adaptive ways to engage with real estate.. Increasingly, investors—particularly high-net-worth individuals and family offices—are shifting focus from outright ownership to more structured and professionally managed avenues.
A New Way to Engage with Real Estate
Category II Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) are emerging as a preferred option for sophisticated investors looking to access real estate in a more efficient manner. Backed by SEBI regulations, these funds open up access to real estate through structured instruments—be it secured debt, mezzanine financing, or equity stakes—offering the potential for strong returns without the day-to-day involvement of managing property.
What truly sets them apart is not just exposure to the asset class, but how thoughtfully they’re designed. With an emphasis on institutional-grade diligence, transparency, and governance, these funds provide a way to stay invested in real estate while aligning more closely with modern investment goals and risk appetites.
Real Assets with Built-In Protections
One of the key advantages of Category II AIFs lies in how their investments are secured. These are not speculative bets. In many cases, investments are backed by land parcels, receivables, or anticipated project cash flows—providing a level of downside protection that individual buyers rarely enjoy. This offers investors the comfort of asset-backed exposure, with significantly reduced risk.
Cost structures also look favourable. While a ₹1 crore minimum investment may seem high, it often compares favourably against the outlay required to purchase quality real estate in top cities—especially when you factor in stamp duty, GST, registration charges and brokerage fees. More importantly, with AIFs, a larger portion of the capital is actually deployed into investment rather than ancillary costs.
The Collective Advantage
Unlike individual investors negotiating in isolation, AIFs pool capital and deploy it at scale. This collective bargaining power allows fund managers to secure better entry terms, enforce stricter covenants, and reduce capital risk across transactions. The size of the fund becomes a strategic advantage, enhancing the quality and security of each deal.
Investors also benefit from a low-intervention experience. Once committed, they are removed from the day-to-day hassles associated with real estate—whether it’s tracking construction progress, managing tenants or handling legal documentation. All such activities are managed by seasoned professionals, ensuring that investors remain focused on outcomes rather than operations.
Spreading Exposure, Managing Risk
A key strength of AIFs is diversification. A single fund can allocate capital across multiple geographies, developers, and project types—mitigating concentration risk and smoothing out potential underperformance in any single asset. This multi-asset approach is difficult to replicate through direct ownership, where capital is often locked into one project or location.
When it comes to returns, these funds often target internal rates of return (IRRs) in the range of 14 to 18 percent—far higher than what we typically see in most of the direct residential estate investment across India. What sets them apart is their dual approach, designed to offer a fixed return on investment along with a project performance-linked return, giving investors a more well-rounded return profile.
A Measured, Structured Approach to Real Estate
For those keen on maintaining exposure to real estate without getting involved in the operational complexities, Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) offer a thoughtful alternative. These vehicles allow investors to participate in the market through professionally managed structures that aim to balance risk, enhance transparency, and ease the overall investment journey.
One of the key advantages is the added clarity around liquidity. While real estate has always been a long-term game, these funds typically run on defined timelines—usually between four to six years—with planned exit strategies built in. Some also allow for secondary transfers, giving investors the option to unlock liquidity mid-cycle if needed. It may not offer the instant flexibility of mutual funds, but compared to selling property in a soft market, it’s a much more predictable and efficient route.
Real Estate Investing, Reimagined
Category II AIFs represent a shift in how serious investors are approaching real estate. They combine the resilience of a traditional asset with the agility and professionalism of modern investment frameworks. As India’s financial landscape continues to mature, investors are increasingly seeking transparency, scale, and control—all of which these funds are structured to deliver.
Traditional ownership will continue to have its place, particularly for end use or legacy planning. But for those who prioritise capital efficiency, diversification and institutional-grade execution, the AIF route is fast becoming the more intelligent way to participate in the Indian real estate opportunity.
Authored by Binitha Dalal, Founder & Managing Partner, Mt. K Kapital
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.
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