Mumbai, Aug. 5 -- Changing lifestyle preferences, rather than location alone, are reshaping homebuying decisions in Chennai, according to Navin Kumar, Managing Director of Navin's, speaking at The Hindu Real Estate Summit 2026.
Participating in a panel discussion on the growth of peripheral Chennai, Kumar said consumer expectations have evolved beyond affordability, with buyers seeking thoughtfully designed homes, better amenities and an improved quality of life. He noted that areas once considered the city's outskirts have gradually become established residential locations as urban boundaries expanded.
He said developers must continue adapting home designs to changing lifestyles. Citing examples from Navin's projects, Kumar said the company has experimented with smaller kitchens to reflect changing food habits and introduced flexible multi-purpose rooms that can function as workspaces, studios or hobby rooms.
Kumar observed that younger buyers are entering the housing market earlier than previous generations, with lifestyle, convenience and proximity to workplaces emerging as key purchasing considerations.
On Chennai's urban growth, he stressed that sustainable expansion would depend on the timely execution of infrastructure projects and master plans. He said improving public transport, drainage systems and resilient infrastructure, while preserving ecological assets, would be critical to supporting the city's future development.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.