India, April 30 -- For decades, residential property has been the default real estate investment for individuals in India. It offered familiarity, emotional comfort, and the perception of long-term safety. For many households, buying a home represented not only financial security but also social progress and the creation of generational wealth. Appreciation over time, coupled with the tangibility of owning a physical asset, made residential property a natural first choice.

That equation, however, is gradually evolving.

A growing segment of investors is beginning to look beyond housing and explore commercial real estate as a complementary asset class. Office spaces, retail developments, warehousing facilities, and other income-generating...