The Indian housing finance market (HFM) has failed to promote housing development across the country. In its desire to stabilise itself mainly in the major urban areas, the HFM has largely neglected issues of the housing sector in rural and less–developed regions. Further, the financial housing needs of a large segment of the population are not being addressed. They continue to rely on informal sources for housing finance. This paper describes and analyses the major issues confronting India's HFM. It offers policy options to make the HFM more effective in addressing the hitherto neglected segment, the rural and less–developed region.
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