THE GOAN
PANAJI
With its lush green countryside and peaceful quality of life, Goa has long been a place people come to escape the rush of everyday life. A few days by the sea, long lunches, quieter mornings and the feeling that life does not have to move quite so fast. But for a growing number of people, the holiday is no longer enough. They start looking forward to making a home here. Goa is seeing growing interest from people looking to buy second homes, with the state emerging as one of the most preferred destinations in the country. A Savills India survey found that nearly 20 per cent of respondents, who were interested in buying a second home, chose Goa. Land prices, meanwhile, have risen by more than 20 per cent from pre-pandemic levels, adding another dimension to the state's property market. But rising property prices are only part of the story. Interest is also coming from India's wealthier buyers. A survey by India Sotheby's International Realty found that nearly 35 per cent of wealthy Indians planned to invest in a second or vacation home in Goa.
The demand is particularly visible in the luxury segment, where villas, apartments and serviced residences are attracting buyers looking for both comfort and investment. For those living in a crowded city, the state offers everyone something that is far more valuable than money. The sea, a slower pace, the greenery and the possibility of having a little more space are what Goa has. A second home gives people an escape from the everyday rush without having to book a hotel every time they want to get away. Perhaps this is one of the biggest changes in the way people look at a holiday home. It is no longer simply a house that remains locked for most of the year. With remote and hybrid working becoming more common, people can spend weeks or even months in Goa while continuing to work.
For some, a morning spent working from a balcony or a few hours with a laptop in a quieter part of the state is enough to make the second home feel less like a luxury and more like an extension of their regular life.
As tourism in Goa continues to draw visitors through much of the year, there is always an opportunity for homeowners to rent out their properties when they are away. A villa or apartment can therefore often serve two purposes. It can be a place for the family to stay and, when vacant, a source of rental income. This has also contributed to the demand for properties designed specifically around holiday living. Buyers are looking at villas, apartments and serviced residences that can be used personally while also having the potential to earn through short-term rentals.
There is another reason that is perhaps less about money and more about what people want from their lives. A second home in Goa can become the place where families gather during holidays, where children grow familiar with the state and where weekends become longer than they would otherwise be. For older buyers, it can even be a step towards retirement, allowing them to buy a home now and gradually spend more time here later. The idea of buying a second home is therefore changing. It is no longer about just owning another property, but for many it is about owning a different way of living.
Goa’s appeal lies in that combination. The property can be an investment, generate rental income, become a work-from-home base and, most importantly, offer a place to escape to. But the growing interest also comes with questions. As more buyers from outside Goa enter the market, property prices and land availability remain concerns, particularly for those who live and work in the state. The second-home boom may bring investment into Goa, but it is also adding another layer to an already changing property market. For now, the demand seems to be about more than holidays. People are not simply coming to Goa for a few days and leaving. Increasingly, they are looking at the state as a place where they can spend more time, invest their money and perhaps, someday, call home. For many, it is no longer just about owning property, but about having a place to return to.
