Rahul Yadav story is one of bold innovation, determination, and tackling real problems. As the founder of Housing.com, along with his co-founders Advitiya Sharma, Rishabh Gupta, and Varun Khandelwal, he set out in 2012 to solve a major issue in India’s real estate market: unreliable listings and lack of transparency. What began as a small idea has now grown into one of the most trusted housing platforms in the country. Housing.com changed the way people buy, sell, and rent homes by offering verified listings, easy-to-use maps, and a seamless user experience. Rahul Yadav’s vision and hard work turned a simple idea into a successful business that continues to revolutionize real estate in India.
Basic Details
| Legal Name | Locon Solutions Private Limited |
| Brand | Housing.com |
| Founder | Rahul Yadav |
| Co-Founder | Amrit Raj, Ravish Naresh, Advitiya Anil Sharma, Abhimanyu Dhamija, Snehil Buxy, Jaspreet Singh, Abhishek Anand, Vaibhav Tolia, Franco Harrison, Sanat Ghosh, Neeraj Bhunwal, Saurabh Goyal, Rishabh Agrawal, Ravish Naresh |
| CEO | Dhruv Agarwal |
| Industry | Real Estate Technology |
| Website | www.housing.com |
| Year of Founding | 2012 (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) |
| Founder Education | IIT Bombay (B.Tech, Metallurgy) |
| Valuation | Approx. $1.5 Billion (as of 2025) |
| Employees | 800+ |
| Headquarter | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Status | Active |
PERSONAL STORY: RAHUL YADAV
Rahul Yadav was born in 1989 in Khairthal, Alwar district, Rajasthan, India. Coming from a small town, Rahul had big dreams. He later moved to Mumbai for higher studies, where he pursued B.Tech in Metallurgy from IIT Bombay. Rahul’s educational background in one of India’s most prestigious institutions helped him build the technical foundation for his future ventures.
Before diving into entrepreneurship, Rahul worked in various roles, but it was his frustration with the unreliable real estate listings that led to the birth of Housing.com. Rahul, along with 11 of his friends, co-founded Housing.com in 2012 to change how people find homes. The company aimed to provide transparent and verified listings, something that was sorely lacking in the real estate market at the time.
Though the journey was not easy, Rahul’s vision, hard work, and belief in solving real problems kept him going. Despite facing many obstacles, including competition and funding issues in the early days, the team managed to create a user-friendly platform that became highly popular in India.
FOUNDING STORY: HOSUING.COM
The idea for Housing.com came from the frustration of seeing unreliable listings and the difficulty people faced when searching for homes. Rahul Yadav, along with his co-founders, wanted to solve this problem by creating a platform that provided only verified listings with accurate details.
In 2012, they launched the platform, with the goal of transforming the real estate experience in India. Initially, it was a struggle to convince users and real estate agents to trust the platform, but with consistent effort and innovation, Housing.com started gaining traction.
In the early stages, the team faced financial difficulties, but they managed to secure their first round of funding. This gave them the necessary resources to expand and improve the platform. The biggest breakthrough came when Housing.com introduced an interactive map feature, making it easier for users to search for homes in specific locations.
The journey was not without its challenges. The team made mistakes along the way, but each setback taught them valuable lessons. They learned the importance of understanding user needs and continuously improving the platform based on feedback. Today, Housing.com is one of the most trusted names in Indian real estate, helping millions of people find homes with ease and transparency.
COMPANY PROFILE: HOUSING.COM
Housing.com is an Indian online real estate platform that helps users search for properties, including apartments, houses, commercial spaces, and more. Founded in 2012, Housing.com uses cutting-edge technology to provide a transparent, easy-to-use, and reliable property-searching experience.
Services / Products Offered:
- Property Search Platform: A marketplace for residential and commercial property listings, with detailed filters like price, area, and amenities.
- Verified Listings: All listings are verified for authenticity, ensuring transparency and trust.
- Property Maps & 3D Views: Interactive maps and virtual tours of properties.
- Renting & Selling: Facilitates both rental and sale of properties.
- Home Services: Provides additional services like home loans, legal help, and interior design services.
Business Model:
Housing.com operates on a B2C model, connecting property buyers, sellers, and renters with listings. The platform generates revenue through listings, premium services, and commissions on property transactions.
Revenue Model:
- Listing Fees from property developers and real estate agents
- Premium Listings
- Commissions from property transactions (sales and rentals)
- Advertising & Brand Partnerships
Market Landscape:
The Indian real estate market is vast and growing. While platforms like Magicbricks and 99acres are competitors, Housing.com stands out due to its user-centric approach and advanced tech features like 3D property views and interactive maps.
Unique Selling Proposition (USP):
- Verified Listings
- Interactive Maps and 3D Visualizations
- User-friendly Interface
- Wide range of property types
- Transparent Information & Trustworthiness
Funding and Investment:
- 2012: Seed Funding from Angel Investors
- 2015: Raised $18 Million from Nexus Venture Partners
- 2020: Series D funding, raising $50 Million
- 2025: Valued at $500 Million
Growth Highlights:
- 2012: Launched with initial beta version
- 2013: 1 million listings
- 2015: Expansion to 30+ cities in India
- 2020: Introduced innovative property maps and 3D views
- 2025: Serves over 10 million users monthly
Team Size & Culture:
Housing.com has a team of over 500 employees. The company fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.
Mission & Vision:
Mission: To simplify the real estate search process, making property transactions transparent, accessible, and hassle-free.
Vision: To become India’s most trusted real estate platform, helping people find homes with ease and confidence.
Future Plans for Housing.com
Housing.com has big plans for the future, aiming to further enhance its position as the leader in India’s property tech space. Here are some of the future initiatives planned by the company:
- Global Expansion: Housing.com plans to extend its operations beyond India, targeting other emerging markets where the real estate sector is still growing rapidly. Expanding to Southeast Asia and the Middle East is on the roadmap.
- Enhanced AI and Data Integration: The company intends to deepen its use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to offer smarter, more personalized property recommendations. This includes predictive analytics that can help users anticipate market trends.
- Sustainability Initiatives: Housing.com is focusing on creating more eco-friendly solutions for property listings. This includes promoting energy-efficient homes and partnering with green building developers to create a more sustainable real estate market.
- Smart Property Solutions: Integrating IoT (Internet of Things) into homes listed on the platform to offer buyers a glimpse of future-ready, smart homes. This will help cater to the growing demand for technology-enabled, smart living spaces.
- Expanded Home Services: Beyond just buying and selling homes, Housing.com plans to offer a complete suite of home services, including home maintenance, interior designing, and more to provide an end-to-end solution to homeowners and renters.
PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT: RAHUL YADAAV
Financial Overview (as of 2025):
Rahul Yadav estimated net worth is $50 million, fueled by his leadership at Housing.com and his significant stake in the company. Over the years, Housing.com has grown into one of India’s most well-known real estate platforms.
Subsidiary Companies Founded:
Besides Housing.com, Rahul has been involved in several ventures aimed at revolutionizing the real estate industry, focusing on technology-driven solutions to simplify property transactions.
Investments:
Rahul Yadav has also invested in PropTech startups, particularly those that focus on improving user experiences in real estate, from AI-driven property search tools to advanced market prediction technologies.
Media and Recognition:
- Forbes India “30 Under 30”
- Economic Times Top 50 Entrepreneurs
- Housing.com won the “Best Real Estate Platform” award in 2022.
FOUNDER GUIDE
“Housing.com is more than just a platform—it’s a way to bring trust and transparency to an industry that needed it the most.” — Rahul Yadav, Founder, Housing.com
Founder Advice for Entrepreneurs: “Start by solving real problems. If your product addresses a genuine need, success will follow. Stay determined through the challenges, and never let go of your vision.” — Rahul Yadav, Founder, Housing.com
WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE STORY
Rahul Yadav Story with Housing.com teaches us that innovation doesn’t always have to be about creating something completely new; it’s about addressing existing problems in a better way. By focusing on transparency and trust in the real estate industry, he reshaped how people interact with property platforms. His story reminds us that persistence, a strong vision, and a commitment to solving real-world issues can lead to extraordinary success, even in highly competitive industries.
