HDFC CEO sees pickup in home loan demand in India despite rate hikes

'The economy is buoyant, the feel good factor is high, affordability is better so people are comfortable buying houses even if rates are slightly higher,' says Keki Mistry

Demand for home loans is strong in India and is expected to pick up further over the next few months, the head of major housing finance firm Housing Development Finance Corporation said on Monday.

"The economy is buoyant, the feel good factor is high, affordability is better so people are comfortable buying houses even if rates are slightly higher," Keki Mistry, chief executive of HDFC, told Reuters.

India's central bank has already raised rates three times by a total of 140 basis points in this financial year to tame stubbornly high inflation, which has remained above the central bank's tolerance band for