Property guides
The parts of an Indian property transaction that cost people money when they get them wrong — explained without jargon, and updated as rules change.
Buying
Carpet vs built-up vs super built-up area: what you actually get
Carpet area is the usable floor area within the walls of the flat. Built-up area adds internal walls and the balcony. Super built-up area additionally loads a proportionate share of common areas such as lobbies, staircases and clubhouses, so it is the largest of the three. Under RERA, residential sale agreements must state carpet area.
5 min read
BuyingReady-to-move vs under-construction: cost, risk and GST
A ready-to-move home with a completion or occupancy certificate is treated as an immovable property sale and attracts no GST; an under-construction purchase does attract GST, at concessional rates for affordable housing and a standard rate for other residential units, both without input tax credit. Under-construction stock is usually cheaper per square foot, but you carry possession-delay risk and may pay rent and EMI together.
6 min read
BuyingBuilder floor vs apartment vs independent house: how they differ
An apartment in a gated society gives you a small undivided share of land plus shared amenities and a formal maintenance structure. A builder floor gives you one full floor of a low-rise, usually with fewer amenities and lower monthly outgo. An independent house gives you the plot and full control, at the highest price per square foot of land and with all upkeep on you.
5 min read
BuyingBuying resale property: documents and dues checklist
A resale purchase is a documents exercise. Verify the ownership chain and the seller's identity, take an encumbrance certificate for the relevant period, confirm the occupancy certificate and approved plan, clear all dues in writing, and if the seller has a loan, plan the payoff and original-document release into the payment schedule.
6 min read
BuyingCommercial vs residential investment: leases, tenure and taxes
Commercial property typically produces higher gross yields on longer leases with built-in escalation, but comes with larger deposits, longer vacancy gaps between tenants, stricter loan terms and GST on rent where the landlord is registered. Residential property has shallower yields, shorter leases and simpler tax treatment, with a much deeper pool of tenants and buyers.
6 min read
Renting
Rent agreements and security deposits: what tenants should check
Most Indian rent agreements are written for 11 months because leases of a year or more attract compulsory registration in many states. Deposits vary sharply by city — commonly one to three months' rent in the north and west, and often higher in Bengaluru. Get the agreement in writing, list the deposit and notice period explicitly, and record the property's condition at handover.
5 min read
RentingTenant verification, police intimation and lock-in clauses
Before handing over keys, verify the tenant's identity and employment, take the agreement in writing on stamp paper, and file the police tenant intimation where your city requires it. Lock-in binds both sides for a stated period; notice governs exit after that; both should be written explicitly rather than assumed.
5 min read
Loans & money
Stamp duty and registration charges in India: how they work
Stamp duty is a state tax on registering a property transfer, charged on the higher of the agreement value or the government circle / ready-reckoner rate. Headline rates run from roughly 4% to 8%, plus a registration charge of about 0.5% to 4%. Both are paid by the buyer, usually before the sale deed is registered, and most lenders exclude them from the loan amount.
6 min read
Loans & moneyHome loan eligibility and documents: what lenders actually check
Lenders size a home loan against two ceilings: loan-to-value, typically 75%–90% of the property value depending on ticket size, and repayment capacity, usually capping EMI at roughly 40%–50% of net monthly income. Approval then depends on clean title, credit history and verifiable income documents.
6 min read
Loans & moneyEMI, tenure and prepayment: what actually reduces your interest
Your EMI is fixed by three inputs: loan amount, interest rate and tenure. Stretching tenure lowers the monthly outgo but raises total interest sharply, because interest accrues on the outstanding balance for longer. Prepayments made in the early years cut the most interest, and RBI rules bar prepayment penalties on floating-rate home loans taken by individuals.
6 min read
Loans & moneyRental yield and the rent-vs-buy decision
Gross rental yield is annual rent divided by property value. Net yield subtracts maintenance, property tax, insurance, repairs and expected vacancy. Residential yields in large Indian cities are typically low relative to home loan rates, which is why the rent-vs-buy question usually turns on how long you will stay and what you would otherwise do with the down payment.
6 min read
Loans & moneyProperty tax and who pays what after possession
Property tax is a municipal levy on the owner, assessed by the local body using its own method — annual rental value, capital value or unit area — so rates and formulas differ city to city. After a purchase, apply for mutation so the bill issues in your name; until then the record, and the demand, may still sit with the seller.
5 min read
Legal & RERA
RERA: what to check before you book an under-construction flat
RERA requires most residential projects above the prescribed size to register with the state regulator, publish project details and approvals, keep a majority of buyer money in a project-specific escrow account, and disclose carpet area and committed possession dates. Verify the registration number on your state's RERA portal before paying anything.
5 min read
Legal & RERAProperty registration in India: the process, step by step
Registration transfers legal title. In practice: agree terms in a sale agreement, complete due diligence, pay stamp duty and registration fees on the higher of agreement value or circle rate, execute the sale deed before the sub-registrar with both parties and two witnesses present, collect the registered deed, and then apply for mutation in municipal records.
6 min read
Legal & RERASociety transfer, NOC and maintenance dues
When a flat in a registered society changes hands, the society records the transfer: it issues a no-dues certificate and a transfer NOC, collects its transfer fee under its bye-laws, and updates membership and the share certificate. Outstanding maintenance and special levies typically attach to the flat, so a buyer should verify dues in writing before paying.
5 min read