Can I get a loan to buy a plot?

Lenders offer plot or composite loans, typically at a lower loan-to-value than home loans and often requiring construction to start within a stated period. Terms vary considerably by lender.

How many sqft is one guntha or one cent?

1 guntha is 1,089 sqft and 1 cent is 435.6 sqft. Bigha varies by state; our converter uses the 27,225 sqft North-India figure.

Is a khata or patta enough proof of ownership?

No. Revenue records such as khata or patta evidence tax liability and possession entries, not clean marketable title. They supplement the deed chain and encumbrance certificate rather than replacing them.

Buying a plot in India: the due-diligence checklist

Plots & land · 6 min read · Reviewed January 2026

Plot purchases turn on documents, not decor: verify the title chain, an encumbrance certificate, the approved layout, land-use zoning and any agricultural-to-non-agricultural conversion, plus measurement in the local unit. Unlike a flat, there is no builder or society to absorb a defect for you.

Title and encumbrance

Trace ownership back through the sale-deed chain, ideally 30 years, and obtain an encumbrance certificate from the sub-registrar covering the same period to surface mortgages, liens and attachments.

Confirm the seller's identity matches the deeds, and that all co-owners and legal heirs are consenting parties.

Zoning, layout and conversion

A plot's permitted use is set by the development plan, not by the seller. Residential construction on land still classified agricultural requires conversion. Check that the layout is approved by the local planning authority and that the specific plot number appears on the approved plan.

Approved layout plan showing your plot number
Land-use / zoning certificate from the planning authority
Conversion order where the land was agricultural
Release certificate if the land was previously mortgaged

Measurement and boundaries

Plots are quoted in square yards, guntha, cent or bigha depending on region, and bigha in particular is not standardised. Get a licensed surveyor to physically measure and mark boundaries against the deed dimensions.

Build feasibility

Check the permitted FSI/FAR, setback rules, road width, water and sewerage availability, and access — a landlocked plot without a registered access road is difficult to build on and to resell.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a loan to buy a plot?: Lenders offer plot or composite loans, typically at a lower loan-to-value than home loans and often requiring construction to start within a stated period. Terms vary considerably by lender.
How many sqft is one guntha or one cent?: 1 guntha is 1,089 sqft and 1 cent is 435.6 sqft. Bigha varies by state; our converter uses the 27,225 sqft North-India figure.
Is a khata or patta enough proof of ownership?: No. Revenue records such as khata or patta evidence tax liability and possession entries, not clean marketable title. They supplement the deed chain and encumbrance certificate rather than replacing them.