FAQs
Read most frequent questions
What is carpet area, RERA carpet area and built-up area?
What is the difference between Carpet Area & RERA Carpet Area?
The only difference between Carpet Area and RERA Carpet Area is that the area of the internal partition walls is included in RERA Carpet Area while in it is excluded in Carpet Area. Approximately, the RERA Carpet Area is 5% more than the general Carpet Area.
Which are the documents required from a purchaser for the purchase of an apartment?
- Aadhaar Card
- PAN Card
- Passport sized photograph
- Power of Attorney (if the Purchaser is not present for registration)
- Power of attorney/letter of authority, along with a copy of the resolution of the company’s board, authorizing the person representing the company to carry out the registration (in case a company is party to the agreement).
- Loan documents, if applicable.
What is stamp duty?
Stamp duty is a tax imposed by the state government under Section 3 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, on the sale of property. Stamp duty is an additional cost incurred by the Purchaser on the purchase immovable property. The penalty for insufficient payment of the stamp duty will be levied at 2% per month and up to a maximum of 200% of the unpaid amount.
What is property registration?
Under Section 17 of the Registration Act, 1908, all transactions that involve the sale of an immovable property should be registered with the Sub-Registrar of Assurances in whose jurisdiction the property lies. The registration fee for property documents is 1% of the market value of the property subject to a maximum of Rs 30,000.
What is the difference between a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and does this have any bearing on the purchase of an apartment?
How do I apply for a home loan? What are the basic eligibility criteria?
A Purchaser is eligible to avail a home loan of up to 80% of the value of the property. The Purchase will be required to file an application form providing personal details and details of income. Banks perform their due-diligence in order to determine if a Purchaser will be able to pay off a loan by assessing the income and the credit history.
Are there any permissions required to purchase a property in India for NRIs or PIOs?
There is no restriction or limitation on purchase of immoveable property (except purchase of agricultural land, farmhouse or plantation land) by NRIs in India. Also, NRIs do not need any special permission from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It may be noted that it is not necessary for an NRI to have an Aadhar card while buying or selling a property, though he/she will be required to have an NRO account.
What are the benefits an NRI gets when buying a property in India?
An NRI investing in immoveable property in India can avail of tax benefit under 80 C of the Income Tax Act 1961. If the property purchased is for self-use, an NRI can enjoy tax exemption. Since there is a high demand for housing with cities growing rapidly, higher returns can be expected from rental income. NRIs can be assured of a high return on investment in immoveable property since India has a stable real estate market which is poised to grow exponentially in the coming years.
Can property be purchased/sold by NRIs or OCIs without the permission of the Reserve Bank of India?
As per the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, NRIs and OCIs do not require prior approval from the RBI to acquire/ transfer immovable property (other than agricultural land, farmhouse or plantation property) in India. The only stipulation is that the consideration must be paid in Indian Rupees through normal banking channels, or through NRI bank accounts under FEMA and RBI regulations. When an NRI/OCI sells property, the buyer is liable to deduct TDS @20%. In case the property has been sold within 2 years, TDS @30% shall be applicable.
Can the sale proceeds of property sold by NRIs/OCIs be remitted out of India?
NRIs/OCIs are allowed to repatriate money out of India. While NRE and FCNR accounts have no remittance limits, an amount upto US$ One million during the financial year, out of the balances held in the NRO account is allowed to be remitted, subject to tax compliance.
Are any conditions required to be fulfilled if repatriation of sale proceeds is desired?
Repatriation is restricted to sale of two residential properties only. Also, an NRI/OCI may repatriate if the property has been held for at least 10 years.
