All guides

What real estate brokers in India charge buyers and sellers, how 18% GST applies, when commission is earned, RERA agent registration and how to keep the broker's bill under control.

How tax on a property sale is calculated in India: short- and long-term gains, 12.5% without indexation, the 20% option for pre-July 2024 property, what you can deduct and a worked example.

How the government's minimum property value affects stamp duty, the seller's capital gains, the buyer's taxable income and TDS, with the 110% safe harbour and how to dispute a valuation.

When GST applies to a flat purchase, how the 5% and 1% effective rates work, the affordable housing carpet area and ₹45 lakh tests, and GST on parking, PLC and maintenance.

What happens when an NRI sells a house in India: buyer's TDS on capital gains, TAN, lower deduction certificates, capital gains tax, NRO accounts and the USD 1 million repatriation limit.

A complete map of the costs in an Indian property deal: stamp duty, registration, brokerage, GST, TDS, capital gains tax and transfer charges, split by buyer and seller.

How stamp duty and registration fees work in Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and other states: rates, circle rate value, women's concessions, caps and how to pay e-stamp duty.

A buyer's guide to TDS on property: when 1% applies, the ₹50 lakh test with joint buyers, stamp duty value, PAN rules, the form that replaced 26QB, deadlines and penalties.

How the women's stamp duty concession works in Delhi, Maharashtra and other states, what joint ownership does to the saving, plus home loan, capital gains and benami points.

The smaller charges that add up after you buy a flat in India: society transfer premium, share certificate, NOC, corpus fund, maintenance, mutation or khata, utility deposits and repairs.

A clause-by-clause guide to agreeing a broker's fee in India: rate, GST, cap, trigger, exclusivity, refunds and services, with negotiation scripts and a worked saving example.

Compare the full cost of an under-construction flat, a ready flat from a builder and a resale flat in India: GST, stamp duty, brokerage, pre-EMI, rent while waiting and risk.

The documents to check when buying a resale flat in India: title chain, encumbrance certificate, OC, society NOC and share certificate, tax receipts, loan closure, and when to ask for each.

How sellers in India reduce tax on a long-term property gain by buying another house (Section 54), investing in 54EC bonds or using 54F, with time limits, caps, lock-ins and worked numbers.

A seller's line-by-line calculation: sale price, brokerage with GST, loan closure, society dues, TDS credit and capital gains tax, ending with the money left in your account.

Add up the real cost of buying a home in India: price, stamp duty, registration, GST, brokerage, legal, society, loan charges and moving in, with two worked examples in rupees.

The difference between an agreement for sale and a sale deed in India, registration and stamp duty on each, the four-month rule, RERA's registered agreement and the risks of unregistered papers.

A directory of the government portals that settle property questions in India: state registration and stamp duty, RERA authorities, Income Tax, GST, land records, courts and consumer forums.

The costliest errors in Indian property deals: weak title checks, cash components, power of attorney sales, missed TDS, unregistered agreements, broker disputes and builder delays.

Using the RERA Act, 2016 when a builder delays a flat: refund with interest or monthly delay interest under section 18, filing with the state authority, consumer commission and IBC options.

How to check that a seller really owns a property in India: tracing the title chain, reading an encumbrance certificate, land records, litigation searches, public notices and the advocate's report.

Why splitting a property price into cheque and cash is risky in India: cash limits and penalties, unexplained money tax, stamp duty deficit, lost proof of payment and higher future capital gains.