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What property buyers ask most from freehold and registration to tax, home loans and life in a housing society.
Buyer's FAQ
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Topic 01
General Property
Core ideas every buyer should understand before purchasing property in India.
5 questions in this topic
With freehold property, you own the land and the building outright, with no time limit on ownership. With leasehold property, the land is held on a long lease — often 90 years — from an authority or landowner, and some transactions may need the lessor's approval or a transfer fee. Much of the land in Noida and Greater Noida is allotted by the development authorities on long-term lease. Both types still need approved building plans and must follow local rules. Check which one applies before you buy.
Besides the price of the home, budget for stamp duty and registration charges (set by the state), GST on under-construction homes, legal and documentation fees, any brokerage, and charges such as maintenance deposits, club membership or parking where applicable. Home-loan processing fees and the cost of furnishing also add up. Ask for a complete cost sheet before you book.
Look at the developer's track record and completed projects, and visit them if you can — speaking to existing residents is invaluable. Verify the project's registration on the state RERA website, where approved plans and the completion date are published. Check which banks are lending against the project, and read the builder–buyer agreement carefully before signing.
Think about access to schools, hospitals, markets and public transport, your commute to work, safety and the quality of local infrastructure. Planned projects — such as metro extensions, expressways or the Noida International Airport at Jewar — can shape an area over time, but check their status rather than relying on announcements alone.
Carpet area, as defined by RERA, is the net usable floor area of the apartment, including internal walls but excluding external walls, service shafts, and exclusive balconies or terraces. Built-up area broadly adds the walls and, in many cases, balconies. Super area also adds a share of common areas such as lobbies, lifts and stairs. RERA requires homes to be sold on carpet area, so always compare projects on that basis.
Topic 02
Legal & Title
Registration, documents, title checks and resolving disputes — the legal side of a safe purchase.
5 questions in this topic
The sale deed (or conveyance deed) is prepared on stamp paper or with e-stamping, and stamp duty and registration fees are paid. The buyer, the seller and two witnesses then appear before the Sub-Registrar with identity proof and photographs; biometrics are taken and the deed is registered. The registered deed is your key proof of ownership. Many states, including Uttar Pradesh, now handle appointments and payments online.
Options include negotiation, mediation, arbitration (if your agreement provides for it) and the civil courts. Homebuyers can also approach the consumer commissions at district, state or national level, depending on the value of the claim. For a RERA-registered project, you can file a complaint with the state RERA authority. Speak to a qualified property lawyer before you escalate.
An encumbrance certificate (EC) lists the registered transactions on a property — such as sales and mortgages — over a chosen period, and is issued by the Sub-Registrar's office. It helps confirm that the property is free of registered loans or claims. For a resale home, ask for an EC covering many years — often 15 to 30 — and have a lawyer review it alongside the title documents.
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 requires projects with land over 500 sq.m. or more than eight apartments to register with the state RERA. Developers must keep 70% of buyer payments in a separate project account, sell on carpet area, deliver as per the registered timeline, and fix structural defects reported within five years of possession. If possession is delayed, buyers can claim interest or a refund as per the state RERA rules. Verify any project on the state RERA website before booking.
Check the registered sale deed and the earlier chain of title, an encumbrance certificate, the completion or occupancy certificate, the approved building plan, the allotment and possession letters, paid property-tax and maintenance receipts, and a no-dues certificate from the society or AOA. If the seller has a home loan, you'll need the bank's closure letter. For leasehold property, also check the authority's transfer requirements. A lawyer's title check is money well spent.
Topic 03
Financial & Tax
Home loans, stamp duty, GST and the main tax rules for property buyers.
5 questions in this topic
You may pay annual property tax to the local authority. Rental income is taxable — after municipal taxes, a 30% standard deduction is allowed. When you sell, gains on property held for up to 24 months are taxed at your slab rate; for longer periods, long-term gains are taxed at 12.5% without indexation. Under the old tax regime, home-loan principal counts towards the ₹1.5 lakh deduction limit and interest on a self-occupied home is deductible up to ₹2 lakh a year. The Income-tax Act, 2025 has renumbered these provisions from April 2026 — see our Tax Benefits guide and consult a tax adviser.
RBI caps the loan at 90% of the property value for loans up to ₹30 lakh, 80% for ₹30–75 lakh and 75% above ₹75 lakh. Within those limits, lenders look at your income, existing EMIs, age and credit score — many keep total EMIs within roughly 40–50% of net monthly income. Try our EMI Calculator to plan your budget.
Stamp duty is a state tax on the transfer of property, paid by the buyer before or at registration, on the higher of the agreement value and the government circle rate. In Uttar Pradesh, it is generally 7%, plus a 1% registration fee. Women buyers get a 1% stamp-duty concession on properties up to ₹1 crore, following a 2025 state decision. Rates change from time to time, so confirm the current figures before registration.
GST applies only to under-construction homes: 5% (without input tax credit) for regular housing and 1% for homes that qualify as affordable housing, which has both price and size limits. No GST is charged on ready-to-move homes that have received a completion or occupancy certificate, or on resale purchases.
Yes. The capital-gains exemption for homes (formerly Section 54) lets you exempt long-term gains on selling a house if you buy another residential house within one year before or two years after the sale, or build one within three years, up to ₹10 crore. Alternatively, you can invest gains of up to ₹50 lakh in specified bonds within six months of the sale (formerly Section 54EC). Conditions apply — please consult a tax adviser.
Topic 04
Housing Society
Rights, responsibilities, maintenance and how a residents' association works.
5 questions in this topic
Owners can vote at general body meetings, use common amenities, stand for the managing committee and see the association's accounts. In return, they're expected to pay maintenance on time, follow the bylaws, avoid structural changes without approval, and respect rules on parking, waste and common areas.
Maintenance charges pay for the upkeep of common areas and services — lifts, security, housekeeping, gardens, power backup, the clubhouse and so on. They're usually charged per sq.ft. or as a fixed amount per flat. The developer or its appointed agency typically manages maintenance until the owners' association takes over, after which the association sets the charges based on actual costs.
Generally, no — owners have the right to let their property. Societies can, however, ask for tenant details to be registered, police verification to be completed and the bylaws to be followed. Rules on short-term rentals can be stricter. Read the society's bylaws before buying a home to rent out.
Maintenance covers regular running costs. A sinking fund is a long-term reserve for major repairs and replacements — such as lifts, waterproofing or repainting the building. Many NCR projects also collect an Interest-Free Maintenance Security (IFMS) at possession, which is usually handed over to the owners' association. Ask how these funds are collected and managed.
Under RERA, the developer must enable the formation of an association of allottees once a majority of units have been booked, within the time set by law. In Uttar Pradesh, apartment owners' associations are formed and registered under the UP Apartment Act, 2010. The elected committee manages common areas, collects maintenance, approves budgets and represents residents with the developer and local authorities.
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Four topics, one place.
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01
General Property
Core ideas every buyer should understand before purchasing property in India.
5 Questions →02
Legal & Title
Registration, documents, title checks and resolving disputes — the legal side of a safe purchase.
5 Questions →03
Financial & Tax
Home loans, stamp duty, GST and the main tax rules for property buyers.
5 Questions →04
Housing Society
Rights, responsibilities, maintenance and how a residents' association works.
5 Questions →Didn't find what
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These answers are general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws, rates and rules change and vary by state — please verify current details with the relevant authority and consult qualified professionals before making decisions.