First-Time Home Buyer Checklist India (2026)

हिंदी में पढ़ें. Tick each item as you go. Every check below takes minutes to hours; skipping one can cost lakhs. The links lead to our detailed guides for the steps where buyers most often go wrong.

💰 Stage 1: Set your budget

1. Work out your down payment Banks lend up to 90% of the property value for loans up to ₹30 lakh, 80% for ₹30 to 75 lakh and 75% above ₹75 lakh (RBI limits). The rest is your down payment. 2. Add 10% to 30% for extra costs About 10% to 15% for a ready flat and 20% to 30% for an under-construction one: stamp duty, registration, GST and the builder's extras. See hidden charges when buying a flat. 3. Keep the EMI comfortable A common rule is to keep all EMIs within about 40% of take-home pay, and to hold 6 months of EMIs as a buffer. 4. Check your credit report A good score gets a better rate. Fix errors before you apply.

🏗️ Stage 2: Choose the project

5. Decide: ready or under construction Ready flats with an occupancy certificate carry no GST and no delay risk. Under-construction flats cost less but carry both. See under-construction vs ready-to-move. 6. Check RERA registration Every project above 500 sq m of land or 8 units needs RERA registration (states can set lower limits). Find it on your state RERA website. See how to check. 7. Read the RERA project page Promised completion date, approved plans, quarterly progress reports, complaints and court cases against the project. See how to read a RERA project page. 8. Check the builder's past projects Were they delivered on time? Visit one and talk to residents. 9. Visit the site at different times Morning and evening, weekday and weekend: traffic, water, noise, safety. 10. Verify the agent If an agent is involved, check their RERA agent registration. See how to verify an agent.

📄 Stage 3: Check the papers

11. Title and land records Ownership chain and land records in your state (for example Jamabandi in Haryana and Punjab, 7/12 in Maharashtra). A lawyer's title report is worth the fee. 12. Approvals Building plan sanction, environment clearance where needed, and for a ready flat the occupancy or completion certificate. See OC vs CC. 13. Encumbrance Any mortgage on the land or project. The project's lender may need to issue a no-objection letter. 14. Carpet area Price and area should be stated on carpet area under Section 2(k) of the RERA Act.

✍️ Stage 4: Book carefully

⚖️ Stage 5: Sign the agreement

19. Compare with your state's model agreement The agreement for sale should follow the form in your state's RERA rules. Watch for one-sided clauses. See agreement for sale. 20. Check the possession date and penalty Your remedies for delay are in Section 18. See possession delay. 21. Register it Pay stamp duty and register it at the sub-registrar's office before paying more than 10%. 22. Choose the payment plan A construction-linked plan ties payments to stages of work. Be careful with "subvention" plans where the builder pays your EMIs for a while; you stay liable to the bank if the builder stops.

🏦 Stage 6: Loan, payments and tax

🔑 Stage 7: Take possession

26. Check the occupancy certificate first Don't take possession of a flat without it. 27. Inspect before you sign Walls, floors, plumbing, wiring, doors, windows, fittings, and the carpet area. Note every defect in writing. Use our flat possession checklist. 28. Know the 5-year defect rule Structural defects or poor workmanship reported within 5 years of possession must be fixed by the builder free of charge within 30 days (Section 14(3)). See defect liability. 29. Get the sale or conveyance deed registered Section 17 sets a 3-month deadline after the occupancy certificate where no local law applies. See conveyance deed from builder. 30. Update records Mutation in municipal records, electricity and water in your name, and join the residents' association.

Ready Flat or Under Construction?

The 6 Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make Most

1. Comparing ad prices, not all-inclusive prices. Two "₹75 lakh" flats can differ by ₹8 lakh once charges are added.
2. Paying 20–30% on a "special offer" before the agreement. Section 13 caps it at 10% until the agreement is registered.
3. Trusting the sample flat. The agreement's specifications and carpet area are what you are buying.
4. Not reading the RERA project page. It shows the real completion date and complaints, for free.
5. Taking possession without an occupancy certificate. It can affect your loan, utilities and resale.
6. Signing the possession letter without inspecting. List every defect first; the 5-year defect rule still protects you after.

Papers to Keep Forever

Make one folder, paper and digital, with: the booking form and every receipt, the allotment letter, the registered agreement for sale, all demand letters, the loan sanction and disbursement letters, TDS challans and Form 16B, the occupancy certificate, the possession letter, the registered sale or conveyance deed, the mutation record, and the RERA registration certificate of the project. You will need them for resale, tax, insurance and any complaint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should a first-time home buyer check before buying a flat?

Check that the project is registered on your state RERA website, read its RERA page (completion date, approvals, progress reports and complaints), get the land title and approvals checked, confirm the carpet area and the full price breakup, pay no more than 10% before a registered agreement for sale, and for a ready flat confirm the occupancy certificate.

How much down payment do I need for a flat in India?

At least 10% of the property value for loans up to ₹30 lakh, 20% for ₹30 lakh to ₹75 lakh, and 25% above ₹75 lakh, because RBI caps home loans at 90%, 80% and 75% of the value. On top of that, budget for stamp duty, registration, GST and other charges, which banks usually do not finance.

Is it better to buy a ready-to-move or an under-construction flat?

A ready flat with an occupancy certificate has no GST and no delay risk, and you can inspect exactly what you buy. An under-construction flat is usually cheaper and lets you pay in stages, but carries 5% GST (1% for affordable housing) and the risk of delay. RERA gives you a refund with interest under Section 18 if the builder misses the possession date.

What documents should I check before buying a flat?

The RERA registration certificate, title documents and land records, the approved building plan, the encumbrance status, the allotment letter and agreement for sale, and for a ready flat the occupancy or completion certificate. For a resale flat also check the previous sale deeds, society NOC and dues.

How long does the home buying process take?

For a ready flat, booking to registration can take three to six weeks, depending on the loan and paperwork. For an under-construction flat, the agreement is signed soon after booking, but possession comes only on the completion date shown on the RERA website, often two to four years away.

Do I need a lawyer to buy a flat?

It is strongly advisable for the title check and the agreement for sale, especially for a resale flat or a plot. The bank's legal check protects the bank, not you. A lawyer's fee is small next to the price of the flat.

What if the builder delays possession?

Under Section 18 of the RERA Act you can either withdraw and get a full refund with interest, or stay in the project and get interest for every month of delay until possession. File a complaint with your state RERA Authority under Section 31 if the builder does not pay.

Official Sources

Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016, Sections 2(k), 3, 4, 13, 14(3), 17, 18 and 31.
Reserve Bank of India, loan-to-value limits for individual housing loans (90% up to ₹30 lakh, 80% for ₹30–75 lakh, 75% above ₹75 lakh).
GST: Notification 03/2019-Central Tax (Rate); residential rates unchanged by the GST revision of 22 September 2025.
State RERA portals for project registration, progress reports and complaints: see official RERA websites of all states.

Buy Your First Home With Confidence

Get the free checklist of 10 checks before you pay. The Home Buyer Rights Course (₹1,499, or ₹2,499 with your state's RERA rules) takes you through every stage. Already shortlisted a project? Project Check (₹4,999) reviews it for you.

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RERACertified sells the Home Buyer Rights Course and Project Check. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.