NRI's Guide to Buying Property in India

Buying property in India as an NRI or OCI can seem complex from thousands of miles away, but it's a straightforward process once you understand the rules. This guide breaks down everything foreign-based Indian investors need to know before making a purchase. It starts with the regulatory framework under FEMA and RBI guidelines, clarifying who is eligible to invest and which property types — residential, commercial, or land — are permitted, while noting that agricultural land, farmhouses, and plantations remain off-limits except through inheritance.

The guide then walks through the financial side, explaining how NRE, NRO, and FCNR accounts work, why all transactions must flow through official banking channels, and how NRI home loans are structured in terms of loan-to-value ratio, tenure, and repayment.

A detailed step-by-step process follows — from gathering documents and verifying RERA registration, to legal due diligence, executing a Power of Attorney if you can't be present in India, and finally registering the sale.

Finally, it covers the tax side: GST on under-construction property, TDS on purchases, tax on rental income, and capital gains tax on resale. Overall, it's a practical one-stop resource for NRIs planning a confident, compliant property investment in India.