Buying property in India generally follows eight steps: financial assessment/loan pre-approval, property search, legal due diligence, negotiation and token payment, agreement to sell, home loan processing, sale deed registration, and post-registration formalities — the full process typically takes 3-6 months, with total transaction costs (stamp duty, registration, legal fees) adding roughly 8-12% above the property price. Registration under the Registration Act, 1908 is mandatory for any immovable property transaction valued above ₹100 — without it, the ownership transfer is not legally valid. As of 2026, both buyer and seller must complete real-time Aadhaar-based biometric authentication during registration to prevent impersonation fraud.
8-step process: financial assessment, property search, legal due diligence, negotiation/token, agreement to sell, home loan processing, sale deed registration, post-registration formalities.
Full process typically takes 3-6 months; total costs (stamp duty, registration, legal fees) add roughly 8-12% above the property price.
Registration under the Registration Act, 1908 is mandatory for property transactions above ₹100 — without it, ownership transfer has no legal validity.
Since 2026, real-time Aadhaar-based biometric authentication is required for both buyer and seller at registration to prevent impersonation fraud.
Steps
Financial assessment and loan pre-approval — Confirm budget and, if financing, get pre-approved for a home loan.
Property search — Identify target properties matching budget and requirements.
Legal due diligence — Verify title chain, encumbrance certificate, and mutation register entries.
Negotiation and token payment — Agree on price and pay a token amount to reserve the property.
Agreement to sell — Execute a formal agreement outlining terms before final registration.
Home loan processing — Finalize loan disbursement if financing the purchase.
Sale deed registration — Register the sale deed under the Registration Act, 1908, including Aadhaar-based biometric authentication for both parties.
Post-registration formalities — Update mutation records and utility connections in the new owner's name.