Buying a Home in Delhi: A First-Time Buyer’s Checklist
Buying a first home in Delhi is a big step. This checklist covers budget, ownership type, the documents to verify and what to check before you pay anything.
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Buying your first home is the biggest cheque most people ever write, and Delhi’s property market rewards the careful. Use this checklist to go from “thinking about it” to keys in hand without a costly mistake. You can browse homes for sale on LSC on the Buy page.
1. Fix a real budget
Add up more than the sticker price:
- Down payment (usually 10–20%)
- Stamp duty and registration
- Brokerage, if any — on LSC, buyers reach sellers directly
- Any renovation or fit-out
- A buffer for the unexpected
Get a loan pre-approval so you know your real ceiling before you fall for something.
2. Understand what you are buying
- Freehold vs leasehold — freehold gives you full ownership; leasehold has conditions. Ask which it is
- Builder floor, apartment, plot or independent house — each has different costs and upkeep
- Carpet vs super area — pay attention to carpet area, the space you actually use
3. Verify the documents
This is where buyers get hurt. Before any token money, check (ideally with a property lawyer):
- Title deed — clean chain of ownership
- Sale deed of the current owner
- Encumbrance — no loan or dispute on the property
- Approved building plan and completion/occupancy certificate
- Latest tax and utility receipts paid up
- RERA registration, for projects that need it
- No-objection certificates from the society or authority
Never pay a token before you have seen clear title documents. A lawyer’s fee here is the cheapest insurance you will ever buy.
4. Check the property itself
- Construction quality, seepage, cracks
- Water, power backup, and the society’s upkeep
- The neighbourhood at different times of day
- Resale and rental demand, if it is also an investment
5. Negotiate and close carefully
Quoted prices usually have room. Once agreed, put everything in the sale agreement, register it properly, and keep every receipt.
Start your search
See homes, floors, plots and shops for sale on the LSC Buy page and reach sellers directly. Not sure whether to buy or rent yet? Read PG vs flat in Delhi NCR.
Cover photo: “View of DDA Flats from Rooftop - panoramio” by Romil Lehakra, CC BY 3.0, cropped, via Wikimedia Commons.
Questions people ask
What documents should I verify before buying a home in Delhi?
Check the title deed and ownership chain, the current sale deed, an encumbrance certificate, the approved building plan and occupancy certificate, up-to-date tax receipts, RERA registration where applicable, and any society NOCs — ideally with a property lawyer, before paying a token.
What is the difference between freehold and leasehold in Delhi?
Freehold gives you full, unconditional ownership of the property and land. Leasehold means you hold it under a lease from an authority, with conditions and a time limit. Always confirm which one you are buying.
How much should I budget beyond the price of the home?
Plan for the down payment, stamp duty and registration, any brokerage, renovation, and a buffer. Stamp duty and registration alone can add several percent to the cost.
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