The buyer's guide

Initial research should pull from multiple channels — talking to developers and agents, scanning the online portals and classifieds, walking property fairs and exhibitions, and the inputs of family and friends who have transacted recently.

• Developers (direct)
• Channel partners and brokers
• Online realty portals
• Print classifieds & hoardings
• Property fairs & exhibitions
• Family and friends who have bought recently

Residential property is the safer instrument and pairs well with EMI-supported buys. Commercial — especially pre-leased — historically generates higher rental yield and offers stronger long-term capital appreciation, and is the right pick if you're investing for income rather than self-use.

Commercial properties earn through two avenues — rent and capital appreciation. Both are heavily dependent on location.

Across thousands of commercial transactions in NCR, eight checks reliably separate good buys from regretted ones.

• Location: look for sub-5% vacancy in the immediate catchment
• Growth: pre-leased assets generate revenue from day one; larger units suit long-term holds
• Market rent vs. in-place rent: if in-place rent is much higher than market, expect tenant churn
• Tenant quality: prioritise corporate, banking and MNC tenants over small unknowns
• Interior fitouts: ₹2,000–3,000 / sq ft is typical; tenants who fit out their own space stay longer
• Lease structure: 3+3+3 or 5+5+5 with longer lock-ins favour the investor
• Security deposit: 10–12 months' rent is standard; <6 months is a red flag
• Builder reputation: pick developers with limited concurrent projects and a clean delivery record

An operational airport reshapes the demography and induces ancillary business within years. Hindon Airport (Ghaziabad) brings the same upside multiplier to Raj Nagar Extension that other airports have delivered to Tier-1 catchments.

Most buyers go through four phases — application, verification, approval and disbursement.

• Initial application — credit history check, document submission, processing fee
• Bank verification — workplace and residence visits, property evaluation, repayment-ability assessment
• Approval — offer letter review, condition negotiation, signing of the loan agreement
• Disbursement — lump sum for ready-to-move, milestone-linked for under-construction

Keep originals plus one set of self-attested copies for the bank, and one set for your own file.

• PAN card · Aadhar card · passport · driving licence (any 2 for KYC)
• Latest 3 photographs
• Last 6 months' bank statements / passbook
• ITRs for the last 3 years
• Salary slips (last 3 months) if salaried; CA-certified P&L + balance sheet if self-employed
• Recent utility bill for address proof
• Processing fee: 0.25%–0.50% of loan amount, non-refundable

Visit during peak hours and, if possible, during the monsoon — the worst-case scenarios surface the real defects.

• Lighting and noise across times of day
• Security presence (guards + cameras)
• Flooding and moisture risk
• Plumbing pressure and water 24×7
• Mobile-signal coverage in every zone
• Power back-up coverage and lift wait times
• Photography of every interior detail (flooring, cabinets, fittings)