BestFSBOGuide.com team

Aarav Mehta

India contributor

Covers India's private property-sale process from primary sources, the encumbrance certificate that reveals hidden charges before any money moves, the circle-rate floor below which a sale deed cannot be registered, and the TDS a buyer must deduct once a deal crosses fifty lakh rupees. Tracks how stamp duty, registration, and capital-gains rules such as the Section 54 reinvestment exemption apply to sellers acting without a broker.

The first hurdle in an Indian private sale rarely shows up at the negotiating table. It is the encumbrance certificate, the document that tells a buyer whether a property carries pending dues or charges before any money changes hands. Much of the guidance available either glosses over the registration step entirely or skips the practical detail of standing at a Sub-Registrar’s counter with a folder of originals.

So this coverage stays close to the documents. Pull the encumbrance certificate early. Accept that the sale deed cannot be registered below the state circle rate. Remember that capital gains tax falls on the seller even though it is the buyer who deducts and deposits the TDS, and that Section 54 reinvestment exemptions often apply to sellers who never realise it.

Stamp duty, registration fees, and filing steps shift from state to state, so where a rule changes the desk names the difference instead of offering one answer and hoping it travels.

Areas of focus

  • Tracks stamp duty and registration procedures across Indian states
  • Follows circle-rate floors, TDS thresholds, and capital-gains exemptions for property sellers

Join the team

Want to write or fact-check for us?

We are always glad to hear from experienced writers, editors, and local property experts who care about getting the facts right. If you would like to contribute to or review for BestFSBOGuide.com, send a note about your background and the markets you know to editors@bestfsboguide.com.

Free checklist

Your FSBO prep checklist

Enter your email and your checklist downloads as a PDF.