Many of our calls come from Dubai, Doha, London and Singapore, usually late in the evening India time. And almost every one starts with some version of: “I'd love to buy back home, but I don't know where to begin from here.”

Good news: it's more manageable than it looks. Here are the essentials, in plain language.

What you can buy

Under India's foreign exchange rules, NRIs and OCI cardholders can buy residential and commercial property in India without special permission from the RBI. What you generally can't buy is agricultural land, plantation property or farmhouses — those have separate rules. All the apartments and villa projects we cover are residential, so they sit comfortably in the allowed category.

Himachal adds a layer of its own through Section 118 for any buyer from outside the state. Terra Grande Kasauli Hills has its approval in place and helps buyers with the process. We've explained it in our Section 118 guide.

How the money moves

  • Payments are made through normal banking channels — typically from your NRE, NRO or FCNR account in India, or by inward remittance from abroad.
  • You can't pay in foreign currency cash or traveller's cheques.
  • Indian banks do offer home loans to NRIs, subject to their own eligibility rules.

Keep every receipt and bank record. You'll be glad of them when it's time to sell, or to repatriate the money.

Managing it without flying back for every step

  • Video site visits. We regularly walk clients through sample flats and sites on video calls.
  • Power of attorney. Many NRIs give a trusted family member a specific power of attorney for registration and paperwork. Get it drafted properly and attested where required.
  • Digital paperwork. Most of the booking can be done remotely. Registration is the one step that needs you, or your attorney-holder, physically present.

Tax, briefly

Rental income from an Indian property is taxable in India, and selling later attracts capital gains tax, with TDS deducted by the buyer. Your country of residence may tax it too, depending on its treaty with India. This is one area where a short conversation with a chartered accountant really does save money.

Picking the right project from far away

When you can't drop by on a Sunday, the developer's track record matters more than ever. Eldeco has been building since 1975, with 200+ projects and over 30,000 families served. Every project we list carries a RERA number you can check from your phone, wherever you are.

Message us on WhatsApp at whatever hour suits your time zone. Our forms accept every country code, so you won't have to fight them to get in touch.