Can NRIs buy property in India?
Under FEMA, an NRI or OCI can freely purchase residential and commercial property in India. You cannot, however, buy agricultural land, plantation property or farmhouses — these require RBI permission and are almost never granted to individuals.
There is no cap on the number of properties you can own. Funds must come through NRE, NRO or FCNR accounts via normal banking channels — never cash.
"If a broker tells you they can structure a cash component, walk away. Every rupee of your purchase needs to be banking-traceable."
The remote buying problem
You can't visit. The developer knows. The broker knows. The renders look incredible, the WhatsApp updates are reassuring, and the sample flat photographed beautifully. None of this tells you whether the RCC was poured in monsoon, whether the OC has actually been granted, or whether the builder's last project is sitting half-empty two years after possession.
This is exactly the gap TrueBuilders closes. We physically go. We document. We report. You decide with the same information a local buyer would have — often more, because we look at things local buyers miss too.
NCR vs Dubai — which makes more sense for NRIs?
Both are good options for different reasons. NCR offers larger units at lower absolute prices, but possession and construction quality are highly variable. Dubai offers tighter regulation, better rental yields (6–8% vs NCR's 2.5–4%) and full repatriability, but absolute prices are higher and currency exposure is real.
Our honest take: if you're building a long-term India base for retirement or family, NCR. If you're investing for yield and capital appreciation in a freely repatriable jurisdiction, Dubai.
Documents NRIs need
For India: PAN card, OCI/NRI passport copy, proof of NRI status, a notarised & apostilled Power of Attorney (if you can't sign in person), source-of-funds proof from your NRE/NRO account, and TDS deduction at 1% (or 20%+ if seller is also NRI).
For Dubai: passport, Emirates ID (if resident), proof of funds via your Indian or international bank, and DLD's standard buyer registration. POA must be attested at the UAE embassy in your country of residence.
Builder red flags NRIs miss
The most common one: a builder who responds to your queries in 30 seconds during pre-sale and disappears for two weeks after you book. Run a check on the builder's last three RERA filings — possession date claimed vs delivered. The pattern is the truth.
The second: any builder who insists on closing the deal before you can have an independent audit done. A confident developer welcomes a third-party engineer. A nervous one resists.
How repatriation works
NRE accounts are fully repatriable. NRO accounts allow up to USD 1 million per financial year, subject to tax compliance and CA certification (Form 15CA / 15CB).
Sale proceeds of property bought from NRE funds are repatriable up to the original investment amount; gains beyond that go through the NRO route. Plan this before you buy, not after.