The Ultimate Checklist for Buying a House in Mumbai in 2025

Monil Singhal

Co-founder

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Buying a home in Mumbai is one of the most important financial and emotional decisions you will ever make.

In 2025, Mumbai’s property market is buzzing. Prices have grown by 5–7% in well-connected areas, thanks to infrastructure projects like metro line expansions, the Coastal Road, and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link. Demand for residential homes remains strong, but buying a home here comes with its own complexities.

From legal paperwork to hidden charges, being thorough with your due diligence ensures your dream home doesn’t turn into a liability.

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1. Start by checking the MahaRERA portal

If you’re house-hunting in Mumbai, the very first pit stop should be MahaRERA (that’s the Real Estate Regulatory Authority for Maharashtra). You can think of it as the report card every builder has to publish before they can sell you a flat. By law, every real estate project must be registered under RERA.

Head over to the official MahaRERA search portal, punch in the project’s name or registration number, and you’ll see the real story. You’ll get to check whether the builder actually has approvals in place if the promised possession date is realistic and whether construction updates are being filed on time.

Here’s the best part: The portal also shows if a project has faced complaints or litigation, which is like reading the “bad reviews” section before you commit. If a project isn’t registered on MahaRERA at all? That’s your cue to walk away, no matter how glossy the brochure looks or how persuasive the sales pitch sounds.

💡 Pro tip: Cross-check the developer’s other projects on MahaRERA too. A builder who’s consistently late on multiple projects is waving a bigger red flag.

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2. Stamp Duty, Registration & Taxes

When you’re calculating the cost of your dream home, don’t just stop at the property price. Extra charges like stamp duty, registration, and GST can easily add lakhs to your final bill.

As of 2025, here’s the math: Stamp duty in Mumbai is 6% of the property value. Good news if you’re a woman buyer, there’s a concession that trims it down to 5%. Then there’s the registration fee, which is a flat ₹30,000/- if your property costs more than ₹30 lakh (and let’s be honest, in Mumbai, almost everything does).

If you’re buying an under-construction property, brace yourself for GST: it’s 5% for premium homes and 1% if your flat falls in the “affordable” category (priced under ₹45 lakh). Ready to move-in homes, however, are free of GST - a small silver lining to skip extra charges.

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3. Follow the paper trail – Chain of agreements & ownership title

Always ask for a 30-year history of ownership documents, this usually includes sale deeds, gift deeds, release deeds, etc. Every time the property changed hands, there should be a properly stamped and registered agreement to prove it. If there’s a missing link, a dodgy photocopy, or an “unregistered” handshake deal somewhere in the past, you might be stepping into legal quicksand.

Also, don’t just skim through the agreements, check that all the pages are intact, signed, and sealed. It’s surprisingly common to find that crucial annexures (like floor plans or schedules) are “conveniently misplaced.” That one missing page could later turn into years of courtroom drama.

If the property came down by inheritance, remember this: in Mumbai, a Probate of Will is mandatory for the transfer to be valid. Without it, the ownership claim isn’t legally watertight, no matter how many family members vouch for it.

💡 Pro tip: Cross-check names, dates, and property details across every deed. Even small spelling mistakes in names or mismatched flat numbers can become a bureaucratic nightmare when you go for registration or resale later.

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4. Approvals & Occupancy Certificate (OC) – Make sure you've checked this before buying

The first thing to ask for is the Commencement Certificate (CC). This proves that the builder had permission to actually start construction beyond the plinth level. If there’s no CC, the tower you’re looking at might technically be illegal.

Next, demand a copy of the approved building plans from the municipal authority. This isn’t just paperwork, it’s your way of making sure the flat number and carpet area being sold to you actually exist on sanctioned drawings. Builders sometimes sneak in extra floors or “adjustments” that never got official approval, and buyers only find out when the BMC comes knocking.

Finally, for ready to move-in flats, the Occupation Certificate (OC) is a must-have. Without an OC, you could end up paying commercial rates for water and electricity, face higher property taxes, or even struggle to resell the flat in the future.

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5. Judge the builder before the building

In Mumbai real estate, the builder is just as important as the building. A swanky brochure or glossy sample flat can make anyone look trustworthy, but the real test is in their past projects.

Start by digging into the delivery timelines of the developer’s earlier work. Did they hand over flats when promised, or are buyers still waiting years later?

Next, check for customer complaints and litigation. A quick Google search, property forums, or even the MahaRERA portal will tell you if the builder has left a trail of unhappy homebuyers. Too many unresolved complaints usually means trouble brewing beneath the surface.

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6. Plan your loan & EMI like a pro

Very few people in Mumbai buy a home without a loan. With property prices where they are, smart financial planning is half the battle won.

First comes your credit score. Anything above 700 is considered healthy, but the higher the better. A score of 750+ could mean faster approvals and better interest rates, while a low score will either shrink your loan amount or hike up your interest.

Next is the down payment. Be ready to put down at least 20% of the property value from your own pocket. So, if you’re buying a Rs 1 crore flat, you’ll need to arrange around Rs. 20 lakh upfront. Some buyers stretch themselves too thin here and then struggle with EMIs, don’t make that mistake.

Before you even apply, use an online EMI calculator to play around with different amounts, tenures, and interest rates. It’s like test-driving your loan, you’ll know exactly how much of your salary will be eaten up every month, and whether you can still afford your weekend coffees and Netflix.

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7. Location & Connectivity – The real game changer

In Mumbai, your pin code can change your entire lifestyle, and your property’s future value. A beautiful flat in the wrong location can feel like a bad deal the minute you realize your daily commute eats half your day. That’s why location and connectivity aren’t just nice-to-have, they’re everything.

Check how close your home is to the metro and railway stations or highways. A 10-minute walk can save years of traffic stress. Also make sure schools, hospitals, and shops are nearby for everyday convenience.

Finally, think about the future growth potential. Big-ticket projects like the Coastal Road and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link are already reshaping property values.

Visit the area at different times of the day, morning rush hour, late evenings, even weekends. A quick reality check will tell you what it’s really like to live there.

Buying a home in Mumbai can feel like a maze of documents, approvals, and hidden costs. But with Truva, you skip the chaos, we’ve already handled every detail. All you need to do is turn the key and move in.

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