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Patil Associates

Buying Guide

How to Choose a Real Estate Developer in Pune: A Homebuyer's Checklist

Buying a home in Pune? Use this seven-point checklist — from MahaRERA registration to the agreement for sale — to choose a real estate developer you can trust.

By Patil Associates4 min read

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In this article
  1. 1. Verify MahaRERA registration
  2. 2. Look at the track record
  3. 3. Check title and approvals
  4. 4. Understand carpet area and the full cost
  5. 5. Read the agreement for sale carefully
  6. 6. Visit the site — and the neighbourhood
  7. 7. Judge how they communicate
  8. Questions to ask any developer
  9. Red flags to watch for
  10. A simple documents checklist
  11. About Patil Associates

For most families, a home is the largest purchase they'll ever make. The neighbourhood and the floor plan matter — but so does who builds it. The right real estate developer makes the process clear and dependable; the wrong one can turn it into years of uncertainty.

Here is a practical, seven-point checklist for choosing a developer in Pune.

1. Verify MahaRERA registration

Under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, most residential projects in Maharashtra must be registered with MahaRERA — the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority — before they are advertised or sold.

  • Look for the MahaRERA registration number on the project's brochures and advertisements.
  • Search for the project on the MahaRERA website and review the details the developer has filed, including approvals and the proposed completion date.
  • Check that the project you're being shown matches what is registered.

2. Look at the track record

Experience is one of the best indicators of reliability. Ask how long the developer has been building, and in which areas. Then go and see their completed projects — how the buildings have aged says a lot about construction quality. If you can, speak to people who live there.

3. Check title and approvals

Ask for the title documents and the sanctioned building plans, and have them reviewed by an independent lawyer. For a ready-to-move home, confirm that the occupancy certificate has been issued.

4. Understand carpet area and the full cost

RERA requires homes to be sold on the basis of carpet area — the usable floor area of the apartment. Always compare homes on carpet area rather than terms like super built-up area.

Ask for a complete cost breakdown so there are no surprises: the base price plus stamp duty, registration charges, taxes such as GST where applicable, parking, maintenance deposits and any other charges.

5. Read the agreement for sale carefully

The agreement for sale is the document that protects you. Before signing, check the payment schedule, the possession date, the specifications promised, and what happens if timelines slip. It's worth having a lawyer review it.

6. Visit the site — and the neighbourhood

Brochures and sample flats only tell part of the story. Visit the actual site, look at the access road and the surroundings, and spend time in the neighbourhood at different times of day. Our guides to living in Baner and Baner vs Balewadi may help.

7. Judge how they communicate

A good developer is easy to reach and gives straight answers. Notice how questions are handled before you buy — it's usually a reliable preview of how they'll be handled after.

Questions to ask any developer

  1. What is the project's MahaRERA registration number?
  2. Which of your projects have been completed, and can I visit them?
  3. What is the carpet area of this home, and what is the total cost including all charges?
  4. What is the proposed possession date, and what does the agreement say if it changes?
  5. Which approvals are in place, and can my lawyer review the title documents?
  6. What exactly is included in the specifications — and what isn't?
  7. Who do I contact with questions during construction and after possession?

Red flags to watch for

  • No registration number on advertisements or brochures for a project that should be registered.
  • Pressure to pay a large amount before you've seen the documents or the agreement.
  • Vague answers about possession dates, approvals or the total cost.
  • Reluctance to share documents or to let your lawyer review them.
  • Requests to pay in cash or without proper receipts.
  • Specifications that change between the brochure, the sample flat and the agreement.

A simple documents checklist

Before you commit, make sure you have — or have seen and had reviewed — the following:

  • The project's MahaRERA registration details
  • Title documents for the land, reviewed by your lawyer
  • The sanctioned building plan and relevant approvals
  • The draft agreement for sale
  • A written cost sheet showing every charge
  • Receipts for every payment you make
  • For a ready home, the occupancy certificate

The best developers make you feel confident asking questions — not hurried into answers.

About Patil Associates

Patil Associates is a Pune-based real estate developer established in 2008. Over 18+ years we've been involved in 8+ projects and developed more than 80,000 sq. ft., with our work concentrated in Baner and Balewadi. We handle construction, development and liaisoning, and enquiries are answered directly. View our projects or contact us.

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