Buying a property is one of the safest investments. With increasing real estate developments in key cities, including the metros and top tier-2 cities, a home seeker has plenty of options to choose. Moreover, the journey of searching for a home and purchasing one has gone digital for many people. With real estate portals such as Housing.com offering consumers a seamless home search and home buying experience, one can realise the goals of purchasing their dream home without any hassles or physically visiting brokers or property sites. In this guide, we explain the process of purchasing a house through Housing.com.
Benefits of finding a house online
- Convenience: One of the main advantages of buying a house online is its ease and convenience, eliminating the need to visit the broker or owner. Most of the process can be completed online, from researching and selecting property to online booking.
- Verified properties: On real estate portals, buyers will find verified property listings, as there is a dedicated team working to ensure this.
- Virtual tour and map-based search: The trend of 360-degree virtual tours and sky view of properties is becoming popular. Moreover, users can check out a property’s location on a map and explore the neighbourhood without physically visiting there.
- Additional tools for support: Home seekers also have access to various tools online, such as a property valuation calculator, which can help them make an informed decision.
How to find a property through Housing.com?
#1. Visit the website and register for free
Home seekers can start their home-buying journey online by visiting the Housing.com portal at https://housing.com/. Users can create a free account. Creating an account on the portal allows users to save their searches and get similar benefits.
- Click on the login button in the top-right corner.
- Enter your mobile phone number and click on continue button.
- In the next step, enter the OTP received on your mobile phone in the given field.
- Click on submit.
- Complete the account creation process on Housing.com. Users can go to the profile tab and fill in their details, such as contact information, account preferences, etc.
#2. Start online home search
On the home page, click on the ‘Buy’ option from the given options and proceed.
#3. Select the city and locality
In the next step, select the city where you want to purchase the property from the dropdown menu. You can further customise the search by typing the locality name. Click on search to proceed.
#4. Explore the property listings
The following page on your screen will display various listings of properties to buy in the chosen locality. Users can see the total number of properties listed for this search.
#5. Customise property search
Various filters can be used to refine the property search. This includes a selection of the property type (apartment, villa, studio, plot, etc.), BHK type (1 BHK, 2 BHK, 3 BHK), preferred budget range, sale type (resale or new booking), construction status (ready-to-move-in or under-construction), etc. Prospective buyers can also click on ‘Projects’ to view the latest residential projects in the locality.
#6. Apply more filters
The search for a home in the locality can be refined further by applying ‘more filters’. This allows you to find a property listed by agent, owner, developer, etc., amenities available, age of the property, built-up area (in sqft) and other features.
#7. Shortlist a property
After exploring the listings, the interested buyer can shortlist a property and click to view more details, including the photos of the property, floor plan, pricing, developer details, etc. Home seekers can explore the ‘Tour this project virtually’ feature for further information. Brochures are generally available on the portal. If a home seeker wants to explore other similar properties in the same area, they can scroll the page and find relevant details.
#8. Explore additional tools
There are some useful tools available for prospective home seekers, which can aid them in their property buying process. These include:
- EMI calculator for estimating the amount of monthly EMIs to be paid if they avail of a home loan
- A property value calculator to estimate the sale or rental value of a property in a locality based on a few details to be entered (property type, bedrooms, etc.)
- Eligibility calculator to check the eligibility criteria and estimate the amount of home loan one is eligible to get
- Affordability calculator, a tool that helps a home seeker understand how much worth of a property they can afford.
#9. Contact seller
The buyer can contact the seller through the Housing.com portal by providing their name and contact number. They can proceed to the next steps in the property purchase journey and even get assistance regarding home loans. At this stage, property seekers must be ready with all the important questions to ask the developer or seller. It is also crucial for the buyers to check the RERA details of the project.
Click to read about the crucial questions to ask a builder when buying a property
#10. Schedule property visits
Buyers should schedule a property site visit after a discussion with the seller. Site visits are an extremely important step in the home-buying process as a prospective buyer gets to see the property’s actual condition and get a closer look at its features and even the neighbourhood. They can also assess the layout and area of the property, which may have been difficult to gauge by looking at the images.
Before finalising the property, the prospective buyer must carry out the necessary due diligence by verifying the title, encumbrance certificate and various property documents to prevent potential financial issues or legal disputes. One can take the help of a legal professional to navigate these stages. After this, the final step in the negotiation with the seller and understanding the payment process.
Click to read about the importance of site visit while buying a house
#11. Apply for a home loan
The housing.com portal also provides the facility to apply for home loans to finance one’s home purchase. Go to your account and click on ‘Apply for home loan’ under services. Buyers can explore the various home loan offers by different lenders and choose the one offering attractive interest rates. To avail this service, one must enter basic details such as property amount, city, pin code, etc. and other personal details. The lender will get in touch with you.
Housing.com News Viewpoint
The home-buying process involves various stages and it may take a few weeks to several months to purchase a property. The availability of real estate portals such as Housing.com simplifies the process and makes it faster for potential home buyers. There is a higher possibility to finding the desired property based on one’s budget preference, location and space needs, etc., in a few clicks.
FAQs
How to purchase a house online?
Visit a real estate portal such as Housing.com and create an account. Start exploring the property listings and customise your search using the filters.
Is it safe to buy property online?
When purchasing a property online, buyers should ensure to conduct their due-diligence by checking the developer’s background, project’s RERA details, verifying the property documents and conducting inspection of the property.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
