Buying your first home is one of those things everyone has an opinion about, and most of that advice is either too generic or written for a different city entirely. Here's what actually matters if you're buying in Kolkata specifically.
**Start with a real budget, not a wishlist.** Lenders typically finance up to 80-90% of a property's value, but your EMI shouldn't exceed 35-40% of your monthly income if you want breathing room. Before you fall in love with a 3 BHK in Salt Lake, get a home loan eligibility check done — it takes a day and saves months of disappointment.
**Understand the price-per-sqft conversation.** Kolkata prices vary enormously by locality — from around ₹3,200/sqft in Sonarpur to well over ₹15,000/sqft on Park Street. Don't just compare the total price of two flats; compare price per sqft in the same micro-market, because that's the number that tells you if you're getting a fair deal.
**Check RERA registration before anything else.** Every project legally sold in West Bengal needs a RERA number, and you can verify it on the WB HIRA portal in under a minute. This single check protects you from an enormous amount of risk — possession delays, undisclosed liabilities, and misrepresented carpet area, to name a few.
**Visit at two different times of day.** A site that looks bright and quiet at 11 AM on a Tuesday can feel completely different at 7 PM when everyone's back from work. If waterlogging, traffic, or noise are concerns in that pocket, an evening visit will tell you far more than the brochure will.
**Budget for the full cost, not just the flat.** Stamp duty in West Bengal runs 6-7% depending on the corporation zone, plus 1% registration fee. Add in maintenance deposits, parking charges, and interior costs, and your actual out-of-pocket cost is usually 8-12% above the quoted price. Plan for it upfront so it doesn't derail your closing.
**Don't skip the possession checklist.** Before you take handover, walk the flat with a checklist — fittings, electrical points, water pressure, seepage, lift functioning — and get any snags noted in writing with a timeline for fixing them. It's far easier to get things resolved before you move your furniture in.
First homes are emotional purchases, which is exactly why it helps to have someone on your side who isn't emotionally invested. That's what we do at Lanivas Properties — zero brokerage, RERA-verified listings, and honest answers about the actual trade-offs, not just the sales pitch.