**The All-In Cost Problem** Most property advertisements display the base price — sometimes without even GST. But by the time you've moved into your new home, you've paid for a constellation of additional charges that the brochure never mentioned. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of costs that buyers routinely underestimate. **1. GST on Under-Construction Properties** Rate: 5% of base price (effective rate after ITC) On a ₹70 lakh apartment: ₹3.5 lakh. Note: There is no GST on ready-to-move (post-OC) properties. **2. Stamp Duty and Registration** Tamil Nadu: ~11% of guideline value (7% stamp + 4% registration) Telangana: ~6% of market value (4% + 1.5% + 0.5%) Karnataka: ~6.6% of market value On a ₹70 lakh property, budget ₹4.2–₹7.7 lakh depending on state. **3. Maintenance Deposit** Most builders collect a corpus fund (1–2 years of maintenance) at possession. On a building with ₹5,000/month maintenance, that's ₹60,000–₹1.2 lakh upfront. Ask if this is in addition to or included in the quoted price. **4. Preferential Location Charges (PLC)** Facing a garden? Higher floor? Vastu-compliant corner unit? Expect ₹100–₹350 per sqft extra. On a 1,200 sqft apartment, PLC can add ₹1.2–₹4.2 lakh. **5. Car Parking** Covered parking: ₹4–₹8 lakh in major South Indian cities (often quoted separately from the flat price). Open parking: ₹1–₹2 lakh. Some builders include one covered parking slot; always confirm. **6. Interior and Fitment Work** Even if the apartment is "semi-furnished," you'll need to budget for: - Flooring upgrade, false ceiling, painting: ₹3–₹5 lakh (for 1,200 sqft) - Kitchen cabinets (if not included): ₹2–₹4 lakh - Wardrobes: ₹1–₹2 lakh - Curtains, light fixtures, appliances: ₹1–₹2 lakh Total: ₹7–₹13 lakh for a 2BHK. **7. Home Loan Processing Fee** Bank processing fees: 0.25–0.5% of loan amount. On a ₹50 lakh loan: ₹12,500–₹25,000. Plus insurance premium (if bank requires loan protection cover): ₹30,000–₹80,000. **8. Legal and Due Diligence Costs** - Property lawyer fees: ₹15,000–₹40,000 - Encumbrance certificate: ₹200–₹500 - RERA verification: Free (online) - Pre-possession inspection (snagging): ₹5,000–₹15,000 **The Real Total** | Cost Component | ₹70L Apartment (TN) | |---------------|---------------------| | Base price | ₹70,00,000 | | GST (5% UC) | ₹3,50,000 | | Stamp + Registration (~11%) | ₹7,70,000 | | Parking (covered) | ₹5,00,000 | | Maintenance deposit | ₹1,00,000 | | PLC | ₹1,50,000 | | Interiors (basic) | ₹8,00,000 | | Legal + misc | ₹50,000 | | **Total** | **₹97,20,000** | A "₹70 lakh apartment" costs nearly ₹1 crore when you're done. Always budget this way.