[Fenni]

Hello Micky,
I know your question is a year old but I would like to know how you got on purchasing property in India?
I see you had a lot of advice from Indian people wanting to help you to purchase.
Be very careful in trusting anyone in India. It is a very corrupt society and any opportunity to 'capture' a foreigner to milk for money is quickly seized by those very skilled in doing this.
I am British and have had a company in India since 2003. This is for tourism and not just for the purchase of property. It has not been easy!
Indian people can come here, set up business, buy property – even get elected to parliament.
There is no reciprocal arrangement between India and Britain.

It used to be that you could set up a company and say the property was for use within the company and nobody questioned it. You could also purchase after staying in India for a long time. Now, visas are stamped with the words ‘Stay during each visit not to exceed 180 days’. Even if a person manages to get a visa valid for a year (very unlikely these days) they still have to leave India before 180 is up. Long term foreign ‘residents’ in India visit Sri-Lanka for a few days.

Certain British people can purchase property in India - no problem – provided that they can prove they have a drop of India blood. This means, a parent/grand-parent has to have been born in India. You can see these people daily in the visa office, London trying to get duel nationality for their children – because they are married to a person who’s grandfather happened to have been born in India before being brought to UK.
You get the picture!
Some of these British Indians know nothing about India. Many have never even been there – but they want to get a slice of the booming property prices.
When some British people are offered opportunities which are denied to other British people - this is racism.

There has been a purge to remove foreigners from India and Goa is the worst hit.
There are many horror stories. People have lost everything.
Homes have even been burned down by the authorities.
There is a special programme on Radio 4 ‘You & Yours’ tomorrow 23 May 2008 where they will be interviewing some of these people. I do hope you are keeping up with this forum and will get to hear the programme.
Else where in India it might be easier to purchase. Goa is particularly strict now as that is where the majority of foreigners can be seen. At one time there was an article in a Goa newspaper listing all the foreign owned properties – very frightening.
The new rules have brought out new fraudsters.
People are buying on the understanding that a British company is involved. Buyers are shown evidence of this. They hand over money at each stage of building – only to find that when the property is complete they do not own it in any way.
If you still want your own place in India – and it is a very beautiful country let me know by replying to this message.
Best wishes.
Treat Yourself in India Ltd