Guides

Short, sourced explainers for the decisions behind the calculators: what the rules are, what changes the number, and what to check before you pay.

• PropertyThe total cost of buying a flat in India, every charge explainedThe brochure price is not what you pay. Stamp duty, registration, GST, brokerage, legal fees and loan charges can add 8–15%. Here is the full list with typical ranges.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• PropertyTDS on property purchase under the Income-tax Act, 2025Buying property worth ₹50 lakh or more means you must deduct tax at source. What changed on 1 April 2026, the 1% rule for resident sellers, the NRI seller rules and how to deposit it.3 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• PropertyStamp duty and registration charges by state (2026)Current headline stamp duty and registration rates in Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan, what the duty is charged on, and how women buyers save.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• InvestmentSIP vs FD: which suits which goalFDs are safe, taxable and barely beat inflation after tax. Equity SIPs grow faster over long horizons but swing hard. How to match each to a goal, with the tax and return maths.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• PropertyRental yield in Indian cities: what is a good returnResidential yields of 2–4% look poor beside a 7% FD, yet people still buy to let. Gross vs net yield, typical yields by city and segment, forgotten costs, and how to judge total return.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• LoansPrepaying a home loan: should you reduce the EMI or the tenure?Prepayment is a risk-free return equal to your loan rate. Why cutting tenure saves far more than cutting EMI, when to prepay, what RBI says about charges and how to compare it with investing.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• TaxOld vs new tax regime in 2026-27: who should switchThe new regime is the default and tax-free up to ₹12.75 lakh of salary; the old regime still wins for heavy deductors. Slabs, break-even deductions, and what the 2025 Act changed.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• PropertyGaj, bigha, acre and more: Indian land units explained state by stateA gaj is a square yard everywhere, but a bigha in Rajasthan is three times a bigha in Punjab. The conversion factors behind Indian land records, and the traps to avoid.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• TaxHRA exemption rules with examplesHRA is partly tax-free under the old regime. The three-limb formula, which cities count as metro, paying rent to parents, the landlord PAN rule and when HRA justifies the old regime.3 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• LoansHow much home loan can you get on your salaryBanks decide your loan from repayment capacity, not the property price. The FOIR rule, how tenure and rate change the answer, RBI's loan-to-value caps and ways to raise your eligibility.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• ConstructionHouse construction cost per sq ft in India (2026)What it costs to build a house in 2026 by finish level and city tier, how the money splits across stages, material thumb rules per square foot, and how to read a contractor quote.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• PropertyGST on under-construction property: 1% vs 5%, and when there is noneGST applies only to homes bought before completion. The affordable housing test, why the rate is lower than it looks, ready-to-move and resale flats, and billing errors to challenge.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• SalaryCTC vs in-hand salary: decoding your offer letterCost to company includes money you never see. How to go from CTC to monthly take-home, what employer PF and gratuity do to the number, and the questions to ask before accepting an offer.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• ConstructionCarpet area vs built-up vs super built-up: what RERA says and what you actually getBuilders quote super built-up area, you live in carpet area, and the gap is often 25–40%. The legal definitions, typical loading factors, and how to compare two flats fairly.3 min read · Updated 2026-10-31
• TaxCapital gains tax on property and equity after the July 2024 changesHolding periods, the 12.5% long-term rate, the ₹1.25 lakh equity exemption, the end of indexation, the grandfathering option for old property and the exemptions that can bring the tax to zero.4 min read · Updated 2026-10-31