How NRIs Should Allocate Indian Real Estate in 2026
An NRI buying in India is underwriting three things at once: the asset, the rupee, and the cost of not being there. Allocation that ignores the second and third is simply a resident portfolio with a longer flight.
Annual repatriation limit
USD 1M
LTCG rate post-FA 2024
12.5%
TDS on NRI sale (pre-certificate)
20%+
Core NRI jurisdictions covered
5
What the data says
Managed, leasable stock beats trophy assets for NRIs — distance makes operational simplicity worth real basis points.
Rupee depreciation of 2–3% annually must be modelled into the home-currency IRR before comparing to local alternatives.
Concentration in one corridor plus one developer is the most common NRI portfolio error we correct.
How EstateVeda executes this
Home-currency IRR modelling, not rupee headline returns.
NRO/NRE routing design and repatriation sequencing before the first payment.
POA drafting and apostille handling so transactions complete without travel.
Lower-deduction certificate (Section 197) planning ahead of any exit.
Risks we underwrite against
TDS over-withholding at 20%+ on sale, locking capital until refund.
DTAA relief lost through poor documentation of Indian tax paid.
Possession and tenant risk on unmanaged assets held from abroad.
EstateVeda verdict
Two to three assets, two corridors, professionally managed, with repatriation designed before purchase — not after.
Frequently asked questions
How much can an NRI repatriate from Indian property sale?
Up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO balances, subject to Form 15CA/15CB certification and taxes paid.
What is the LTCG rate for NRIs selling Indian property?
12.5% without indexation on long-term gains following the Finance Act 2024 regime, with the grandfathering option available for qualifying pre-July-2024 acquisitions.
Do NRIs need to visit India to buy property?
No. A properly drafted and apostilled Power of Attorney allows end-to-end execution remotely.