GOA - Buyer Beware!
May 18th 2007, 1:53 pm
#108
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 863
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Hi all,
Just reading a few old articles from the Herald about foreigners, one para from a particularly cynical article may be of interest.
Not all goanss see FNs the way we see ourselves, (especially the retired ones).
The latest trend is of Goa being a “retirement” resort, where old foreigners settle down. The reality is that most of these “retirees” are running away from the law in their countries, or are perverts and pedophiles, like Freddy Peats, with elaborate “covers” and “front” activities
Just reading a few old articles from the Herald about foreigners, one para from a particularly cynical article may be of interest.
Not all goanss see FNs the way we see ourselves, (especially the retired ones).
The latest trend is of Goa being a “retirement” resort, where old foreigners settle down. The reality is that most of these “retirees” are running away from the law in their countries, or are perverts and pedophiles, like Freddy Peats, with elaborate “covers” and “front” activities
May 18th 2007, 2:40 pm
#109
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,941
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Hi all,
Just reading a few old articles from the Herald about foreigners, one para from a particularly cynical article may be of interest.
Not all goanss see FNs the way we see ourselves, (especially the retired ones).
The latest trend is of Goa being a “retirement” resort, where old foreigners settle down. The reality is that most of these “retirees” are running away from the law in their countries, or are perverts and pedophiles, like Freddy Peats, with elaborate “covers” and “front” activities
Just reading a few old articles from the Herald about foreigners, one para from a particularly cynical article may be of interest.
Not all goanss see FNs the way we see ourselves, (especially the retired ones).
The latest trend is of Goa being a “retirement” resort, where old foreigners settle down. The reality is that most of these “retirees” are running away from the law in their countries, or are perverts and pedophiles, like Freddy Peats, with elaborate “covers” and “front” activities
is that on O Heraldo's website - do you have a link?
cheers (_)?
May 18th 2007, 3:25 pm
#110
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 863
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Yes, also try herald.com
The full article
Dark underbelly of tourism
All ok with tourism? Not quite. Glamour, at times, is only skin-deep. Scratch the surface, and out oozes the filth, as the recent IFFI tamasha has proved.
Scratch the surface of Goa tourism and a similar thing happens. In fact there’s a dark underbelly to Goa’s tourism boom which everybody has been strenuously avoiding looking at because the reality of it makes everybody uncomfortable. It’s easier to pretend that it does not exist, but it does, and it’s not going to go away.
The latest is the saga of the River Princess, in which the Director of Tourism in the Government of Goa was recently suspended because the ship is still stuck off a famous beach for the last five years. In a nutshell the saga is al about unscrupulous politicians and bureaucrats turning a blind eye to the rape of the Goan tourism environment, for reasons best known to them.
Recently a tall foreigner started talking tome while I was having masala squid and a drink at the sea-facing restaurant at the Tourist Hostel on Calangute beach. It was the peak of the May summer holiday season and the beach was crawling with “local” and “Indian” tourists. Sounding disappointed at the hordes of Indians, the tall foreigner, who turned out to be Dutch, told me, “Goa was discovered by the hippies”. And therein lies a tale.
The hippies are an American phenomenon from the mid-1960’s, and were mostly a bunch of useless wastrels who were shunned by the mainstream American society by the late 1960’s. They were shunned because they refused to believe in the work ethic, made no contribution to society, lived off other people, or sold drugs and prostituted themselves for a living. It was because of this image that life became difficult for them in the U.S., and consequently many of them traveled to Europe, Africa, S. America and Asia to find safe havens where they could live the hippie life. Many of them came to India since the life of the wandering sadhu was similar to that of the hippie, and eventually Goa – a backward state in one of the most backward countries in the world.
A typical hippie living in Goa lives off the money he/she makes from smuggling drugs. The heroin smuggling hippie goes to Thailand to buy the heroin and smuggles it to the U.S. where it is sold for a handsome profit. The hippie then comes to Goa to live for the “season”. There are other hippies who trade in other drugs, but almost all of them (99 per cent) make their living in this manner.
Which is why Goa is one of the better-known centers of drug trafficking. In fact the largest number of foreign tourists who come to Goa – the so-called backpackers and rave tourists, come only because of the drugs and the drug experiences. Apart from the Thailand thing (also “discovered” by the hippies), there’s also the Manali connection; Manali being in Himachal Pradesh, from where comes some of the best cannabis – the food of the gods.
Others smuggle in the “designer” drugs like LSD, ecstasy, for use at the parties in Goa, or bound for onward destinations. So, in the season, the north Goa beach belt of Anjuna-Vagator and even further northwards, besides elsewhere, becomes a mass gathering – like an Olympics – of drug users, addicts, abusers, pedlars, dealers, smugglers, etc. At a typical New Year’s rave party you find people from almost all countries, diverse nationalities and races, united by one thing – drugs. Everything, of course, is done under the benign gaze of the Goa administration.
If you think the above is the dark underbelly of tourism here, you’re not fully correct. All the above have an even more darker side. Over the years a handful of people – the dons/dealers – have come to dominate the drug scene in Goa. What is even deadlier is the link the dons/dealers have forged with the law enforcement and other authorities. Typically, a dealer will target a rich drug addict-tourist and provide him with the drugs. The dealer will then “inform” the police, who will consequently nab the unsuspecting drug tourist, who is then let off after paying a suitable “settlement”, which usually runs into lakhs of rupees.
In another variation on this loot, the unsuspecting drug tourist is given an overdose of some psychedelic like LSD and “flipped out” or made insane (which is what happens if you take too much LSD) and then relieved of his money. I once encountered a British national who had around Rs. two crore with him when he had come down to Goa. Here, after an LSD overdose and an “enlightening experience” at one of the raves (which, in a way, are pseudo spiritual gatherings), he was persuaded to invest in a “nightclub” in Anjuna and make a “lot of money”. Over a period of two years, all his money was spent on constructing the nightclub, which of course never quite saw the light of day. Left with no money, he was finally abandoned by his local partners, while his girlfriend went away with somebody else.
Others are given a “good dose” and sent into “Goa trance” from which it sometimes takes years to snap out of. In these years the person will keep coming bck to the parties in Goa to relive that trance experience. The hippies, of course, led and still lead a glorified existence in Goa where they were put up on a pedestal by the Goans, usually because they were very generous with the money.
The whole of Goa’s tourism rests on this foundation. Apart from this, people in the tourist trade say the charter tourist arrivals have been dropping in the last three years, while the Tourism Department claims arrivals have been increasing. Can any Director of Tourism be believed? It may even be possible that the charter tourism boom is over, as an industry insider told me once. Now it’s the domestic tourism, er, boom. But with decreasing numbers of nude and semi-nude foreign women on Goan beaches – the primary attraction for domestic tourists – even that boom may peter out after a while, helped along by the “no-Indians” attitude in the beach belt. Broke, bankrupt and unviable resorts, of course, are already an old story; many of them are in legal tangles with the original landowners.
The latest trend is of Goa being a “retirement” resort, where old foreigners settle down. The reality is that most of these “retirees” are running away from the law in their countries, or are perverts and pedophiles, like Freddy Peats, with elaborate “covers” and “front” activities.
But then everything looks hunky-dory on the surface, so nobody is really worried, least of all the powers that be. One wave goes, the other wave starts to come.
douglas
May 18th 2007, 3:35 pm
#111
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Goa/UK
Posts: 589
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Hi a_f_d
Yes, also try herald.com
The full article
Dark underbelly of tourism
All ok with tourism? Not quite. Glamour, at times, is only skin-deep. Scratch the surface, and out oozes the filth, as the recent IFFI tamasha has proved.
Scratch the surface of Goa tourism and a similar thing happens. In fact there’s a dark underbelly to Goa’s tourism boom which everybody has been strenuously avoiding looking at because the reality of it makes everybody uncomfortable. It’s easier to pretend that it does not exist, but it does, and it’s not going to go away.
The latest is the saga of the River Princess, in which the Director of Tourism in the Government of Goa was recently suspended because the ship is still stuck off a famous beach for the last five years. In a nutshell the saga is al about unscrupulous politicians and bureaucrats turning a blind eye to the rape of the Goan tourism environment, for reasons best known to them.
Recently a tall foreigner started talking tome while I was having masala squid and a drink at the sea-facing restaurant at the Tourist Hostel on Calangute beach. It was the peak of the May summer holiday season and the beach was crawling with “local” and “Indian” tourists. Sounding disappointed at the hordes of Indians, the tall foreigner, who turned out to be Dutch, told me, “Goa was discovered by the hippies”. And therein lies a tale.
The hippies are an American phenomenon from the mid-1960’s, and were mostly a bunch of useless wastrels who were shunned by the mainstream American society by the late 1960’s. They were shunned because they refused to believe in the work ethic, made no contribution to society, lived off other people, or sold drugs and prostituted themselves for a living. It was because of this image that life became difficult for them in the U.S., and consequently many of them traveled to Europe, Africa, S. America and Asia to find safe havens where they could live the hippie life. Many of them came to India since the life of the wandering sadhu was similar to that of the hippie, and eventually Goa – a backward state in one of the most backward countries in the world.
A typical hippie living in Goa lives off the money he/she makes from smuggling drugs. The heroin smuggling hippie goes to Thailand to buy the heroin and smuggles it to the U.S. where it is sold for a handsome profit. The hippie then comes to Goa to live for the “season”. There are other hippies who trade in other drugs, but almost all of them (99 per cent) make their living in this manner.
Which is why Goa is one of the better-known centers of drug trafficking. In fact the largest number of foreign tourists who come to Goa – the so-called backpackers and rave tourists, come only because of the drugs and the drug experiences. Apart from the Thailand thing (also “discovered” by the hippies), there’s also the Manali connection; Manali being in Himachal Pradesh, from where comes some of the best cannabis – the food of the gods.
Others smuggle in the “designer” drugs like LSD, ecstasy, for use at the parties in Goa, or bound for onward destinations. So, in the season, the north Goa beach belt of Anjuna-Vagator and even further northwards, besides elsewhere, becomes a mass gathering – like an Olympics – of drug users, addicts, abusers, pedlars, dealers, smugglers, etc. At a typical New Year’s rave party you find people from almost all countries, diverse nationalities and races, united by one thing – drugs. Everything, of course, is done under the benign gaze of the Goa administration.
If you think the above is the dark underbelly of tourism here, you’re not fully correct. All the above have an even more darker side. Over the years a handful of people – the dons/dealers – have come to dominate the drug scene in Goa. What is even deadlier is the link the dons/dealers have forged with the law enforcement and other authorities. Typically, a dealer will target a rich drug addict-tourist and provide him with the drugs. The dealer will then “inform” the police, who will consequently nab the unsuspecting drug tourist, who is then let off after paying a suitable “settlement”, which usually runs into lakhs of rupees.
In another variation on this loot, the unsuspecting drug tourist is given an overdose of some psychedelic like LSD and “flipped out” or made insane (which is what happens if you take too much LSD) and then relieved of his money. I once encountered a British national who had around Rs. two crore with him when he had come down to Goa. Here, after an LSD overdose and an “enlightening experience” at one of the raves (which, in a way, are pseudo spiritual gatherings), he was persuaded to invest in a “nightclub” in Anjuna and make a “lot of money”. Over a period of two years, all his money was spent on constructing the nightclub, which of course never quite saw the light of day. Left with no money, he was finally abandoned by his local partners, while his girlfriend went away with somebody else.
Others are given a “good dose” and sent into “Goa trance” from which it sometimes takes years to snap out of. In these years the person will keep coming bck to the parties in Goa to relive that trance experience. The hippies, of course, led and still lead a glorified existence in Goa where they were put up on a pedestal by the Goans, usually because they were very generous with the money.
The whole of Goa’s tourism rests on this foundation. Apart from this, people in the tourist trade say the charter tourist arrivals have been dropping in the last three years, while the Tourism Department claims arrivals have been increasing. Can any Director of Tourism be believed? It may even be possible that the charter tourism boom is over, as an industry insider told me once. Now it’s the domestic tourism, er, boom. But with decreasing numbers of nude and semi-nude foreign women on Goan beaches – the primary attraction for domestic tourists – even that boom may peter out after a while, helped along by the “no-Indians” attitude in the beach belt. Broke, bankrupt and unviable resorts, of course, are already an old story; many of them are in legal tangles with the original landowners.
The latest trend is of Goa being a “retirement” resort, where old foreigners settle down. The reality is that most of these “retirees” are running away from the law in their countries, or are perverts and pedophiles, like Freddy Peats, with elaborate “covers” and “front” activities.
But then everything looks hunky-dory on the surface, so nobody is really worried, least of all the powers that be. One wave goes, the other wave starts to come.
douglas
Yes, also try herald.com
The full article
Dark underbelly of tourism
All ok with tourism? Not quite. Glamour, at times, is only skin-deep. Scratch the surface, and out oozes the filth, as the recent IFFI tamasha has proved.
Scratch the surface of Goa tourism and a similar thing happens. In fact there’s a dark underbelly to Goa’s tourism boom which everybody has been strenuously avoiding looking at because the reality of it makes everybody uncomfortable. It’s easier to pretend that it does not exist, but it does, and it’s not going to go away.
The latest is the saga of the River Princess, in which the Director of Tourism in the Government of Goa was recently suspended because the ship is still stuck off a famous beach for the last five years. In a nutshell the saga is al about unscrupulous politicians and bureaucrats turning a blind eye to the rape of the Goan tourism environment, for reasons best known to them.
Recently a tall foreigner started talking tome while I was having masala squid and a drink at the sea-facing restaurant at the Tourist Hostel on Calangute beach. It was the peak of the May summer holiday season and the beach was crawling with “local” and “Indian” tourists. Sounding disappointed at the hordes of Indians, the tall foreigner, who turned out to be Dutch, told me, “Goa was discovered by the hippies”. And therein lies a tale.
The hippies are an American phenomenon from the mid-1960’s, and were mostly a bunch of useless wastrels who were shunned by the mainstream American society by the late 1960’s. They were shunned because they refused to believe in the work ethic, made no contribution to society, lived off other people, or sold drugs and prostituted themselves for a living. It was because of this image that life became difficult for them in the U.S., and consequently many of them traveled to Europe, Africa, S. America and Asia to find safe havens where they could live the hippie life. Many of them came to India since the life of the wandering sadhu was similar to that of the hippie, and eventually Goa – a backward state in one of the most backward countries in the world.
A typical hippie living in Goa lives off the money he/she makes from smuggling drugs. The heroin smuggling hippie goes to Thailand to buy the heroin and smuggles it to the U.S. where it is sold for a handsome profit. The hippie then comes to Goa to live for the “season”. There are other hippies who trade in other drugs, but almost all of them (99 per cent) make their living in this manner.
Which is why Goa is one of the better-known centers of drug trafficking. In fact the largest number of foreign tourists who come to Goa – the so-called backpackers and rave tourists, come only because of the drugs and the drug experiences. Apart from the Thailand thing (also “discovered” by the hippies), there’s also the Manali connection; Manali being in Himachal Pradesh, from where comes some of the best cannabis – the food of the gods.
Others smuggle in the “designer” drugs like LSD, ecstasy, for use at the parties in Goa, or bound for onward destinations. So, in the season, the north Goa beach belt of Anjuna-Vagator and even further northwards, besides elsewhere, becomes a mass gathering – like an Olympics – of drug users, addicts, abusers, pedlars, dealers, smugglers, etc. At a typical New Year’s rave party you find people from almost all countries, diverse nationalities and races, united by one thing – drugs. Everything, of course, is done under the benign gaze of the Goa administration.
If you think the above is the dark underbelly of tourism here, you’re not fully correct. All the above have an even more darker side. Over the years a handful of people – the dons/dealers – have come to dominate the drug scene in Goa. What is even deadlier is the link the dons/dealers have forged with the law enforcement and other authorities. Typically, a dealer will target a rich drug addict-tourist and provide him with the drugs. The dealer will then “inform” the police, who will consequently nab the unsuspecting drug tourist, who is then let off after paying a suitable “settlement”, which usually runs into lakhs of rupees.
In another variation on this loot, the unsuspecting drug tourist is given an overdose of some psychedelic like LSD and “flipped out” or made insane (which is what happens if you take too much LSD) and then relieved of his money. I once encountered a British national who had around Rs. two crore with him when he had come down to Goa. Here, after an LSD overdose and an “enlightening experience” at one of the raves (which, in a way, are pseudo spiritual gatherings), he was persuaded to invest in a “nightclub” in Anjuna and make a “lot of money”. Over a period of two years, all his money was spent on constructing the nightclub, which of course never quite saw the light of day. Left with no money, he was finally abandoned by his local partners, while his girlfriend went away with somebody else.
Others are given a “good dose” and sent into “Goa trance” from which it sometimes takes years to snap out of. In these years the person will keep coming bck to the parties in Goa to relive that trance experience. The hippies, of course, led and still lead a glorified existence in Goa where they were put up on a pedestal by the Goans, usually because they were very generous with the money.
The whole of Goa’s tourism rests on this foundation. Apart from this, people in the tourist trade say the charter tourist arrivals have been dropping in the last three years, while the Tourism Department claims arrivals have been increasing. Can any Director of Tourism be believed? It may even be possible that the charter tourism boom is over, as an industry insider told me once. Now it’s the domestic tourism, er, boom. But with decreasing numbers of nude and semi-nude foreign women on Goan beaches – the primary attraction for domestic tourists – even that boom may peter out after a while, helped along by the “no-Indians” attitude in the beach belt. Broke, bankrupt and unviable resorts, of course, are already an old story; many of them are in legal tangles with the original landowners.
The latest trend is of Goa being a “retirement” resort, where old foreigners settle down. The reality is that most of these “retirees” are running away from the law in their countries, or are perverts and pedophiles, like Freddy Peats, with elaborate “covers” and “front” activities.
But then everything looks hunky-dory on the surface, so nobody is really worried, least of all the powers that be. One wave goes, the other wave starts to come.
douglas
HERALD FEB. 23RD "FEMA ISSUES 70 NOTICES TO FOREIGNERS"
Navhind Times January 29th 2007 " FEMA permits purchase of land by foreigners:" Ferreira
Goan Observer by Misha Fernandes titled "Foreigners Own real Estate Firms in Goa"
May 18th 2007, 3:53 pm
#113
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,941
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
and I must give off the wrong vibes - I have never been offered illegal drugs in Goa - despite (or perhaps because of) being old enough to have been a hippy (the first time around - not the new wave <bg>)
May 18th 2007, 6:44 pm
#114
Just Joined
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
What a lot of misinformation on this site along with doom and gloom. I bought two apartments and a villa 2 years ago in Goa. One in the Colonia De Braganza Resort (through Churchills). I was on a tourist Visa and the 180 days does'nt have to be consecutive. I sold one apartment and the Villa for double the price just before christmas. I am living in the other apartment for most of the year.
There is no problem buying property in India through a reputable agent and with a reputable builder. There are lots of problems if you don't, just like anywhere else in the world.
simple!!!
MaryLeigh
There is no problem buying property in India through a reputable agent and with a reputable builder. There are lots of problems if you don't, just like anywhere else in the world.
simple!!!
MaryLeigh
May 18th 2007, 7:30 pm
#115
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 38
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
maryleigh,
You must be the only one to do so, think everyone
should take anything your saying with a very,very large
pinch of salt. You must be a magician,property sales person
for developers or the luckiest person in goa.YOU CANNOT
BUY proprty on a tourist visa.
You must be the only one to do so, think everyone
should take anything your saying with a very,very large
pinch of salt. You must be a magician,property sales person
for developers or the luckiest person in goa.YOU CANNOT
BUY proprty on a tourist visa.
May 18th 2007, 11:11 pm
#116
Just Joined
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Well, you sound like a very nice man indeed.
If you read what I said you will see that I have bought and sold on a tourist visa. The residency requirements are not consecutive ergo, you can come and go within the year once the total is over 182 days. You don't have to become resident to buy a property. You are seen as resident if you do the time.
I know what I'm talking about. I live in Goa and I have done it. Not listened to the bountiful rumour mill or the sad stories, but actually done it.
There is a general election coming up in Goa in June and lots of nationalist rhetoric for votes but no change in any laws. It will all vanish after the election and settle down again.
The problem with India is that the rules are not clearly stated, nobody wants to take responsibility for anything so rumour abounds and the gloom merchants love an audience. Enough said.
I have a life so won't get into any more chat, believe what I say or don't.........just wanted to give my experience.
Maryleigh..............
If you read what I said you will see that I have bought and sold on a tourist visa. The residency requirements are not consecutive ergo, you can come and go within the year once the total is over 182 days. You don't have to become resident to buy a property. You are seen as resident if you do the time.
I know what I'm talking about. I live in Goa and I have done it. Not listened to the bountiful rumour mill or the sad stories, but actually done it.
There is a general election coming up in Goa in June and lots of nationalist rhetoric for votes but no change in any laws. It will all vanish after the election and settle down again.
The problem with India is that the rules are not clearly stated, nobody wants to take responsibility for anything so rumour abounds and the gloom merchants love an audience. Enough said.
I have a life so won't get into any more chat, believe what I say or don't.........just wanted to give my experience.
Maryleigh..............
May 19th 2007, 1:34 am
#117
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 863
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Well, you sound like a very nice man indeed.
If you read what I said you will see that I have bought and sold on a tourist visa. The residency requirements are not consecutive ergo, you can come and go within the year once the total is over 182 days. You don't have to become resident to buy a property. You are seen as resident if you do the time.
I know what I'm talking about. I live in Goa and I have done it. Not listened to the bountiful rumour mill or the sad stories, but actually done it.
There is a general election coming up in Goa in June and lots of nationalist rhetoric for votes but no change in any laws. It will all vanish after the election and settle down again.
The problem with India is that the rules are not clearly stated, nobody wants to take responsibility for anything so rumour abounds and the gloom merchants love an audience. Enough said.
I have a life so won't get into any more chat, believe what I say or don't.........just wanted to give my experience.
Maryleigh..............
If you read what I said you will see that I have bought and sold on a tourist visa. The residency requirements are not consecutive ergo, you can come and go within the year once the total is over 182 days. You don't have to become resident to buy a property. You are seen as resident if you do the time.
I know what I'm talking about. I live in Goa and I have done it. Not listened to the bountiful rumour mill or the sad stories, but actually done it.
There is a general election coming up in Goa in June and lots of nationalist rhetoric for votes but no change in any laws. It will all vanish after the election and settle down again.
The problem with India is that the rules are not clearly stated, nobody wants to take responsibility for anything so rumour abounds and the gloom merchants love an audience. Enough said.
I have a life so won't get into any more chat, believe what I say or don't.........just wanted to give my experience.
Maryleigh..............
The only thing you have said that has any substance is that the 183 day stay does not have to be consecutive.
Please give us details of registrations of both your original pucrchase and subsequent sale, otherwise you will have no credibility on this site.
It is possible that the registrar incorrectly completed a transaction at some time in the past. You may also have signed an affidavit and incorrectly stated that you complied with FEMA.
No more, the home dept and RBI are monitoring all transactions by FNs.
The only thing you are likely to get after the election is new goan legislation
regarding FNs.
douglas
May 19th 2007, 8:43 am
#118
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Goa/UK
Posts: 589
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Well, you sound like a very nice man indeed.
If you read what I said you will see that I have bought and sold on a tourist visa. The residency requirements are not consecutive ergo, you can come and go within the year once the total is over 182 days. You don't have to become resident to buy a property. You are seen as resident if you do the time.
I know what I'm talking about. I live in Goa and I have done it. Not listened to the bountiful rumour mill or the sad stories, but actually done it.
There is a general election coming up in Goa in June and lots of nationalist rhetoric for votes but no change in any laws. It will all vanish after the election and settle down again.
The problem with India is that the rules are not clearly stated, nobody wants to take responsibility for anything so rumour abounds and the gloom merchants love an audience. Enough said.
I have a life so won't get into any more chat, believe what I say or don't.........just wanted to give my experience.
Maryleigh..............
If you read what I said you will see that I have bought and sold on a tourist visa. The residency requirements are not consecutive ergo, you can come and go within the year once the total is over 182 days. You don't have to become resident to buy a property. You are seen as resident if you do the time.
I know what I'm talking about. I live in Goa and I have done it. Not listened to the bountiful rumour mill or the sad stories, but actually done it.
There is a general election coming up in Goa in June and lots of nationalist rhetoric for votes but no change in any laws. It will all vanish after the election and settle down again.
The problem with India is that the rules are not clearly stated, nobody wants to take responsibility for anything so rumour abounds and the gloom merchants love an audience. Enough said.
I have a life so won't get into any more chat, believe what I say or don't.........just wanted to give my experience.
Maryleigh..............
We have bought a freehold property in Goa on a 5 year x visa, we did the "Agreement of Sale" in 2001 and had the Sale Deed registered in 2005, but like some other people in Goa we are being investigate by the Directorate of Enforcement. See a thread from Noni of India Mike where she kindly prints the whole letter she received.
Don't be too sure you are in the clear - everybody used to say to us "You are alright you have your Deeds" but we always said, We are as safe as you can be in Goa.
We feel we should have nothing to worry about as we did over 220 days on an x visa, the money was sent via the appropriate banking channels etc but you never know.
I know some Advocates say you can get your deeds on a tourist visa, but I don't think half of them understand the law themselves.
How long visa have you got? Do you leave the country to renew it?
What is interesting (I have just got our Sales Deeds to have a look at) is in the Affidavit it states:-
2) We say that we will be obtaining the Sale Deed pertaining to the said apartment to be registered before the sub-registrar of Bardez.
3. We say we shall be responsible for all acts and consequences, arising from the registration of the said sale deed by Civil Registrar cum Sub-Registrar of Bardez.
4. We say that the Civil Registrar cum Sub-Registrar of Bardex, shall NOT be responsible in any manner whatsoever in respect of registration of the above sale deed.
5. We say that the Civil Registrar cum Sub-Registrar shall not be answerable for any acts to the Government of Goa or Reserve Bank of India, on account of registration of the above sale deed.
As I say they are covering their backs all ways.
I hope everything stays hunky dorey for you, and that everything works out for the rest of us.
This site is not sad, it is sharing experiences, and hopefully to stop other people making the same financial mistakes.
May 19th 2007, 8:58 am
#119
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Location: Goa/UK
Posts: 589
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
Hi Maryleigh,
The only thing you have said that has any substance is that the 183 day stay does not have to be consecutive.
Please give us details of registrations of both your original pucrchase and subsequent sale, otherwise you will have no credibility on this site.
It is possible that the registrar incorrectly completed a transaction at some time in the past. You may also have signed an affidavit and incorrectly stated that you complied with FEMA.
No more, the home dept and RBI are monitoring all transactions by FNs.
The only thing you are likely to get after the election is new goan legislation
regarding FNs.
douglas
The only thing you have said that has any substance is that the 183 day stay does not have to be consecutive.
Please give us details of registrations of both your original pucrchase and subsequent sale, otherwise you will have no credibility on this site.
It is possible that the registrar incorrectly completed a transaction at some time in the past. You may also have signed an affidavit and incorrectly stated that you complied with FEMA.
No more, the home dept and RBI are monitoring all transactions by FNs.
The only thing you are likely to get after the election is new goan legislation
regarding FNs.
douglas
Thank you for your enquirey regarding buying in Goa - we have been selling property to foreign investors for some 6 years and have some information below that you will hopefully find useful.
Many of our Clients buy in Goa without either setting up a Company or going out to live there for 6 months a year - in this instance there is another process we have in place to allow investors to buy very easily and safely.
[B]WHAT IS THE BUYING PROCESS.[B]
ANYBODY CAN BUY PROPERTY IN gOA EXCEPT FOR SOME RESTRICTIONS E.G. PAKISTAN, BANGLADES AND SUCH.
The usual syateme here (when buying from builders) is that you buy for an offsite plan and are given an "Agreement to buy" contract. You don't have to do any residency requirements for that. This contract has no limit time wise and is valid until you are ready to complete your sale deeds. This contract is purely between the builder and buyer and is on legal stamped paper which gives full ownership rights to the buyer until they decide to complete their sale deeds.
The completion of sale deeds is about registering your ownership with the registrar (government) and to do this you must have completed over 182 residency in the previous tax year April-March. The 182 days does not have to be consecutive. Or you can buy property by setting up a business in india and buying on the company name. You do not have to have the residency requirements to buy that way. You must make sure that you have obtained a business visa before you complete the sale deeds on the company name.
It is fairly easy procedure to set up a company by making an appointment with a chartered accountant here. There are certain tourist related businesses which can be set up with full foreign ownership of the company. For any other businee you must have an Indian partner who holds 51% of the ownership of the company.
There are many ambiguities in the system in India which chartered accountant here will be familiar with and can advise you about.
We have associates in Goa who can guide you through our procedures and we have in place for foreigner investors.
May 19th 2007, 9:40 am
#120
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 863
Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
A friend of mine gave me a letter they received from Churchill Innovative Solutions, who I presume you purchased from.
Thank you for your enquirey regarding buying in Goa - we have been selling property to foreign investors for some 6 years and have some information below that you will hopefully find useful.
Many of our Clients buy in Goa without either setting up a Company or going out to live there for 6 months a year - in this instance there is another process we have in place to allow investors to buy very easily and safely.
[B]WHAT IS THE BUYING PROCESS.[B]
ANYBODY CAN BUY PROPERTY IN gOA EXCEPT FOR SOME RESTRICTIONS E.G. PAKISTAN, BANGLADES AND SUCH.
The usual syateme here (when buying from builders) is that you buy for an offsite plan and are given an "Agreement to buy" contract. You don't have to do any residency requirements for that. This contract has no limit time wise and is valid until you are ready to complete your sale deeds. This contract is purely between the builder and buyer and is on legal stamped paper which gives full ownership rights to the buyer until they decide to complete their sale deeds.
The completion of sale deeds is about registering your ownership with the registrar (government) and to do this you must have completed over 182 residency in the previous tax year April-March. The 182 days does not have to be consecutive. Or you can buy property by setting up a business in india and buying on the company name. You do not have to have the residency requirements to buy that way. You must make sure that you have obtained a business visa before you complete the sale deeds on the company name.
It is fairly easy procedure to set up a company by making an appointment with a chartered accountant here. There are certain tourist related businesses which can be set up with full foreign ownership of the company. For any other businee you must have an Indian partner who holds 51% of the ownership of the company.
There are many ambiguities in the system in India which chartered accountant here will be familiar with and can advise you about.
We have associates in Goa who can guide you through our procedures and we have in place for foreigner investors.
Thank you for your enquirey regarding buying in Goa - we have been selling property to foreign investors for some 6 years and have some information below that you will hopefully find useful.
Many of our Clients buy in Goa without either setting up a Company or going out to live there for 6 months a year - in this instance there is another process we have in place to allow investors to buy very easily and safely.
[B]WHAT IS THE BUYING PROCESS.[B]
ANYBODY CAN BUY PROPERTY IN gOA EXCEPT FOR SOME RESTRICTIONS E.G. PAKISTAN, BANGLADES AND SUCH.
The usual syateme here (when buying from builders) is that you buy for an offsite plan and are given an "Agreement to buy" contract. You don't have to do any residency requirements for that. This contract has no limit time wise and is valid until you are ready to complete your sale deeds. This contract is purely between the builder and buyer and is on legal stamped paper which gives full ownership rights to the buyer until they decide to complete their sale deeds.
The completion of sale deeds is about registering your ownership with the registrar (government) and to do this you must have completed over 182 residency in the previous tax year April-March. The 182 days does not have to be consecutive. Or you can buy property by setting up a business in india and buying on the company name. You do not have to have the residency requirements to buy that way. You must make sure that you have obtained a business visa before you complete the sale deeds on the company name.
It is fairly easy procedure to set up a company by making an appointment with a chartered accountant here. There are certain tourist related businesses which can be set up with full foreign ownership of the company. For any other businee you must have an Indian partner who holds 51% of the ownership of the company.
There are many ambiguities in the system in India which chartered accountant here will be familiar with and can advise you about.
We have associates in Goa who can guide you through our procedures and we have in place for foreigner investors.
Hi old man,
I have a drawer full of these agreements, sometimes i call them allotment letters sometimes agreement to buy, sometimes agreement to sale. You can have them with or without stamps( the stamp paper is freely available to anyone for a few rupees you see)
I have these agreements for all sorts of properties and constructions, London Bridge is very popular with tourists at the moment.It is cheap relative to other bridges in other capital cities and makes people think they are getting a bargain. I also have associates that will charge you massive fees for further misinformation, but thats reserved for the not too bright ones. The ones who cannot see the obvious conflict of interest.
Next boat full, please come this way, the sun is shining !
douglas