Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Morning Remy, I have beaten Noni to the internet but I am sure she will be back soon. We met her last night and bumped into them again this morning in Calangute. She must think we are stalking them. :rofl:

Weather is great. Word on the beach is that the shacks get their licences tomorrow. Construction has started but they don't want to do too much before the licences are granted in case they get demolished. There are still sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach, just nowhere to eat or drink.

I am home on Sunday which just leaves you with another 2 weeks to go.:thumbsup:

Andy - where on HBR are you? We are there at the moment.

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Hi Catpat,

Thanks for the update and its great to here you are all having a good time.
Its also a relief to know that the sun is shining.....i have been hearing of rain and thunderstorms and the OH was starting to panic.
The weather today in Ireland is Cold, grey, bleek and drizzling rain....otherwise bloody depressing. We need some sun! So roll on Goa.

Regards,
Remy

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

This is what I have been advised by HBR and have also noted on ************** site

Initally you pay 1% of cost towards stamp duty

Upon registering you pay 2% cost towards stamp duty papers
and a further 2% of cost towards registering final deeds of sale. The initial 1% is adjusted against the 2% cost towards stamp duty papers.

All in all you'll pay 4%. There's also house tax which I read is 30rs per sq/mtre but that's minimal

Pretty sure this is up-to date but good for you to look into it too

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Hello
I am new to this site:) and I have just received a 95 page(mainly rendered images) brochure from a "UK sales & legal agent" based in Goa, as I am "thinking" of buying in Goa I saw all the comments on this thread I wondered if anyone can verify or has had cause to contact a Mr C Gregory about the legality of his notes below ? "Quote"

Please note all prospective purchasers and existing purchasers benefit from the Security,that any monies paid e.g deposit stage payments,final payments will be returned immediately via my Goan advocate,should there be any legal problems whatsoever regarding the building or land being purchased.

ALL PROPERTIES ARE TOTALLY LEGAL AND COMPLETELY FREEHOLD,ONE OF THE FOREMOST LAND LAWYERS IN SOUTH GOA RESEARCHES THE ANTECEDENTS OF THE TITLE AND CHECKS BACK A MINIMUM OF 150 YEARS FOR CLEAR AND UNCUMBERED TITLES AND DEEDS "unquote"
Shurely it can't be that easy to buy property over there?:eek:
Does anyone know the "foremost" land lawyer?:confused:
Has anyone had cause to have payments returned?
I am sorry if this e'mail is a bit long but would like to know how "legal" all this is !:blink:

Chideecha

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Hi Chideecha,

Welcome to the forum,

If you are a person of indian origin then you can legally purchase property in Goa without any major problems providing you hold a valid PIO Card or alternatively OCI (Overseas Indian Citizenship).

If you are a non resident Foreign National then you can not legally purchase immoveable property no matter what some unscrupulous sellers may tell you. Please take time to read this 'Buyer Beware' thread and you will see the problems that people have been encountering.

Some people have pulled out of their purchases and have had their money refunded. Please be careful especially if you are not a PIO / NRI as you could quite easily loose your investment!!!

Start at the first post (by Douglas M) in this thread and spend a day going through that and all subsequent posts.....it will probably save you thousands of pounds and enlighten you as to the dos and donts.

Regards,
Remy

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Hi can assure you all Im right it's 2% no more and no less
honest
Karen:blink:

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

yes the rain (and heat+humidity) does seem to have gone away (crossed fingers).
re: Stamp Duty- noni you have bought, what stamp duty did you pay?

AndyD 8-)#

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Anti maleria tablets - do members who stay long term in Goa take antimaleria tablets for the whole period

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Certainly not the people I know.Personally haven't taken any since our
first visit in 1994 when I found they gave me severe headaches.

Cheers

Mike

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

we've never taken malaria tabs either but will definitely start taking them before our next visit in Feb. OH became ill a week after we got back in March this year and to cut a very long story short, spent 10 days in hospital and lost nearly 3st. it was not pleasant. please take precautions...it's not worth the risk.

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Re the Malaria , old African/Mozambican trick, chop up a ripe tomato or two and leave it in a saucer/plate next to your bed at night. Tomato's are a natural pyrethroid,
It's not totally foolproof but certainly keeps them away from you

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Evening all ( or goodnight ? those in Goa)

First of all there is a thread on this subject by TDK from July this year "Info on health etc"so I suggest anyone worried should look at this as malaria is unfortunately on the increase in Goa:thumbdown:
"MALARONE" is a new drug on the market with supposedly less side effects(p.s available quite a bit cheaper over in Goa, try Di'mellos chemists in South Goa)
Vitamin B6 ( brewers yeast) citronella candles, garlic,incense sticks, all natural products help.. DEET sprays and "roll on "are chemical defences.
Love the TOMATO trick, but NONI if you read this it doesnt mean you can pour "Noffi" on it with a dash of worcester sauce and 'ave it for BREKKY:beer::beer::rofl:

Santan

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Hi All,

Getting back on thread heres an recent article published on the 17th Nov in one of the UK papers regarding purchasing in Goa. Apologies if it has already been posted!


Property in Goa: Heaven on hold as Goa awaits its fate

Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 17/11/2007

Britons love it for the beaches, winter sun and its house prices - but is it a safe investment? Ginetta Vedrickas investigates
The British love affair with Goa is easy to understand. In contrast to the frenetic pace of most of India, a languid calm prevails, where the dry heat and dust of the interior seem a long way distant. On the south-west coast, with 50 miles of beach washed by the Arabian Sea, Goa was under Portuguese rule for 400 years and, although it became an Indian state in 1961, the region still has a laid-back, European feel.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/...7/opgoa117.jpgPalm-fringed paradise - but should you be swayed? Palolem beach (top), and, Sapana County, a 23-villa development close to Benaulim beachDilapidated colonial buildings peep out from its luscious rainforest, but pockets of smart, new development are increasingly common, attracting growing numbers of Britons looking for a slice of paradise to call home.
Goa is India's most popular tourist destination, with about 40 per cent of visitors coming from the UK. The 1970s may have attracted hedonistic hippies, but today it is mostly package holidaymakers who venture here, courtesy of the 850 charter flights per year. The government is trying to replace the scruffier tourist fringe with upmarket hotels, and five-star venues such as the Radisson, Intercontinental and Marriott are starting to appear.
After you land at Dabolim airport, your age and lifestyle may determine your destination. Northern Goa, near the capital, Panjim, boasts the liveliest beaches and mass development. The south is quieter and less developed, attracting older buyers seeking solitude.
Axiom Estates sells property across India from its offices in Calcutta, London, New York and Dubai, and increased demand for Goa has prompted it to open an office here. Typical developments for sale include Sapana Habitat, where two-bedroom apartments start from £32,000. Ten minutes from the popular Calangute and Baga beaches, and near buzzing Panjim, its on-site amenities include a communal pool, clubhouse and play area.

Rajesh Goenka, Axiom's chairman, says it appeals to younger British buyers looking for a base near Goa's liveliest spots. In her view, Goa may prove to be a better investment than many of India's "tier one" cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. "Goa is firmly on the growth path," she says. "It is undervalued but you are cushioned by a great lifestyle."
Goa also masks the extremes of poverty in the rest of the country. Workers here still toil in the paddy fields but tourism is the main industry and locals are proud of their tolerant reputation. Bars and beaches throng with scantily clad tourists and lenient tax rules mean that alcohol is cheaper here than elsewhere in India.
Thanks to its low cost of living, it is still possible to find apartments for £10,000 in the more remote south, and a typical meal of Goan fish curry washed down with locally brewed Kingfisher beer costs as little as £5 for two.
Many Britons have bought holiday homes here, although, because foreign ownership is theoretically not allowed, figures are vague. Only non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) can legally own property in India. Yet many foreigners have circumvented the rules by forming companies, which are allowed to buy, or by staying in the country for more than 183 days and then claiming residency.
So far, these methods seem to have worked in Goa, but recent government corruption has unsettled many British owners and potential buyers. Precious rainforest has been sold off for development but construction has stalled until a new master plan for Goa is announced later this year.
Developer N K Naik, of Sapana, who has been building since 1972, describes buying in Goa as a "minefield for foreigners". Several Sapana developments are on hold until the rainforest plan is finalised, but Naik is confident of his developments' legality. "I've been here long enough to know that this [rainforest] land should not be built on. We want development but not at the cost of the environment."
Yet some buyers are concerned that they have put deposits on projects that may never be built. Others claim that India's lack of transparency in relation to foreign ownership also makes buying here a worrying prospect. Paul, a British buyer who refuses to give his full name for fear of reprisals, says: "I know owners who have asked too many questions and been kicked out, leaving their property behind."
Paul formed a company and paid £25,000 to a small local developer. His main worry is being unable to register the title under his own name and says others are in a similar position.
Savills is selling to NRIs and British buyers with no Indian connections. Sheetal Halai, of its South Asia branch, says that buying in Goa, and throughout India, is safe if approached through the right channels. "We wouldn't risk our reputation if buying here wasn't safe," she says. "We have handpicked our developer and are absolutely confident of their quality and integrity."
Savills is marketing the 100-acre Cape Corinth development at Marmugaon Bay. It is an eco-friendly gated community surrounded by forest and overlooks the Zauri river. Thanks to the pause in market activity, while the Goa plan is finalised, waterfront sites have become increasingly rare, which will drive up prices and demand, says Halai. Coming with a 7 per cent rental guarantee for five years, prices start from £34,000 for studio suites with villa prices yet to be announced.

-------------------------------------------------

I highlighted a portion in red that i think shows some current problems at hand.

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

- looks like a fairly balanced report - I like the bit about <g>

AndyD 8-)#

Re: GOA - Buyer Beware!
 

Hi Andy,
yeah....had to smile at that myself!

Only 4 days to go until i get on that silver bird to Goa!

Regards,
Remy