For the Indian Diaspora

India's luxury market is at an inflection point

The structures available to NRI investors right now — FCNR(B), NRE, NRO — combined with the RBI's June 2026 swap window, create a compelling moment to deploy capital into Indian real estate.

Request NRI Briefing Understand the Structures

The Thesis

Why Indian luxury real estate, and why now

Currency Advantage

INR depreciation over 10 years means your USD, GBP, AED, or SGD buys significantly more Indian real estate today than a decade ago — while Indian property prices have appreciated substantially in rupee terms.

Capital Appreciation

Premium NCR locations — Noida Expressway, Golf Course Road Gurugram, South Delhi — have seen substantial appreciation. New infrastructure (Jewar Airport, metro expansion) continues to unlock new corridors with genuine headroom.

Generational Anchor

For diaspora families maintaining India ties, a well-chosen property serves as a home base, a rental asset, and a wealth transfer instrument — with legal structures that work cleanly across borders.

Capital Structures

NRE, NRO, and FCNR(B) — what each does

The right structure depends on your income source, repatriation intent, and tax situation.

Account	Currency	Repatriable	Tax in India	Best Used For
NRE Account	INR (foreign source)	Yes — fully	Interest tax-free	Property purchase from foreign earnings
NRO Account	INR (India source)	Limited (USD 1M/yr)	Taxable	Rental income, India-side income
FCNR(B) Deposit	Foreign currency	Yes — fully	Interest tax-free	Zero currency risk via RBI swap window

Subject to RBI and bank-specific norms. Consult your tax advisor for jurisdiction-specific guidance.

How Serenara Helps

The NRI acquisition journey, end to end

Capital & Structure Briefing

We map the right account structure and entry approach based on your capital source, timeline, tax residency, and repatriation intent.

Property Shortlisting

3–5 shortlisted properties with detailed comparison across developer credibility, location fundamentals, appreciation potential, and rental yield.

Remote Transaction Management

We coordinate Power of Attorney, liaise with your legal counsel, and manage the booking-to-registration process — without you needing to be in India.

Post-Purchase Support

Pre-handover snagging, possession coordination, society introduction, and rental management introductions — we stay engaged through handover and beyond.

Common Questions

NRI property — frequently asked

Can an NRI buy residential property in India?

Yes. Under FEMA, NRIs and OCIs can purchase residential and commercial property without RBI approval. Agricultural land, plantation property, and farmhouses require special permission. There is no limit on the number of properties you can hold.

Can sale proceeds be repatriated?

Yes, subject to limits. If purchased from NRE funds or foreign remittances, principal is fully repatriable. Proceeds from NRO-funded purchases are repatriable up to USD 1 million per financial year, after applicable taxes.

Do I need to be present in India to complete the purchase?

No. A properly executed Power of Attorney allows a trusted representative to complete all formalities — agreement signing, stamp duty, registration — on your behalf. We help you structure the PoA correctly.

What is the FCNR(B) swap window and why does it matter now?

The RBI periodically opens a concessional FCNR(B) swap window, allowing banks to offer NRIs enhanced rates on foreign currency deposits while the RBI absorbs the currency risk. This effectively gives you Indian property exposure without INR depreciation risk on your deposit returns. The June 2026 window is active and time-sensitive.

How do I get rental income back to my country of residence?

Rental income is credited to your NRO account. After applicable TDS (typically 30% for NRIs, often reducible under DTAA), you can repatriate up to USD 1 million per year. We connect you with tax advisors specialising in India-diaspora DTAA planning.