Property hints
Short, practical checks that can save you money. Tax and rate figures are from November 2026.
Approvals
Check the block, not only the society
An NOC for a parent scheme may not cover the block you are offered. Ask for the authority's name, the letter reference and the blocks it covers. Then check it on the authority's own website.
Know whose jurisdiction it is
CDA regulates Islamabad Capital Territory. RDA covers Rawalpindi. LDA covers Lahore. A project with Islamabad in its name may sit in Rawalpindi, Attock or Taxila, so confirm the real location.
Layout plan comes before NOC
CDA describes two steps: layout plan approval, then the NOC. A scheme with only an approved layout plan has not finished the process.
Files & plots
A file is not a plot
A file is an allocation with no plot number yet. It costs less and trades easily, but you carry the ballot and development risk. Choose a balloted plot if you plan to build soon.
Ask for dues in writing
Before you buy a resale file or plot, get a dues clearance from the society. Outstanding instalments and charges stay with the property.
Measure the marla
Societies do not all use the same marla. Some use 225 sq ft and others use 250 or 272.25. Compare prices per square foot.
Money
Compare cash price and instalment price
A longer plan lowers each payment and often raises the total. Ask for both prices on the same page.
Budget beyond the price tag
Add advance tax, stamp duty, registration, development charges, and possession or utility charges. Ask which of these the plan already includes.
Pay the developer, not a person
Pay by bank instrument to the developer's official account and keep every receipt. Be careful with cash or personal accounts.
Filer status changes your cost
For tax year 2027, active filers pay 1.25% on purchase under Section 236K and 2.75% on sale under Section 236C. Other buyers can pay more, so confirm your rate with a tax adviser.
Investing
Treat projected returns as estimates
Nobody can guarantee property appreciation. Ask how a projection was calculated and what happens if the project is late.
Plan your exit before you enter
Look at how often the same plot size resells in that block. A popular launch can still be hard to sell later.
Compare rent with safer yields
12-month T-bills cleared near 12.89% in late October 2026. Work out your own gross rental yield and compare it before you buy for income.
Commercial
Footfall drives a shop's value
Small mall units depend on anchors, parking and how the mall is run. Ask who manages the building and who else has signed.
Read the lease beyond the rent
Check escalation, security deposit, maintenance, fit-out period, lock-in and exit terms. These can change the real cost more than the headline rate.
Overseas
Keep the power of attorney narrow
Give a power of attorney for a named property and purpose where you can. Have it attested through the Pakistani mission in your country.