Bengaluru has emerged as one of the metros with a robust real estate industry. Over the last two decades, the city has been witness to a residential boom where each one wants a dwelling. The property market comes with risks attached and the prime concern is "how clean are my property papers."

For the record, to keep pace with the rapid urbanisation, Bengaluru has been growing on tank beds, lakes, storm water drains and green belt, not to forget the buffer zones earmarked in the city's Masterplan where any development is a strict No No. Bengaluru has grown beyond the villages and towns and plans are afloat to create two-tier cities around the state capital -- an offshoot of the population projections.

In such a scenerio, how does one buy a property when the market is dicey and the urbanisation is haphazard? How does one go about the process of due diligence of property papers? How does one get the clarity  and confirmation that the property being transacted is free from any litigation, is not a part of the buffer zones or revenue pockets, has all the necessary permissions from civic agencies?

A good property consultant with expertise in the industry plays a crucial role here. Verification of property papers should be of upmost priority for an investor. Bengaluru has a lot of stories about realtors and middlemen conning the buyers with multiple transactions, properties being sold using fabricated documents, lakhs of civil disputes over property ownership being fought in the courts, civic authorities razing down unauthorised structures, et al. Who is at the receiving end? It's the buyer and his/her hard earned money.

Earlier, property consultants would screen the documents to check violations, setbacks, titles and approvals. Now, with a lot more rules in place like buffer zones mandated by the National Green Tribunal and inturn the city Masterplan making it a "regulation," the job of screening documents has become a challenge.

For instance, the recent draft Masterplan of BDA has identified bufferzones around water bodies, drains and valleys. According to the realty industry pundits, this has resulted in devaluation of existing properties situated in or around that ring. Which means, their property value has hit a zilch.

So, before you take that big step and invest a big moolah, be sure about the property. Watch out this space for more related articles.