East Bengaluru buyer answers
How much do real estate consultancy services cost in Bangalore?
Direct answer: On new projects in Bangalore, real estate consultancy services often cost the buyer nothing directly, because the developer pays the consultant. On resale, you may pay a brokerage. Some advisers charge a fixed fee instead. There's no single official rate, so ask each firm for its exact terms in writing before you start.
Disclosure: acre&key’s advice is free to buyers; we are an authorised sales partner for some projects and may be paid by the developer.
Verify with your CA: This page is general information, not tax advice. GST treatment of advisory fees can change; confirm the current rules and your invoice with your own chartered accountant before you pay.
What are the three ways you might pay?
Think of it as who writes the cheque.
1. The developer pays. Common on new projects. The consultant gets a fee from the builder when you book or register. You pay the developer's price. The catch is that the consultant earns only if you buy a project that pays them.
2. You pay a commission. More common on resale. Typically a percentage of the deal value, sometimes paid by both buyer and seller. It's agreed between you and the broker, not fixed by law.
3. You pay a flat or hourly fee. Less common in Bangalore. You pay for advice regardless of what you buy. This can reduce bias, but check what the fee covers.
We haven't quoted percentages here. We couldn't find an official or reliable source for typical Bangalore rates, and anyone who quotes you one without seeing your deal is giving a guess.
Does "free" have a hidden cost?
Not usually in money. You pay the same developer price whether or not you use a consultant, in most cases. The cost is in the possible bias: you might be shown only projects that pay. See is a free consultant really free?.
What should you ask before agreeing to anything?
| Question | Why |
|---|---|
| Do you charge me anything? When? | Avoid surprises at registration |
| Who else pays you on this deal? | Know the conflict |
| Is GST added to any fee I pay? | Fees for services may attract GST; check the invoice |
| What exactly is included? | Visits, document checks, negotiation, loan, registration |
| What isn't? | Legal title opinion is usually your lawyer's job |
| Is anything refundable? | If you don't buy |
Red flags on fees
- A fee demanded upfront in cash.
- A "processing" or "registration" fee paid to the consultant instead of the promoter.
- Vague answers about who pays them.
- A fee that changes as you get closer to booking.
Under section 10 of the RERA Act, a registered agent shouldn't make false or misleading statements about their services. If what you were told about fees doesn't match what you're charged, that's worth raising.
Comparing the true cost
To compare options fairly:
- Get the developer's price directly, without a consultant.
- Get the price through the consultant.
- Add any fee the consultant charges you.
- Weigh in what the consultant actually does: checks, time saved, negotiation.
If the price is the same and the consultant adds real checking, using them may cost you nothing extra. If they charge you and the developer, ask why. See how consultants get paid.
How are advisory fees structured?
| Structure | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Developer-paid | Builder pays on booking or registration | Pull towards partner projects |
| Percentage of price | You pay a share of the deal value | Pull towards a higher price |
| Fixed fee | Set amount for set scope | Check exactly what's covered |
| Hourly | Pay for time used | Can add up; agree a cap |
| Success fee | Paid only if you buy | Pull towards buying something |
We haven't quoted percentages or amounts. We couldn't find a reliable, current source for Bangalore.
Is GST added to an adviser’s fee?
If you pay an adviser directly, GST may apply to their fee. Ask whether quotes include GST and check the invoice. Your CA can confirm.
How do you compare two quotes fairly?
Put them side by side:
- What's the total you'll pay, including GST?
- When is it due?
- Is any of it refundable if you don't buy?
- What services are included?
- Does the adviser also take developer or bank money?
A higher fee with no other income may give you advice less tied to sellers than a lower fee plus developer pay. Or it may not. Judge on scope and disclosure, and on how much checking they'll actually do for the money.
Who pays, deal by deal?
New flat in a RERA project. Usually the developer pays the adviser. You pay the builder's price. Confirm by comparing with the builder's direct quote.
Resale flat. Brokerage is agreed between the parties. The buyer, the seller, or both may pay. Agree it before visits start.
Plot in a layout. Similar to new projects if the layout developer pays partners, similar to resale if it's an individual seller.
Pure advice, no purchase. A fee, if the adviser offers this at all.
NRI or complex deals. Some advisers charge a fee for the extra coordination, even if a developer also pays them. Ask.
What should the agreement itself say?
Whatever the model, get one page in writing before you share documents or visit sites. It should name the firm and its Karnataka RERA agent registration number, state exactly who pays it and how much, say whether anything is refundable if you don't buy, and list what's included and what isn't. If a firm won't put that on paper, treat the quote as incomplete.
What to do next
- Ask every firm for its fee terms in writing.
- Ask about developer payments project by project.
- Budget your own lawyer's fee separately.
- Compare with going direct.
- Read fee-only vs commission advisers if you want a fee-paid model.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay brokerage on a new flat in Bangalore?
Often not, when the consultant is paid by the developer. Confirm with the consultant and check your cost sheet.
What's a normal brokerage for resale in Bangalore?
It's set by agreement, not law, and varies. Agree the figure in writing before visits start.
Do consultancy fees attract GST?
Services provided for a fee may attract GST. Check the invoice and ask your CA.
Can I negotiate a consultant's fee?
Yes, on fees you pay directly. Developer-side payments are between the consultant and the builder.
Is a paid adviser better than a free one?
Not automatically. A paid adviser may have less sales bias, but quality still varies. Judge on disclosure and the checks they do. Also see what real estate consultancy services include.
Should the fee be in a contract?
Yes. Get the fee, the scope of work and who else might pay them into a written agreement before you start.
References
- Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, official text hosted by Karnataka RERA. https://rera.karnataka.gov.in/resources/staticpage/Real_Estate_Act.pdf, accessed 15 Oct 2026.
- Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, full text PDF (PRS Legislative Research). https://prsindia.org/files/bills_acts/acts_parliament/2016/the-real-estate-%28regulation-and-development%29-act,-2016.pdf, accessed 15 Oct 2026.
- Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority, official portal (project status, agent status, complaints). https://rera.karnataka.gov.in, accessed 14 Oct 2026.
- CGST Act, 2017, Schedule II para 5(b), CBIC tax information portal. https://taxinformation.cbic.gov.in/content/html/tax_repository/gst/acts/2017_CGST_act/active/chapter21/scheduleii_v1.00.html, accessed 15 Oct 2026.