Legacy Salvador

Legacy Salvador stands on Kenchanahalli Road, Sri Balaji Layout, Yelahanka, pincode 560064, on the north side of Bengaluru. Yelahanka is an established part of the city, so schools, clinics, markets and bus routes are already running rather than promised. The developer has not published distances to offices, stations or particular schools, so none are quoted here.

For a household that flies often, the north is the convenient side of town, since Kempegowda International Airport lies further up in the same direction and is reached by road. Yelahanka New Town and Jakkur are close enough for weekend errands. The long journeys are the daily commutes to central and southern business districts, so time the drive at your usual office hour before you commit.

A low-rise compound on a residential road usually means lighter traffic at the gate than a big tower complex. Still, visit once on a weekday morning and again in the evening. Check how easily you can turn onto the main road, where autos and cabs wait, and how far the nearest bus stop is on foot. Ask residents how the road copes in heavy rain.

Legacy Salvador quotes its sizes as built-up area; carpet areas have not been published, so ask for them. Two-bedroom homes come in about 1,330 sq ft from Rs. 99 Lakhs and about 1,350 sq ft from Rs. 1 Crore. The three-bedroom plans measure about 1,675, 1,700, 1,725 and 1,825 sq ft, listed from Rs. 1.27 Crore to Rs. 1.37 Crore. A 4 BHK of about 2,100 sq ft starts at Rs. 1.58 Crore.

The penthouses form a price band of their own. Three-bedroom versions of about 2,200 and 2,250 sq ft start at Rs. 1.94 Crore and Rs. 1.98 Crore, and the four-bedroom penthouse of about 2,795 sq ft starts at Rs. 2.18 Crore. At the entry price, the smallest 2 BHK works out to about Rs. 7,400 per sq ft.

As a completed project, a home with its occupancy certificate carries no GST. Stamp duty and registration apply to every purchase. Ask for a cost sheet that lists:

• Base price and the area it is charged on
• Car parking and the number of bays
• Clubhouse fee and maintenance deposit
• Any arrears or dues on a resale unit
• Stamp duty and registration on the full value

Legacy Salvador has no RERA registration number published by the developer. Ask Legacy Group whether one exists and, if it does, check it on the Karnataka RERA website (rera.karnataka.gov.in). With a finished project, though, the documents that protect you are the ones issued at completion, so give those the most attention.

Before you pay an advance, ask to see:

• The occupancy certificate for your block
• The sanctioned building plan showing your unit
• Title documents for the 3.25-acre land
• An encumbrance certificate covering recent years
• The khata in the seller's name and the latest tax receipt
• A draft sale deed, since a completed home registers on a sale deed

If you are buying from an existing owner rather than from Legacy Group, add the original allotment letter, the first sale deed and a no-dues letter from the residents' association. Have a property lawyer read the chain of title before registration. After the deed is registered, apply for the khata transfer into your name.

Legacy Salvador is arranged as ten small blocks of up to four floors over 3.25 acres, with the shared facilities placed for all 167 households. The developer has not published the share of land kept open, so ask for the sanctioned site plan and walk the grounds yourself. Because the project is finished, what you see on the visit is what you get, and any brochure image is only as planned by the developer.

A weekday could begin on the jogging track or in the gymnasium, followed by a swim in the pool. Children have a play area and an activity area, and older ones can take over the outdoor courts or the table tennis table in the evening. The clubhouse and games room give everyone somewhere to go when it rains.

Weekends lean towards the landscaped gardens, and the party area takes care of birthdays and small family functions. Retail spaces inside the community cover a few daily needs without taking the car out. Since people already live here, ask the residents' association what the monthly maintenance is, which facilities are running today, and how well the pool and gym are kept.