Legacy Vivienda

Legacy Vivienda is in the town of Devanahalli, roughly 40 km out of the city to the north, along NH 7, the main road heading north from Bengaluru. Kempegowda International Airport is in the same region, which makes the town a practical base for people who fly for work or work at the airport. The developer has not published a street address or pincode, so ask for both before you plan a visit.

Life here runs at a slower pace than in the city. Daily shopping and basic services are in the town, and the old fort and other historic sites bring weekend visitors. Big office and IT campuses are on the drawing board for the area, though a planned campus is not yet a job, so do not buy on that promise alone.

The real question for most buyers is the commute. A drive into the centre of Bengaluru is a long one, and the time will depend heavily on the hour you travel. If you work in the city, make the trip twice at your usual times before you decide. If your office or business is on the northern side, the equation looks much better.

Legacy Vivienda lists three plans, on built-up area; carpet areas have not been published. One bedroom: about 660 sq ft, priced at Rs. 31.5 Lakhs. Two bedrooms: about 850 sq ft, priced at Rs. 40.65 Lakhs. Three bedrooms: about 1,760 sq ft, priced at Rs. 58.60 Lakhs.

A figure of Rs. 3,850 per sq ft is also listed. On the plan prices, the 1 BHK and 2 BHK each come to about Rs. 4,800 per sq ft, while the 3 BHK comes to about Rs. 3,300. The two sets of figures do not agree, so ask for the rate used on your unit. Finishes include marble floors in the living and dining areas, a teak main door frame and Otis or equivalent lifts, as described by the developer.

A home with its occupancy certificate carries no GST, while stamp duty and registration always apply. Ask for a cost sheet with:

• Base price and the area it is charged on
• Car parking and club membership
• Maintenance deposit and monthly charge
• Any dues pending on a resale flat
• Stamp duty and registration on the full value

Legacy Vivienda has no RERA number published by the developer. The only approval named is described as BBMP/BDA, with no plan number. Ask Legacy Group which authority sanctioned the building plan and for a copy of it. If a RERA number is given, check it on the Karnataka RERA website (rera.karnataka.gov.in).

Because the project is complete, the documents that matter are those that prove the building was finished as approved and that the seller owns what is being sold. Ask for:

• The occupancy certificate for your block
• The sanctioned plan and the authority that issued it
• Title deeds for the 3 acres and an encumbrance certificate
• The khata or property record and the latest tax receipt
• A draft sale deed for your lawyer to review

For a resale, add the first sale deed from Legacy Group and a no-dues letter from the residents' association. At registration, the sale deed is executed in your name, and the khata transfer should follow soon after.

Legacy Vivienda publishes only its land area: 3 acres in Devanahalli. The number of blocks, floors and homes has not been shared, so ask Legacy Group for the sanctioned site plan and check how much of the land is left open. Any image you are shown is as planned by the developer; since the project is complete, compare it with what is actually on site.

Days here can centre on the club house. A morning swim in the pool or a run on the joggers' track, then a coffee at the on-site coffee shop, is the kind of routine the facilities allow. Children have a play area, and the badminton and basketball courts give teenagers and adults a game in the evening.

Indoor games cover wet weekends, and the banquet hall takes care of family functions without hiring a venue in town. CCTV cameras and power backup are on the facility list. Ask residents how reliable that backup is during outages, and what the monthly maintenance charge covers.