Is the token amount refundable in Pune?

There is no automatic right to a refund of a token. It depends on what the booking form or receipt says. That is why you should get the refund conditions in writing before paying. If the project turns out to be unregistered or the developer breaks the RERA rules, you have a strong basis to demand it back.

Is the token part of the 10%?

Yes. Token, booking and any other advance paid before the registered agreement for sale all count toward the 10% ceiling.

Can I pay a token to reserve a flat before my loan is sanctioned?

Many buyers do, but sanction letters take time and banks lend only against a registered agreement. Ask for a written clause that the token is returned if the loan is not sanctioned within a stated period.

What happens after the token?

You sign and register the agreement for sale, usually within weeks, and stamp duty and registration are paid at that point. Check current rates with the sub-registrar or your advisor, as they depend on location and change over time.

Does the token get adjusted in the final price?

It should be. The cost sheet and the agreement for sale should show the token as paid and credit it against the total. Check that both documents agree.

Buyer guide · Pune

Token payments in Pune real estate

The token is the first money you hand over and the least protected. This guide explains what it is, what the law caps, and what to get in writing before you pay.

General information, not legal advice

Amounts, charges and rules change. Confirm the current position for your project with the MahaRERA portal and a property lawyer before you pay.

The basics

What a token payment is

A token (booking) amount is a small sum paid to take a specific unit off the market while you finish checks and arrange the loan. It is not the agreement for sale. Until that agreement is signed and registered, you hold a weak claim on the flat, so the paperwork around the token matters more than the amount.

How much is normal

In Pune it is usually a low single-digit percentage of the agreement value, often between ₹50,000 and a few lakh for a typical flat, and it varies by developer and by how hot the launch is. Treat a demand for a large 'booking' sum before any written terms as a warning sign, not urgency.

The RERA limit that protects you

Under Section 13 of the RERA Act, a promoter cannot take more than 10% of the cost of the unit as an advance or application fee unless a written agreement for sale has first been signed and registered. Anything beyond 10% before that point is a violation you can cite.

Where the money should go

Pay by cheque, RTGS or bank transfer to the developer or project entity named on the MahaRERA registration, never in cash and never to an individual's account. Project receipts are meant to flow into the RERA-designated project account, so ask which account your payment will be credited to.

A safe order of steps

Step 01
Verify the MahaRERA registration number and that it covers the tower or wing you are being sold.
Step 02
Run the litigation search on the project and the promoter before any money moves.
Step 03
Get the cost sheet in writing: base rate, floor rise, parking, GST, stamp duty and registration, maintenance deposit, and any 'other charges'.
Step 04
Ask for the draft agreement for sale and read the cancellation, delay and refund clauses before you pay the token.
Step 05
Pay by traceable bank transfer, in the entity's name on the RERA certificate.
Step 06
Collect a numbered receipt that names the buyer, unit, floor, tower, amount, date and mode of payment.
Step 07
Agree in writing how long the unit is held and the date by which the agreement for sale will be registered.
Step 08
Confirm in writing under what conditions the token is refundable, for example if your loan is rejected or title issues surface.

Signs to hold back the token

The receipt is a hand-written slip, or has no unit number, tower or developer name.
You are asked to pay in cash, or to an account that is not in the developer's name.
The developer says the token is 'non-refundable' but will not put that, or the hold period, in writing.
The amount asked before the agreement for sale is more than 10% of the unit cost.
The unit you were shown is not the unit on the receipt.
Pressure that the price or the unit 'goes tonight', with no time to read the agreement.

Run the registration and litigation checks first with our MahaRERA litigation guide, or browse Pune projects we have analysed.

Questions buyers ask

Is the token amount refundable in Pune?: There is no automatic right to a refund of a token. It depends on what the booking form or receipt says. That is why you should get the refund conditions in writing before paying. If the project turns out to be unregistered or the developer breaks the RERA rules, you have a strong basis to demand it back.
Is the token part of the 10%?: Yes. Token, booking and any other advance paid before the registered agreement for sale all count toward the 10% ceiling.
Can I pay a token to reserve a flat before my loan is sanctioned?: Many buyers do, but sanction letters take time and banks lend only against a registered agreement. Ask for a written clause that the token is returned if the loan is not sanctioned within a stated period.
What happens after the token?: You sign and register the agreement for sale, usually within weeks, and stamp duty and registration are paid at that point. Check current rates with the sub-registrar or your advisor, as they depend on location and change over time.
Does the token get adjusted in the final price?: It should be. The cost sheet and the agreement for sale should show the token as paid and credit it against the total. Check that both documents agree.

Review my booking form before I pay

Send us the project and the draft booking form. We will flag what to fix first, free.