New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- Buying a resale flat whose seller is still paying off a home loan is common, but it requires careful structuring. Because the property remains mortgaged to the seller's bank, the original title deeds are held as security. The transaction must prioritise clearing the existing loan before the property title can be cleanly transferred to the buyer.

The buyer's first step is requesting the seller's latest loan account statement or foreclosure letter. This document reflects the exact amount needed to close the existing debt.

For example, the purchase price is Rs.80 lakh, the seller's existing debt is Rs.35 lakh, and the balance payable to the seller is Rs.45 lakh

The buyer must never transfer the full Rs.80 lakh direc...