Once upon a time, finding housing in a foreign land meant traveling to that location and hooking up with a local guide to tour potential abodes in the hopes of getting lucky on day one. Happily, worldwide communication advances have made the process easy – often fun – which is why your search for housing in Bangalore, India won’t be as difficult as you might first have imagined. The city’s real estate market is eclectic; you’ll find everything from luxurious high rises to small bungalows on quaint residential streets. Explore the market at your leisure before narrowing your choices to those fitting your budget, size and location requirements. You may even find digs that exceed your aesthetic expectations long before you pack up for your Bangalore stay or relocation.
1. Research rents in Bangalore using your computer’s mouse as your traveling companion. Like other cities, economic trends determine housing market rates, but getting familiar with a variety of communities within Bangalore’s city limits will give you a good idea about what to expect. In particular, consider areas like Mysore Road, Chamarajpet, Basavanagudi, Whitefield, Rajajinagar, and Malleshwaram. Each is home to a building boom, so many investors are buying, and then renting, these new houses.
2. Make a checklist of rental requisites tailored to your personal needs. Safety and security are always paramount, but you may also need proximity to schools, shopping, houses of worship and other amenities. If your purpose for moving to Bangalore is to work, you may wish to limit your search to neighborhoods within walking distance of your job – particularly if you have no plans to get a car in India. Focus on “furnished-only” Bangalore rental houses if you do not plan to take furniture with you.
3. Visit Bangalore realtors in cyberspace once you’ve got the lay of the land. You may have to register with a few to obtain in-depth information about rentals, but many sites allow surfers to get details beyond the standard “two bedrooms; two baths” description. Leases in Bangalore are fairly standard but should still be vetted by an attorney before you sign on the dotted line. If you’re working with a corporate relocation specialist, your contact may already have targeted housing leads within Bangalore’s IT/ITES sector – the epicenter of foreign nationals – but if you want to live off the beaten path – literally – plan to undertake some of your search solo.
4. Consider Craig’s List if you prefer a familiar conduit to help you reach the Bangalore rental market, but before you decide to follow up on a Craig’s List ad, however, be aware of the fact that Bangalore is home to a huge population of “service class” Indians who come to the city to work from their rural homes. The type of neighborhood that caters to this populace may not be to your liking, but only a realtor physically located in Bangalore may have this type of information so proceed with caution. Run locations by the folks at Bangalore’s virtual U.S. Consulate officials if you’re tempted to sign a lease for a place found on Craig’s List at http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/vppbangalore.html.
