R
eal estate prices in Bengaluru have skyrocketed over the past few years, leading to concerns about a lack of price transparency in the city's resale market. A Reddit post highlighted an incident where a homeowner listed their property for resale at one price on a lesser-known platform, while a broker reposted it with a 40% markup on a more popular site.

    Buyers are now questioning the role of brokers in this process and how they inflate prices to make a profit. According to Redditors, it's become increasingly difficult to identify who the actual owner of a resale property is, even on platforms that offer zero brokerage. Multiple brokers operate in smaller micro-markets, making price discovery for buyers challenging.

    From a buyer's perspective, there's little price discovery, and brokers list properties at different prices, leaving buyers unsure which one to trust. Brokers, meanwhile, are under pressure due to the slowdown in transaction volumes, leading them to mark up prices wherever they can get away with it.

    Sellers also face challenges in the market, often turning to brokers out of desperation and handing over their property with a fixed price expectation. They may not track what brokers do beyond that, as long as the flat is sold at the expected price.

    Buyers are advised to be cautious when investing in resale properties, verifying listing sources, demand layout plans, and proper documentation. They should also beware of suspiciously overpriced deals and research the reputation of the original developer before making a purchase.