Buy apartment in Gurgaon

My wife and I are planning to move to Gurgaon,outside New Delhi, and we are interested in buying an apartment. Can this be done legally? Is it easier or safer to rent? Do we have to be living in India for a certain amount of time before buying? I would appreciate any advice you can offer. Her family lives in DLF Phase 3, Gurgaon. I am a US-born American citizen; she is an American citizen (NRI), born in India, now with OCI status.

Yes, No.

If you don't know the area I'd certainly recommend renting for the first few months to get the lay of the land, prices etc. Though apartment leases are typically for 11 months, there are nearly always early exit clauses written in. Leases I had allowed either party to terminate the lease with 60 days notice.

Unless your wife knows the landlord racket take great care with putting up a deposit. Delhi landlords are notorious for finding ways to keep them, so lease verbiage allowing the deposit to be applied toward final months' rent is a good plan. There are numerous helpful threads to review by searching 'moving to Gurgaon' or similar.