Bhubaneswar: Real estate experts, legal professionals and homebuyer associations across Odisha have welcomed the enforcement directorate’s (ED) recent nationwide advisory cautioning prospective homebuyers against fraudulent practices by builders and developers.The advisory, which urges consumers to immediately report developers concealing Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) registration details or insisting on cash transactions, has struck a chord in Odisha, where concerns over delayed housing projects and regulatory compliance continue to affect buyers.The ED’s warning comes in the wake of a major crackdown on alleged fraudulent real estate investment schemes involving assured-return models, leading to the seizure of assets worth several crores.Industry observers say the advisory is particularly relevant to Odisha’s rapidly growing real estate market, especially in the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack twin-city region, where project delays, hidden financial conditions and unregistered project phases remain persistent concerns.Arun Kumar Mohanty, a representative of a Bhubaneswar-based homebuyer association, described the intervention by the central agency as a timely move that could strengthen consumer rights and accountability.“Many local builders in peripheral areas continue to delay execution and registration of sale deeds while seeking unaccounted cash payments from buyers, often citing rising construction costs. The ED’s advisory empowers consumers to resist such illegal demands and approach enforcement agencies whenever necessary,” Mohanty said.Legal experts dealing with Odisha RERA-related disputes said the state’s regulatory framework is adequate on paper but requires stronger enforcement and better coordination among agencies to tackle violations effectively.According to legal analyst Satyan Pattnaik, the ED’s emphasis on identifying suspicious cash transactions addresses a key factor behind stalled projects and financial irregularities in the sector.“When a developer conceals RERA registration details or insists on cash payments, it often indicates diversion of funds away from designated construction and escrow accounts mandated under RERA. The ED’s guidelines can act as an important safeguard for homebuyers and their savings,” Pattnaik said.Industry stakeholders have also called upon the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) to complement the ED’s efforts by maintaining and regularly updating a publicly accessible database of penalised or non-compliant developers. Such a measure, they argue, would enhance transparency and help buyers make informed decisions before investing in housing projects.The ED’s due diligence checklist advises buyers to independently verify land ownership and title records, confirm RERA registration details and avoid relying on verbal assurances or informal booking arrangements that lack legal backing.Consumer groups in Odisha have announced plans to circulate the advisory among housing societies and resident welfare associations to raise awareness about safe property investment practices.