Ghaziabad flat buying: Unpacking payment plans and discounts

Okay I'll be honest — figuring out the best way to buy a flat in Ghaziabad after selling our big house is confusing. Kids have moved out; we want a compact 2BHK in Indirapuram or Vasundhara, budget around ₹70-80L. Builders push construction-linked plans, but is a bigger down payment for ready-to-move-in smarter? Balaji Group projects, for instance. Also, for spot discounts, should I deal directly with the builder or can a broker actually get a better deal? What's your experience?