Updated
GL-O-07
Glossary · Real estate
Off-plan - Purchase during construction
Buying real estate during construction, before the project is delivered. Cheaper than a finished unit, but carries the risk of delay or an unfinished build; programs treat it with caution.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- Buying real estate at the construction stage, before the property is completed
- Advantage
- Cheaper than completed property, with price growth by completion
- Drawback
- Risk of delay, changes or non-completion
- In programmes
- Used with caution: status depends on completion
- Can you prepare
- Yes: check the developer and protect the payments
02 / In plain words
What Off-plan means
Off-plan means buying real estate at the construction stage, when the property does not yet physically exist: you buy from the project and plans. The main advantage is price: at the start of construction the price per square metre is lower, and by completion the property often gains in value, offering a potential profit.
The other side is risk. Construction may drag on, the project may change, and in the worst case the developer may not complete the property at all. That is why off-plan calls for particular caution: the developer’s reputation and financial stability are checked, along with the building permits and how your money is protected during construction (escrow, staged payments).
In citizenship and residence programmes, off-plan is used carefully: status is often tied to actual ownership or the property’s completion, and construction timelines may not match your filing plans. Some programmes directly restrict or regulate purchases at the construction stage, so the conditions are checked in advance.
A case from practice
An investor considers an off-plan property cheaper than a completed one. Before buying, the developer, permits and timelines are checked, and payments are tied to construction stages through a protected arrangement. For the programme it is also checked that status can be obtained given the completion date.
When off-plan is considered
- A purchase cheaper than completed property
- A bet on price growth by completion
- New developer projects
- An investment for future rental
- Sometimes for residence or citizenship
- Staged payment for construction
03 / What it covers
What matters about off-plan
Advantages
- A lower price
- Growth by completion
- Staged payment
Risks
- Construction delays
- Changes to the project
- Non-completion
Check
- The developer’s reputation
- Financial stability
- Permits
In programmes
- Status waits for completion
- Sometimes restricted
- Conditions in advance
04 / How it works
How to buy off-plan safely
Check the developer and the project
Study the permits and timelines
Protect payments (escrow)
Monitoring construction and registration
A completed property and title
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01
Off-plan is buying at the construction stage
02
Cheaper than completed, but with a risk of delay
03
In the worst case the property may not be completed
04
The key is checking the developer and protecting payments
05
In programmes, status often waits for the property’s completion
Common mistakes
- Buying from a developer without checking their reputation
- Paying the whole sum at once without escrow or stages
- Not accounting for the risk of delay to filing timelines
- Ignoring the building permits
- Not checking whether off-plan is allowed in the programme
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Off-plan calls for particular caution: the developer’s reputation and financial stability are checked, along with the building permits and how the money is protected during construction — escrow, staged payments. It is also checked separately whether off-plan is allowed and how it is regulated in your programme, and whether the construction timeline matches your filing plans.
What we do for you. We weigh off-plan frankly: where the price is lower and there is growth potential, and where there is a risk of delay. We check the developer, protect your payments and confirm whether a purchase at the construction stage suits your programme and timeline.
Igor VentsHead of real estate, Title Deed and property checks
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
Price: at the start of construction the property is cheaper and often gains in value by completion. Plus staged payment instead of the whole sum at once.
Construction delays, changes to the project and, in the worst case, non-completion. That is why the developer is checked and payments are protected.
Through escrow and staged payments tied to construction stages, rather than full prepayment. That way the money does not all go to the developer up front.
Not always: status is often tied to the property’s completion, and some programmes restrict off-plan. The conditions are checked in advance.
Their reputation, completed projects, financial stability and building permits are examined. An unreliable developer is the main risk.
Sometimes, yes, through assignment, but this depends on the contract terms and the country. Programmes also take the mandatory holding period into account.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
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We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
