Cash or instalments?

The most common mistake is comparing units by total price. On an instalment plan, two numbers actually decide what you can reach: the cash you can put down now, and the payment you can commit to every month for years.

A more expensive unit on a longer plan can be within reach while a cheaper one at 25% down is not. That is why the brief asks for both.

Paying cash unlocks real discounts on primary stock, and usually gives you a stronger negotiating position on resale — especially with a seller who needs liquidity quickly.

Weigh the opportunity cost though: money paid in one go leaves every other investment. Compare the discount you get against what the same money could have earned elsewhere over the same period.

The down payment percentage and exactly when it falls due, the term, and how often instalments are collected (monthly, quarterly, twice a year).

The maintenance deposit: what percentage, and when. It is usually collected alongside the down payment and it is a large sum that catches people out.

Are there extra payments on handover? What is the penalty if delivery is late? What are the terms for reselling before the plan finishes?