Resale or buy from the developer?
The practical differences between buying primary from a developer and buying from a current owner.
What are the pros and cons of buying primary?
Upsides: longer payment plans and a smaller down payment, a standard contract, and warranties on construction and finishing.
Downsides: you are usually buying off-plan, so you carry delivery-delay risk. The price is typically higher than resale for the same unit in the same project.
What are the pros and cons of buying resale?
Upsides: you see the actual unit, handover is faster or immediate, and a seller who needs liquidity may give you a better price.
Downsides: you usually need more cash up front, because you are repaying what the previous owner has already paid, on top of the remaining instalments.
What do we check on any resale?
Payment status with the developer: how much has been paid, what remains, and whether anything is overdue.
The developer's consent to transfer and the transfer fee — many projects charge a percentage on assignment.
The original contract and the chain of assignments, and that the seller's name matches the developer's records.
Registration: whether the unit is registered with the property registry, and what completing that costs and involves.
This is general guidance, not legal or licensed investment advice. Verify with the developer and the property registry before any financial commitment.
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