Investor
Understanding off-plan purchases
6 min readBy West Research TeamUpdated March 2026
What 'off-plan' means
You're buying directly from the developer before construction completes. Price is usually lower, payment is staggered over milestones, and handover is typically 2–4 years out.
Payment plans
Common structures are 50/50, 60/40, and 30/70 (post-handover). The second number is what you pay after you take keys — the higher it is, the lower your upfront cash requirement.
Escrow protection
All RERA-registered projects must hold buyer payments in an escrow account that the developer can only draw from as construction milestones are certified. This is your primary protection.
Initial sale vs resale
'Initial Sale' = bought directly from developer at launch. 'Resale' = purchased from a previous off-plan buyer; price reflects market movement since launch, and any NOC fees pass to you.