How to succeed with off plan property investment

Buying off-plan has been a bit of a bad word since the dark days of the property crash in 2008 when scores of buy-to-flip investors were left out of pocket. However, as speculated, off-plan buying is making a comeback in 2018. For instance, the UAE Central Bank rule allows only 50 per cent loan-to-value ratio, meaning you need to stump up 50 per cent of the property value in a deposit. This avoids investors putting down low 10 per cent deposits, only to resell the property at a sky-high price at the expense of the person who actually wants to live in the building.

Off-plan is cheaper than ready property

Buying off-plan allows you to arrange your finances better and means you don’t have to be lumbered with a loan for the whole amount of your property. But there are, of course, advantages to buying a ready property: with house prices down, coupled with tricky off-plan mortgage rules, there has been a boom in ready property sales. However, it’s generally cheaper to buy off-plan  and that gap is expected to get bigger as developers work to drive interest in off-plan investment

You don’t need as much cash as you think:

While you will need a hefty lump sum in savings as a deposit, the good news is that this doesn’t always equate to 50 per cent of the property value. In some instances, the cash deposit required can be as low as a 20 per cent initial payment. How? Well, the property developers recognise that not many people have as much as a 50 per cent deposit saved and are coming up with their own payment plans to get would-be buyers a foot on the ladder.

Reputed developers are back in business

One potential stumbling block would-be buyers may face when buying off-plan in Dubai is that UAE banks will not lend to all off-plan projects. The decision largely comes down to the developer and their credentials. But the big players – Emaar, Dubai Properties, Nshama, Meraas, Akoya by Damac and Azizi among them – have all secured mortgage lending for their off-plan projects. Going with a reputed developer that the banks recognise will also ensure your money is safeguarded from rogue developers.

Only legitimate developers can advertise the property for sale

Since October 2016 regulations came into effect, which requires developers and brokers to get approval from Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) before they advertise a property in the media. The new regulation is aimed at cracking down on fake property ads, protecting both buyers and genuine developers. The reasons for avoiding off the plan properties have been well documented, with the majority of leading experts strongly advising against this kind of investment. But despite the drawbacks, off the plan properties remain to be a popular investment option, particularly among keen investors with little to no experience, and first home buyers as they are provided with ample time to save for settlement. Ultimately, all investors are exposed to the same risks and complications involved in purchasing property off the plan. The negative sentiment towards off the plan is nothing new, and among other potential pitfalls, I believe the main risk involved in this type of property purchase is the uncertainty around whether the buyer is receiving a good deal in the first place.

Choose your property agent wisely

Agents have been known to wine and dine, clients, fly them to the development site and accommodate them in 5-star hotels in order to have them purchase the property. What the client doesn’t realise is that these costs and extravagances are packaged into the purchase price of the property. Look for agents that are genuine and open so you know they have nothing to hide. Offplandeal.com is the platform which provides free consultation by our experienced agents which offers all the latest off-plan properties with detailed information such as payment plans, brochures, floor plans and gallery.