Top 10 Tips for Buying Off the Plan

Buying property off the plan is becoming an increasingly more popular choice, helped by its wealth of benefits and affordability, compared to buying an established property. With just a 10% deposit required, it’s easy to see why owner occupiers and savvy investors are attracted to this property option.

However, there are plenty of important factors you need to consider when buying off the plan, so before you decide to buy, make sure you review our top 10 tips.

Top 10 tips for buying off the plan

1. Get your finances in order

Firstly, you need to get your finances sorted, pay off any outstanding debts and learn what your borrowing capacity is. This will determine your maximum budget and what properties you can afford to buy. A reputable Mortgage Broker can help with this.

2. Understand the property market
Whether you are an owner occupier or investor you need to understand the property market which means thorough research is required. You should look at current vacancy rates, rental yields, and demographics alongside comparable sales and any proposed future developments which could impact your property purchase.

3. Research the developer

You also need to research the developer to ensure they are reputable and trustworthy. Find out their experience, what past projects they have worked on and whether these were completed on time. You should also check the developer has received DA Approval, to reduce the risk of the development not proceeding.

4. Don’t get emotionally attached

It’s easy to get emotionally attached when buying property particularly as a first home buyer. However, you shouldn’t let your emotions cloud your judgement as it can mean you overlook the more important factors such as capital growth, rental yields and vacancy rates.

Try to concentrate on the solid facts and figures to determine whether this property is a good investment or not, rather than letting the pretty pictures sway your decision.

5. Be prepared for delays

Before you purchase, find out whether the developer has reached their pre-sales target and when construction is expected to start. A boutique development will have a shorter build time compared to a high-rise development. However, bad weather can create delays, pushing back settlement.

6. Consider the risks

Buying off the plan has its risks, but knowing what these risks are and how you can mitigate them will help you to minimise your risk. Things to consider include:

• Property might not proceed – If the development does not have DA Approval, then there is a chance the property might not proceed.
• Settlement might be delayed – Adverse weather can cause delays so make sure the sunset clause provides ample time to cover this.
• Capital growth lower than expected – Your property might have been overvalued, which means you might have to pay more towards this if your lender won’t provide additional funding.

In spite of the risks, property is one of the safest means of investing. As banks back property, they have a vested interest to help maintain a stable property market.

7. Buying costs

Although you won’t be paying a mortgage yet, there are other costs you need to be mindful of. Besides the 10% deposit, you also need to pay legal fees, whilst on settlement there are also stamp duty, borrowing costs and even property management fees to consider, so make sure you have sufficient savings to cover this.

8. Seek legal advice

As buying off the plan is slightly different to buying an established property, it is essential that you use a reputable lawyer or conveyancer who is familiar with off the plan contracts to review the contract first before you sign.

Avoid using the cheapest lawyer as this could cost you dearly in the future if your property faces problems and you need to refer back to your signed contract.

9. Think of the majority of buyers

Keep in mind future buyers when you buy your property, as if you end up selling later on, you want your property to appeal to as many buyers as possible. It would be harder to sell a one-bedroom apartment in an area known for families with children.

10. Speak to a Property Consultant

As buying a property is likely to be one of the largest purchases you will ever make, it can be quite a daunting and stressful experience. Working with a Property Consultant such as iBuyNew can help make this buying process easier. We can provide you with the latest research whilst inform you of the best areas to buy in right now.

To learn more about buying property off the plan, whether you are a first home buyer, owner occupier or investor, why not get in touch with iBuyNew today. Call 1300 123 463.

View all articles by Mark Mendel »

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