Over the years, we have seen Dubai real estate market favor both off-plan and ready-made properties. According to Gulf News, more individual investors are going for off-plan properties but a report by Property Monitor stated otherwise. Based on their report, off-plan properties accounted for less than 30% of total market transactions in January 2021, confirming that buyers prefer ready-made properties.
The reality is, both investments have their advantages and disadvantages. Each investor has a unique financial situation and risk susceptibility. If you’re looking to invest in off-plan or ready-made properties, it is important to explore and weigh the benefits and risks of both.
In this article, we list out the pros and cons of investing in off-plan and ready-made properties.
Off-plan & Ready-made Properties
To simplify, off-plan properties refer to projects/buildings that are not completed yet. It can be a newly launched project with only a master plan or a project already undergoing development. Ready-made properties are buildings that are ready for you to move into or rent out.
Off-Plan Pros
- Priced significantly less
- Small down payments (5-10% of project costs)
- Flexible payment terms (2-5 year payment plans)
- Higher ROI
- Rental Income
- Variety of units to choose from
- Custom developer offers
Off-Plan Cons
- Risk of delays, cancellations, and sub-par quality
- The buying decision is based purely on brochures, photos, and 3D videos
- Slow location growth
- No immediate ROI
- Market fluctuations
- Investors can’t move in or rent it out immediately
Ready-made Pros
- Location advantage (completed properties set in prime locations)
- The buying decision is based on physically seeing the property and feeling it out
- Immediate Rental Income generation
- Higher loan-to-value (LTV) ratio (when applying for a mortgage from the bank)
- The investor can move in or rent it out immediately
- Higher returns when market prices spikes
Ready-made Cons
- Price is generally higher
- Less payment flexibility
- Down payment is higher (25% of project costs)
- Pre-owned property
Things to know!
Whether it’s an off-plan or ready-made property you are investing in, it is important to conduct a competitive market analysis (CMA). You will be able to get a general idea if you have a fair or losing deal by checking the current sales prices of similar properties in the market. Checking rental prices of similar properties in the area you are investing in will also give you an idea of the rental income you can generate.
In the case of off-plan properties, it is important to check the track record and background of the developer – both from punctuality and quality perspective. Investors can reduce the risk of buying off-plan properties by employing a real estate lawyer to check the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA). Dubai also minimizes the risks in buying off-plan properties through regulations imposed by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) and the Dubai Land Apartment (DLD). Developers are required to make a 20% deposit of the project costs as a bank guarantee and authorities are tasked with ensuring that the developer has sufficient funds and resources to complete the project.
Get in touch with us at Key One Realty Group and read our complete guide to buying property in Dubai to make a more informed decision!