Buying a property is in the plans of many people who live in rented accommodation or who are looking for a larger or better located property. The decision to invest in a place of one's own comes at different stages of life. Buying an apartment can be an immediate necessity, or a decision that will form part of plans for the near future. For those who can wait a few months to move into their own home, it's worth buying an off-plan property.
To discuss the pros and cons of buying an apartment on the drawing board, we invite you to continue reading this article!
When it's time to buy a property
The ZAP Group, a specialist in real estate business in the country, conducted a survey in 2019 on the profile of real estate consumers in Brazil. According to the data collected from respondents, 70% of people do not yet own their own home, and they are divided as follows:
Current home situation:
- 39% Live in rented accommodation
- 26% live with parents
- 5% has a residence provided by a third party
- 30% has its own property
Regarding the decision to move from the current address, the following stand out:
- 18% getting closer to work
- 15% get married
- 14% living in a safer neighborhood
- 13% moving to a larger property
Most popular type of property:
- 45% of the properties searched for are apartments
- 43% search for houses to live in
- 12% land or farms
This profile is a reflection of what is happening in different parts of the country. the property is located is one of the most important issues when choosing.
But it's not just people who live in rented accommodation who are looking for a new home. The survey also found that among the 46% of respondents who already own their own home, they are looking for a second home.
Innovative projects
In order to meet the needs of so many Brazilians, developers and construction companies are developing projects that aim to develop strategic areas of cities and deliver more and more convenience for its future residents.
Neighborhoods with the greatest development potential receive promising projects and with them people get the chance to invest in an off-plan property. But do you know the advantages and disadvantages of buying an off-plan property? We'll explain:
Advantages of buying an off-plan property
Buying an off-plan apartment is an excellent deal if you want to pay less for the property. In the pre-launch phase (when the project has not yet begun to be built), construction companies offer very attractive price lists and payment terms.
In this situation, buyers will have all the time they need to negotiate the down payment and can also finance the balance once the keys have been handed over. As this is a development that is yet to be built, the advantages are precisely that it offers the best units at the best prices, on average 20% cheaper than the value it will reach when it is ready.
Another advantage of buying an apartment on the drawing board is that in some projects it is possible to make some changes to the property during the construction, such as choosing the type of finish or even choosing some details such as unifying rooms, for example.
The appreciation of the property is also a positive point. Those who buy a property on the ground can make a smaller down payment and pay monthly installments that, depending on the stage of construction, are lower than the rent in the same region. This means that you'll invest less at the beginning and have a finished property that will appreciate in value when it's ready.
When you buy an off-plan property, you can also count on receiving an apartment with materials and technology that will improve over the years.
The decision to buy an off-plan property will have these advantages for the buyer, but there is also the question of delivery time - can you wait until the work is finished? Check out the most important points to take into consideration when signing a contract for an off-plan apartment.
Disadvantages of buying an apartment on plan
Buying an off-plan property means that it will take a certain amount of time to be delivered, so as advantageous as it may be to invest a small down payment, you need to know that all the bills will add up at the end of the month. Can you balance your budget to continue paying rent and also the installments and reinforcements of the agreement signed when you bought the new property? This is the main thing to remember when making this type of investment: to have a plan that is compatible so that your dream doesn't become a nightmare.
No construction company wants this, but delays in the completion of work can happen. Whether it's due to weather conditions, considering those months when it rains a lot and that can disrupt the progress of the schedule, or even problems with suppliers. These issues need to be resolved by the person responsible for the work, but they can end up leading to a possible delay.
So don't consider setting an exact move-in date, and remember that before you can move into your property there is the process of financing with the bank and registering the property, which can take a few more weeks before you actually receive the keys.
Another fundamental point when buying an off-plan property is to be sure of the deal. It is very important to know the history of the construction company and other projects that have already been delivered. It's not enough to be attracted by an excellent offer. Before signing any document, get to know the company, analyze the contract, investigate the brokers involved in the negotiation and clear up all your doubts while you're signing the proposal.
The main tip is: ask for a full breakdown of how payments will be made from the amount paid up front. Don't leave the signing of the contract with any doubts, this will prevent you from being caught by surprise in the months to come.
What to know before buying a new apartment
Buying an off-plan property is an advantageous and cheaper opportunity for those who want to invest in a well-located apartment with everything you need to take the next step in life, but it is important to pay attention to the details of this negotiation.
The main aspects you need to consider are:
- Can I wait for the work to take time?
Take into account possible delays and know that your contract provides for all the legal issues involved in this situation. - Am I doing a safe business?
It's important to talk to other clients of the construction company and get to know its history. Find out who is responsible for signing the contract and what your rights are if you change your mind along the way. - How will I pay for the property after negotiating the down payment?
When buying an off-plan property you have to invest an average of 30% of the apartment's value, but what about the other 70%? Find out what the construction company's options are, whether it offers its own financing and what the terms of the contract are, such as the interest rate, for example, and whether it has agreements with other banks to facilitate the process of entering the housing finance system. - Am I really getting a good deal?
The commitment involved in buying a property is significant, it's an asset of considerable value for most people, which is why it should be part of long-term planning.
Considering the location of the property, the structure of the condominium, the size of the property are all important issues when choosing. Think about the next five or ten years, will you want to continue living there? Is the number of bedrooms you have chosen sufficient for the size of your family? Does the neighborhood offer security?
Include the whole family when making this important decision and, when all the points are settled, choose your off-plan property with the joy of making the best deal!
Then all you have to do is start planning the projects for each of the rooms and follow the progress of the work until the day comes to receive the keys and celebrate in the new house!
And if you're looking for an off-plan property in Greater Florianópolis, check out Vivendas Home Club, the largest condominium in the region.
