One of the most attractive features of buying pre-construction — and one of the least understood — is that you do not pay for the property all at once. Payments are staged across the construction period, which is what allows a buyer to secure a unit today with a fraction of its price.

The Structure, Stage by Stage

Terms vary by developer and by project, but the shape is consistent:

  1. Reservation deposit. The first payment, made when you reserve the unit. It takes the residence off the market at the price agreed that day. In our portfolio this ranges roughly from 5% to 30% depending on the development.
  2. Contract deposit. Paid on signing the purchase agreement, usually within days or weeks of the reservation.
  3. Construction milestones. Additional installments tied to progress — groundbreaking, structure topping off, and so on. This is the phase that spreads the effort over time.
  4. Balance at closing. The remainder, due when the building is delivered and the unit is handed over.

When we publish that a project has, say, a 20% reservation and 50% financing, we are describing this structure: what you commit up front, and what portion remains for the end.

Why the Schedule Matters More Than the Headline Price

Two developments with the same price can demand very different things from you. A project with a 5% reservation and a long build gives you room to organize capital. One with 30% up front asks for real liquidity now.

The right question is not only "what does it cost" but "what do I need to have available, and by when". Match the schedule to your actual cash flow rather than to an optimistic projection.

Points to Verify Before You Sign

  • How the deposits are held. Understand where your money sits during construction and under what conditions it is released.
  • The exact milestone schedule. Written dates or triggers, not verbal estimates.
  • What happens if delivery is delayed. Construction timelines move. Know what the contract says about it.
  • Whether the unit is delivered furnished. This materially changes what you still have to spend before it can produce income.
  • The rental policy. If your plan is to rent, this belongs in the same conversation as the payment plan.

A Note on Financing

The financing percentage a developer advertises refers to the portion typically arranged at closing. Conditions for foreign buyers differ from those for U.S. residents, and they vary between lenders. Treat any percentage as a starting point to verify for your specific case, not as a guarantee.

Before You Commit

Every project we publish lists its reservation deposit, financing terms and estimated delivery. That is deliberate: it lets you compare the real commitment across developments instead of comparing headline prices that hide very different schedules.

Compare payment terms across developments →

This article is general information about how these transactions are commonly structured. It is not legal, tax or financial advice. Review any contract with your own attorney before signing.