What are the pros and cons of buying off-plan?
My partner and I are trying to buy our first home together. The market is red hot and we are facing fierce competition for properties in our area. In the past six months we have lost out on one property after we were outbid, and on another one after the seller's onward purchase collapsed. With property prices rising, we are starting to worry that we will never get on the property ladder if we leave it much longer. We recently came across a new development being advertised online which looks perfect - and is within our budget. The big problem is that it's still being built, and it won't be completed for more than a year. We are prepared to continue renting until it finishes, but we would like to know whether buying off-plan is a good idea, and whether there are any potential issues we should be aware of. Instead of a viewing, off-plan buyers will sit down with an agent or developer and look at plans, CGIs, a specification list and a development model to decide whether a home is for them  Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: The UK property market is in the middle of a boom, which means competition is rife. Read the news headlines and you'll see 'soaring house prices', 'bidding wars', 'property frenzy', and 'race for space,' - it's enough to make any aspiring homeowner panic that they're being left behind. There are more than 700,000 homes currently going through the conveyancing process, according to Rightmove - the biggest sales pipeline in a decade. On average it is taking four months for a property to go from being under offer to sold, thanks in part to a 'conveyancing logjam.' As you have unfortunately discovered, many transactions are being delayed or thwarted by the fact there is a long chain of buyers and sellers all relying on one another to complete on their own purchase. If any transaction in the chain collapses, everyone is impacted. Most new builds come with a 10-year warranty that guarantees against structural defects  For first-time buyers, one way to avoid the insecurity and anxiety that comes from being stuck in a chain is to buy a new-build property. But those searching for brand-new homes will find that many of the online property portals are advertising homes that are not even built yet. The prospect of a blank canvas can be tantalising, which is why some buyers will consider a property that is yet to be completed - and in some cases before construction has even begun. This is known as buying off-plan, because often buyers will choose their home based on looking at architect's plans rather than the real thing. To explain the pros and cons, we spoke to Rob Bence, founder and chief executive of the forum Property Hub; Paula Higgins, founder and chief executive of the HomeOwners Alliance; Jonathan Enticknap, director of London residential development at estate agent Hamptons; and David Jubb, director at JLL Residential. Jonathan Enticknap replies: For first time buyers who have some flexibility on when they can complete on a purchase, buying off-plan can be a fantastic opportunity. This is because of the potential for capital growth - i.e the home increasing in value - throughout the build process. There is a preconception that buying off-plan is only for the wealthy, or international investors. One advantage of buying off-plan is that you might be able to personalise some aspects of your home - but the major drawback is you don't have control over when it will be ready  Rob Bence replies: Most new-build developers now start the sales process before the foundations go in, and it's not uncommon for first time buyers to opt for a new build property that's off-plan. As with any project though, sometimes timescales can slip. So if you're a first-time buyer in a hurry to move, it's worth considering what your options would be, were the build to get delayed for one reason or another. Paula Higgins replies: You can't be sure what the finished property will look like, so there will always be an element of risk. If the site is being completed in stages you may find in the short-term you could be living on a building site with no neighbours, lots of noise and dust. Also, if the build is delayed, you could have to re-apply for your mortgage as most mortgage offers only last for six months. Rob Bence replies: The developer could go bust before the building is finished and that could mean your deposit is at risk if it is not protected. The other major risk is that the property market could also fall during the construction period, meaning you could end up with a lower valuation at completion than the price you agreed and paid a deposit on at the outset. You could also run into mortgage issues, which might result in you being unable to complete and therefore, forfeiting the deposit you paid when you exchanged contracts. Paula Higgins replies: It might be possible to personalise your home by having a say on the internal layout, fixtures and fittings, as well as where is sits within the development. Your home will also come with a new-build warranty which can give you greater peace of mind than if you were purchasing an older property. Once the property is built, the warranty is split into two periods: the defects insurance period, which covers the first two years, and the structural insurance period which covers years three to 10. Typically, during your first two years in the home, if there are issues with the work the builder has done, such as the heating not working because the pipes are faulty, the developer is obliged to come and fix them. During the structural insurance period, the developer is typically only responsible for major problems with the structure of the property. Rob Bence replies: First and foremost, there is no chain, so you won't need to worry about having your purchase scuppered by somebody else's transaction falling through. You can also often negotiate discounts off the purchase price, and negotiate on extra upgrades like flooring, appliances and kitchens. And once your offer is accepted, you get to lock in at the agreed price. This means if you purchase a property that's 12 months off-plan in a rising market and prices go up five per cent, you've made a gain without lifting a finger - and with only having put a small deposit down. Rob Bence replies: The process is not too dissimilar to buying a completed property, barring the fact that you can't physically view it before making your offer. You'll be required to pay a reservation fee to secure the property, which is often deducted from the deposit you'll pay later in the process. As an off-plan buyer, you will often get to choose some of the materials used in your home  You'll then instruct a solicitor to go through the usual conveyancing process which includes searches and the checking of contracts. Once your solicitor is happy, they'll usually ask you to pay the deposit and exchange contracts. Once the contracts are exchanged, you're legally committed to purchasing the property. If the purchase doesn't go through after this, you'll lose your deposit  so that's something to bear in mind. As the build progresses, you'll need to arrange your mortgage towards the end of construction, so you have everything ready in time for completion of the property, unless of course you're a cash buyer. Once the build is finished, the developer will serve a 'notice to complete' which will give you a certain amount of time to complete the purchase  either paying the remainder of the cash or finalising the mortgage. Jonathan Enticknap replies: If you are buying a property more than 12 months from completion, look for a developer with a strong reputation and track record. Speak to a mortgage advisor to understand what you can afford before reserving, and do not forget to apply for your mortgage offer six months prior to completion. Also, don't forget to factor in stamp duty to any financial calculations you make. Rob Bence replies: Make sure your deposit is protected 'in escrow' or by warranty in case the developer goes bust - your solicitor can review the documentation if you're not sure. Warranty providers rarely guarantee a deposit above 10 per cent, so putting down more than this puts you at risk if the developer goes bust. Research the developer: If they go bust during construction, you could lose your deposit  It's not uncommon to see developers asking buyers to pay their deposits in stages, eventually totalling more than 50 per cent of the purchase price. Here, the developer is effectively using your money to fund the build, which puts you at significant risk if the scheme is never completed. Finally, factor in the potential for delays - if you're in a rush to move into your new home, you may need a back-up plan. Paula Higgins replies: It's so important to do your research and make sure you are going with a quality developer - new build homes are not all the same, so look up previous projects built by the developer. If it is a leasehold property, make sure you go through the lease with your conveyancer as soon as possible, paying particular attention to the length of the lease, ground rents and service charges as well as any restrictions. Finally, at the point of completion, make sure you have a snagging survey done. This will identify defects or problems which need fixing before you move in. The survey should spot minor issues, from a door that's misaligned and catching on the carpet, to something more serious that could affect the structure of your home. David Jubb replies: With Help to Buy you benefit from an interest free equity loan for the first five years but from the start of the sixth year there is an interest charge of 1.75 per annum on your loan, which you will need to pay per month unless you repay. For those using Help to Buy, youre allowed to exchange a maximum of nine-months before completion, so if youre keen on a particular development or purchase, Id advise trying to buy as close to that limit as possible. Also, when buying in advance of the building being completed, many developers are now offering incentives with Help to Buy, such as stamp duty paid, so ensure you ask these questions before reserving to ensure you make your purchase more affordable.