Kolaboro / Glossary / Payment plans and deposits in off-plan property
Payment plans and deposits in off-plan property
A payment plan spreads the price over the construction period: a first deposit at booking or signing, then instalments on dates or at construction milestones, and the balance at handover or after it. Before paying, check what protects each instalment and what the contract says if the dates move.
| Market | Projects tracked | Publish the first deposit | Median first deposit | Lowest to highest | Publish a payment plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | 20 | 10 | 5% | 1.5% - 35% | 11 |
| Sharjah | 11 | 8 | 7.5% | 5% - 10% | 8 |
| Ajman | 6 | 6 | 7.5% | 5% - 20% | 6 |
| Abu Dhabi | 20 | 15 | 10% | 5% - 30% | 17 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 26 | 13 | 10% | 5% - 20% | 17 |
| Oman | 18 | 12 | 10% | 2.5% - 20% | 11 |
| Koh Samui | 14 | 5 | 10% | 5% - 30% | 7 |
| Cambodia | 14 | 5 | 10% | 10% - 30% | 7 |
| Bahrain | 7 | 5 | 10% | 10% - 20% | 5 |
| Cape Town | 7 | 5 | 10% | 10% - 10% | 5 |
| Dubai | 170 | 65 | 20% | 5% - 24% | 85 |
| Georgia | 17 | 10 | 20% | 10% - 30% | 13 |
| Costa Rica | 11 | 5 | 20% | 10% - 30% | 5 |
| Zanzibar | 15 | 5 | 20% | 10% - 25% | 5 |
| Bali | 93 | 33 | 30% | 10% - 60% | 55 |
| Lombok | 24 | 7 | 30% | 10% - 50% | 12 |
| Pattaya | 18 | 5 | 30% | 25% - 30% | 4 |
| Northern Cyprus | 11 | 6 | 35% | 30% - 35% | 7 |
| Istanbul | 19 | 12 | 50% | 5% - 60% | 11 |
Markets with at least 5 projects in the count. Counted from what the developer or the sources we read publish, not a judgement of quality; each project page lists its sources.
The rules where we have read them
- Buying off-plan in Bali: where your money goes
- Buying off-plan in Dubai: where your money goes
- Buying off-plan on the Costa del Sol: where your money goes
- Buying off-plan in Lisbon: where your money goes
- Buying off-plan in Miami: where your money goes
- Buying off-plan in France: where your money goes
- Buying off-plan in Japan: where your money goes
- Buying off-plan in Poland: where your money goes
Questions and answers
What is an off-plan payment plan?
A payment plan spreads the price over the construction period: a first deposit at booking or signing, then instalments on dates or at construction milestones, and the balance at handover or after it. Before paying, check what protects each instalment and what the contract says if the dates move.
What first deposit do off-plan developers ask for?
Median published first deposit in our data: Dubai 20%; Bali 30%; Abu Dhabi 10%; Ras Al Khaimah 10%.