Buying Off The Plan Process Explained – Strata Units Advice
Buying Off The Plan Process
Get yourself familiar with the buying off the plan process as Australia is becoming a nation of apartment dwellers with billions worth of developments either underway or proposed within the next five years in our capital cities.
Buying Off The Plan Contract
Buying off the plan process involves signing an off the plan contract of sale, which is drafted and tailored quite differently to a normal contract, according to property law expert Despina Priala, principal of Priala Legal.
Priala recommends that before signing, you seek legal advice from a contract and property law professional. Priala says it is essential to check that the following factors are included in your contract:
Cooling Off Period If You Change Your Mind
A cooling off period of between three and five days applies to your contract in most states. This means you can change your mind about purchasing the property during this time.
However, if you decide to withdraw during this time you may be charged with a termination penalty by the developer (0.25% of purchase price). Once this period ends, you are legally bound to buy the property.
Adequate Plan Disclosure
In an off the plan contract you are provided with plans and specifications of what the developer intends to build and construct as the finished product.
Usually, you will be given proposed plans yet to be approved by local council of the entire project, in addition to proposed floor plans of the particular property you have chosen, plus a schedule of finishes for the property (sometimes identifying a particular standard the developer has decided to use).
This is usually done prior to signing the contract of sale and discussed with the agent. It is very important you read and understand these plans before signing the contract to make sure you are satisfied with the level of disclosure the developer has provided to you and the detail and standard of the finishes.
In the contract of sale, developers almost always retain the right to alter these plans if required to complete the project.
Buying Off The Plan Deposit
Up to a maximum of 10% of the purchase price is payable and usually held in a legislated trust account and invested until settlement. Your contract should be checked to see who ends up with the interest earned on the investment at settlement, that is, the seller or buyer or both. Sometimes buyers are entitled to share in the interest earned.
Inclusions and Warranties
The contract usually provides that the property will be constructed in accordance with the finishes and materials described in the contract, but it usually also provides the developer with the sole right to alter the finishes and materials in certain circumstances, provided the alternatives are of no less quality.
You should know that from start to finish, the developer is given a lot of flexibility in how the project is to be completed. The developer can make changes, provided they will not materially prejudice you as the buyer. If the changes are prejudicial, you want a contract that allows you the right to withdraw and obtain your deposit back.
Sometimes, contracts allow you to customise the design (within the structural constraints of the building) to suit your individual needs.
You can also select from a range of various fittings, fixtures, appliances, internal colour schemes and latest designer finishes. Review inclusions and warranties in the contract to ensure you are protected from prejudicial changes and to see whether you can make your own custom changes.
Buying Off The Plan Finance
If you require funding from a lender to complete your purchase, you need to ensure the contract is subject to you obtaining suitable finance within a certain time frame from when you sign.
Usually, developers will agree to give buyers 14, 21 or sometimes up to 30 days from when the contract is signed to obtain finance approval. You will need to check with your financier that finance approval can be obtained early whilst the project is being completed.
You also need to ensure you are adequately protected under the contract if you cannot obtain adequate funding and need to cancel the contract and obtain a refund of your deposit.
Buying Off The Plan Defects
Normally, off the plan contracts provide that the developer is to remedy any defects identified by you as the buyer, prior to you settling on your purchase. Prior to settling, as the buyer you are given a right to pre-inspect the property and identify any defects to the developer.
Buying Off The Plan Stamp duty
Stamp duty must be paid on all purchase contracts. There are strict time periods involved and certain concessions and exemptions available to buyers of residential property.
There are certain conditions that must be met in order to gain these exemptions or concessions. You need to obtain appropriate legal advice early as to your stamp duty liabilities in the contract.
Completion
The contract will usually provide buyers with an estimated time of when the developer intends to complete the project. The developer is usually provided with flexibility to extend or alter these time frames whilst taking all reasonable steps to complete the project as quickly as possible.
If the developer cannot complete the project within this time frame, then both the developer and the buyer can terminate the contract. In those circumstances, the deposit is refunded to the buyer. Again, legal advice should be obtained prior to signing the contract to ensure the buyer’s rights are fully protected.
Contract With A Developer
Before entering into a contract with a developer, it’s important to perform a background check. Start by visiting the company’s website. You should be able to access information relating to past and present projects, as well as business numbers and contact details. It should also be clear who the directors of the company are.
Utilise online forums to find out whether other investors have had positive or negative experiences with the same developer in the past.
Once satisfied, ask for the licence number of the builders used for the construction of the property.
You can then do a licence check on any of the state government websites, to obtain information such as:
- Details about the licensee, including address, date of birth and the work he or she can do
- The date of issue and expiry of the license
- Conditions endorsed on the license
- Names of partners in a partnership, or directors of a corporation
- The results of any disciplinary determinations and prosecutions
- The number of insurance claims paid in respect of work done by the holder
- Details of penalty notices issued to the holder
- Any cancellations or suspensions of the license
If the search turns up any concerning results, you may want to reconsider entering into a contract with the developer. A legal professional will also be able to advise you of other available checks you can carry out.
You need to research to ensure the developer is actually commencing the project, advises Josh Atherthon, managing director of Portfolio Property Investments. Most developers will need 50% pre-sales to start.
If you pay over the odds you may be waiting for others to fulfil the requirements of the developer to start and could be sitting a while. An 18 month sunset clause is common. Be cautious of longer dates.”
Home Warranty Insurance
It is the developer’s legal responsibility to provide home warranty insurance cover before entering into a contract for the sale of the off the plan property, provided the contract is for more than $20,000.
The insurance covers the owner of the property for loss or damage resulting from non-completion of work, loss of deposit, or breach of statutory warranty.
Residential buildings of more than three storeys in height are generally exempt from home warranty insurance cover, but construction of a multi-unit residential building of less than three-storeys (not including car park) requires the developer to attach a home warranty insurance certificate to the contract for sale.
A certificate of home warranty insurance should be an original, issued by the insurer. It should feature the property’s address, name of home owner, name of developer, name of insurer and total sum of the contract. You should contact the insurer directly if unsure that the insurance certificate is valid.
Financing The Purchase
It can be tricky to have finance approved for an off the plan purchase and many investors end up losing their deposit after being unable to complete the deal.
Some lenders are reluctant because properties may be sold for more than they are worth, or in an uncertain market their values may decrease between the signing of the contract and the property’s completion.
Some lenders protect themselves from possible loss by capping such loans at 80% LVR, while others will require later reviews of any pre-approvals they issue at the time you sign the contract.
You want to be careful not to blemish your credit record with a loan rejection, so it is best to wait until the building is complete and settlement is less than six weeks away before applying for formal approval.
Banks such as Commonwealth, Westpac and Suncorp provide long term loan approvals, which are subject to a conditional ‘on completion’ valuation, conducted 90 days before settlement.
This enables them to ascertain that the value is stable and also to re-evaluate the applicant’s financial situation. NAB will also lend to off the plan purchasers on a case by case basis, but applications are only valid for 90 days, as per the bank’s policy for all borrowers.
Buying Off The Plan Strata Units Advice
Visit the property site and check the location. If there are other constructions in the area, it may affect your view.
Carefully inspect the display home, models and plans. Investigate the fixtures, fittings and finishes.
Research the market conditions and speak to an expert to determine the property prices.
Research The Developer
Things to Consider:
Ask how long they have been in the industry and how many properties they have built.
Visit your developer’s previous work, inspect the quality and speak to previous clients to determine their satisfaction with the property.
Ask questions to determine what is covered as part of the purchase price, for example, what fittings, floor coverings, painting and decorating is part of the package and what is additional.
Discuss your expectations for the property with your developer and have them written into the contract to avoid disagreement with the developer at the completion of the project.
Obtain guarantees of their financial status written into the contract if possible, to avoid encountering financial complications with the developer.
Ask to see the developer’s balance sheet to determine their financial strength as there is a risk that if the developer goes into liquidation before the property is finished you may lose your deposit and other costs.
Carefully Review the Contract with a Legal Professional.
Take Note Of:
- The completion date
- If there are penalties if you withdraw from the contract
- If you can visit the site during construction
- If you can make changes to finishes and fixtures
- What happens if the developers run into financial problems and what happens to your deposit
- What happens if faults are identified post-completion
