Legal Protection of the Buyer in Off-Plan Real Estate Sales: A Comparative Analytical Study

Abstract

This article examines the legal protection of the buyer in off-plan real estate sales. Off-plan selling is a legal and commercial term that refers to the process of selling real estate units before their construction is completed. In other words, properties are sold based on plans and designs, meaning the project exists only on paper at the time of sale. This practice is common in many developed countries, as it allows buyers to purchase properties that are yet to be built, often with only the design or map of the future building available for viewing. In off-plan sales, transactions are based on pre-existing plans and designs of the construction project. Specific contracts are established between the owner of the residential project and the buyer, wherein the buyer pays a portion of the total amount as a down payment upon signing the contract in the initial stage. The remaining payments are scheduled during certain future stages of construction, corresponding to the development progress of the residential unit. 

and remedies in case of disputes.