Selling an off-plan home before handover can release capital or lock in a gain, but it depends on the developer’s rules as much as on the market. This guide explains how assignments work, when to sell, how resale prices are built up and what each step costs. Conditions change, so we confirm them before you list.
The rules on assignment
Reselling an off-plan home before handover means transferring your rights under the sale and purchase agreement to a new buyer. This is often called an assignment. It requires the developer’s consent, given through a NOC, and the new buyer’s details are then registered on Oqood in place of yours. Without the developer’s consent, the transfer cannot proceed.
Developers usually require a minimum share of the price to be paid before they allow an assignment, and they charge a transfer or administrative fee. The exact conditions are set by each developer and sometimes by each project, so check your agreement first. Rules change from time to time, and we confirm the current position with the developer before you list.
- Developer consent through a NOC
- Minimum share of the price paid, as the developer sets
- Developer transfer or administrative fee
- Oqood updated in the new buyer’s name
Choosing when to sell
Timing shapes both the price you achieve and the cash you need. Before a large instalment falls due, you can either pay it and sell later or find a buyer who takes it on. Interest from buyers often grows as a project nears completion, because the wait for handover is shorter and the finished building becomes easier to judge.
Check first whether you have reached the developer’s payment threshold for resale, as that sets the earliest point you can sell. Then compare the likely price with similar ready homes and with new launches nearby, which compete for the same buyers. Our secondary desk reviews your payment schedule with you and suggests a realistic window to list.
Pricing an off-plan resale
An off-plan resale is usually priced by reference to the original price, the amount already paid to the developer and an agreed premium or discount. The buyer typically reimburses what you have paid, pays any premium and takes over the remaining instalments. This structure lets both sides compare the deal with buying directly from a developer.
Set the premium from evidence. Look at recent resales in the same project, current developer prices for similar units and ready homes nearby. A buyer will also weigh the remaining payment plan and the time left to handover. We present the figures clearly, so buyers can see what they pay now, what they pay later and what they receive.
The resale process, step by step
Once you have confirmed eligibility with the developer, we list the home with a DLD advertising permit and qualify buyers before sharing details. When terms are agreed, buyer and seller sign a memorandum of understanding, usually on Form F, setting out the price, the premium, the timing of payments and who pays each fee.
You then apply to the developer for a NOC, settle any outstanding amounts and attend the transfer at the developer’s office or a DLD trustee office, depending on the developer’s arrangements. The buyer pays you the agreed amount, the developer records the assignment and the Oqood registration is updated in the buyer’s name. We coordinate every step and every party.
- Eligibility confirmed with the developer
- Advertisement with a DLD permit
- Memorandum of understanding, usually on Form F
- Developer NOC and Oqood transfer
Costs of an early resale
The developer charges a transfer or administrative fee for consenting to the assignment, and any overdue instalments or penalties must be cleared first. If you financed the purchase with a mortgage, the loan must be settled or transferred with the bank’s agreement. Brokerage commission is commonly 2% plus VAT, as set out in your agreement with us.
The DLD transfer fee of 4% of the price typically applies to the new registration and is customarily paid by the buyer, although the parties can agree otherwise. Trustee or registration office fees also apply. Because the basis for each fee can vary, we confirm the full cost with the developer and the DLD in writing before you accept an offer.
- Developer transfer or administrative fee
- Any overdue instalments or penalties
- Brokerage commission: commonly 2% plus VAT
- DLD transfer fee: 4% of the price, customarily paid by the buyer
- Trustee or registration office fees
Questions
When can I resell my off-plan home?
Usually once you have paid the minimum share of the price that your developer requires for an assignment. The threshold and fees differ between developers and sometimes between projects. We check your payment history and the developer’s current conditions before suggesting when to list.
Does the buyer take over my remaining instalments?
Typically, yes. The buyer reimburses what you have paid to the developer, pays any agreed premium and takes over the remaining payment plan from transfer. The arrangement is recorded in the memorandum of understanding and confirmed by the developer when the Oqood registration is updated.
Who pays the developer’s transfer fee?
Practice varies, and the agreed position should be written into the memorandum of understanding. The buyer customarily pays the DLD transfer fee, while the developer’s fee is often paid by the seller. We confirm each party’s costs in writing before you sign, so there are no surprises.