Buying a new condominium or house and lot usually means choosing between a pre-selling unit, bought before or during construction, and a ready-for-occupancy (RFO) unit you can move into straight away. Both can be good decisions. They suit different buyers.
Pre-selling: lower price, longer wait
- Usually the lowest price the developer will offer for that unit
- A downpayment spread over the construction period
- More units and floors to choose from
- But: you wait for turnover, and timelines can move
Ready for occupancy: what you see is what you get
- You can inspect the actual unit before buying
- Move in or lease it out soon after the sale
- But: a higher price, and the downpayment is due over a shorter period
Questions to ask before you reserve
- Does the project have a License to Sell from the DHSUD?
- What is the promised turnover date, and what happens if it is late?
- How is the downpayment spread, and what will the monthly amortisation be?
- Which banks or Pag-IBIG financing does the developer work with?
- What are the association dues and other fees after turnover?
Know your protection
Buyers paying in instalments are protected by the Maceda Law (Republic Act No. 6552), which sets out grace periods and refunds if you are unable to continue paying. Ask us to walk you through how it applies to the terms you are offered.
We represent pre-selling and RFO projects across Pampanga and can compare them for you, at the developer’s own price. See our project selling service.
