Developers love solo buyers. They come to the deal with no alternative, no negotiating leverage, and with the urgency created by the perception that “first- hand” properties are running out fast. The developer knows this.
A buyer group arrives differently. It brings a sealed deal with multiple serious buyers. The developer is no longer in a position to refuse.
What “First Hand” Means and Where the Opportunity Is
Buying from a developer during construction – before the project is completed – offers two things: a price lower than the final market price, and staggered payment terms that reduce pressure on equity. The developer is willing to give a discount because they want certainty of early sales. The problem is that a solo buyer doesn’t generate enough certainty to get a meaningful discount.
How It Works
An organizer who knows the market identifies a project that meets the criteria – location, developer, rental demand, appreciation potential. They vet the developer thoroughly: how many projects they’ve completed, whether they met schedules, what their financial situation is. Only projects that pass this screening proceed.
Then the group is built. Ten to thirty investors committed to the project. The group approaches the developer as one unit, negotiates as one unit, and closes terms that none of its members could have achieved alone.
The typical discount in groups of this kind ranges between 5% and 15% off catalog price, in addition to more flexible payment terms and priority in apartment selection within the project.
What to Check Before Joining
Organizer’s experience: how many groups have they run? Did all reach completion? What happened when there were problems? Transparency: do you receive data on the project and the developer before committing? Contract: does it protect you if the project is delayed? And what’s the organizer’s structure of responsibility?
Who It Suits and Who It Doesn’t
Suitable for an investor willing to wait 3 to 5 years until construction is complete, looking for a new property with warranty, for whom it’s enough that part of the investment return comes from appreciation off the purchase price. Not suitable for someone who needs an income- producing property immediately.
At Almi we organize groups for projects that have passed our screening. If there’s a project that interests you and you’re not sure whether it meets the standards, a short conversation will provide a quick answer.