Lower entry price against completion risk and GST. Neither is universally right — but for you, one of them probably is.
This question comes up in almost every first meeting, and it usually gets answered with a slogan. It deserves better.
The case for under construction
The entry price is lower. Payment is staged across construction rather than due at once, which helps if your money is arriving over time rather than sitting in an account. You get first pick of floor, view and layout. And if the area appreciates during construction, that gain accrues to you.
The case against
You are buying a plan, not a flat. Completion risk is real — RERA improved accountability considerably, but it did not abolish delay. Under-construction property attracts GST that ready property does not. And if you are renting while you wait, you are paying twice for years.
The case for ready to move
What you see is what you get. You can inspect the actual construction quality, meet actual neighbours, and check whether the promised amenities exist rather than trusting a render. No GST. No waiting. Rent stops the day you move in.
The case against
You pay for that certainty. Ready inventory in a good building is priced accordingly, and you may find less choice of unit.
So how do you actually decide
Ask three questions:
- When do you need to move in? If the answer is "this year", the decision is made.
- Can you carry rent and EMI at the same time? Be honest about the number, not the best case.
- How good is the developer's delivery record? Not their marketing. Their record. Look at what they promised on their last three projects and when they actually handed over.
If you are buying to live in and you need a home now, ready usually wins. If you are investing, have time, and the developer's record genuinely stands up, under construction can be the better trade.
There is no universal answer. There is an answer for you, and we will give you ours straight — including when it is "neither of these".
