Some people buy off-plan intending to sell before handover. It is called assignment, or resale of the plan. It is possible in many projects, but it is not unrestricted.
What you actually sell
You are not selling a finished property. You are selling your position in the contract: what you have already paid and the obligations that remain. The buyer steps into your place and continues the payment plan.
Conditions developers usually set
- Having paid a minimum percentage of the price before you can assign.
- Requesting an approval or no-objection certificate.
- Charging an administrative fee to process the assignment.
- That there are no overdue payments outstanding.
How the price is set
The buyer pays what you have already paid plus a difference if the market has risen, or less if it has fallen. Nothing guarantees prices will rise. Think about your costs: the DLD fee you already paid, commission and assignment fees. If prices do not rise, you can exit at a loss.
Before buying with that idea
Read the assignment clause before you reserve, not when you want to sell. And have a plan B: if you cannot sell, you will have to keep paying until handover.
One last piece of advice. If your idea is to sell before handover, think about timing. With more of the unit paid, assignment is usually easier to handle and the buyer sees more certainty. With little paid, it may not even be possible. Run the numbers with a scenario where the market does not move. If it still makes sense, go ahead.