How to buy an off-plan apartment without surprises

What you are buying, legally

When you buy off-plan, the building hasn’t been built yet. That’s why the contract is usually treated as the sale of a future asset: you pay a down payment and installments as construction progresses, and the deed is signed once the building is finished and divided into units. That contract is what protects you, so it’s worth reading carefully.

1. Know who you are buying from

Before the price, look at who is developing the project: how many buildings they have delivered, whether they publish construction progress and how they are rated. Also ask whose name the land is in and whether it has mortgages or court orders on it: land free of liens greatly reduces the risk.

At ZUBA, every building under construction has a monthly report with photos and a progress percentage, and the company holds an A-(py) rating with a stable outlook.

2. A firm delivery date, with a penalty for delays

The most common mistake is accepting an “approximate” delivery date. The contract should set a date and a penalty for delays. Even better if there are two: one for late delivery of the apartment and another for late signing of the deed.

3. What happens if you can’t keep paying

The Paraguayan Civil Code (article 782) protects buyers who pay in installments: once 25 % of the price has been paid, the seller can no longer automatically cancel the sale because of a delay. Even so, check what the contract says about cancellation and penalties, and make sure that, if a penalty applies, anything you paid above it is refunded.

4. What must be in writing

• The exact unit: floor, number, square meters and floor plan.
• Finishes and what is included (kitchen, wardrobes, air conditioning).
• The full payment plan: down payment, installments during construction and balance on delivery.
• The delivery date, delay penalties and the deadline for the deed.
• The conditions if you want to transfer or sell your unit before delivery.

5. There is a guarantee after delivery too

Paraguayan law provides ten years of protection against structural failure of the building, including serious defects that make it uninhabitable, such as leaks or structural damp. If a problem arises and isn’t solved with the company, the first step is the Consumer Protection Office (Sedeco).