Buying basics · PROPERTY GUIDE
A subsale home budget goes beyond the down payment
Build a cash plan for the deposit, legal work, stamp duty, valuation and financing before committing.
Start with the agreed price and likely financing margin, then calculate the cash gap. Add legal fees and disbursements for the sale, purchase and financing documents, applicable stamp duty, valuation costs and any required insurance or takaful.
Do not rely on one headline percentage. Stamp duty and tax treatment depend on the instrument, buyer profile and rules in force when the transaction is signed. Ask the lawyer and bank for written estimates before paying a non-refundable sum.
Keep a separate buffer for repairs, moving and the first months of ownership. A lower instalment does not remove the need for sufficient upfront cash.
View the full preparation checklist
Make a cash plan before making an offer. Keep the purchase price, borrowing and transaction expenses in separate lines so nothing is counted twice.
How much cash must you prepare?
- Start with the agreed purchase price minus the loan actually approved for that property. A lower bank valuation or financing margin can increase your cash gap.
- Record any deposit already paid, who holds it and how it is credited towards the price. Ask your lawyer to confirm the payment arrangement rather than adding the deposit twice.
- Keep transaction expenses and an emergency reserve outside the price-to-loan gap. An online repayment estimate does not confirm bank approval or the total cash needed.
Which expenses need a written quotation?
- Ask for an itemised legal quotation covering the purchase and financing documents, searches, registration and disbursements; check which charges are separate.
- Ask the lawyer to identify applicable stamp duties and any relief that genuinely applies to your documents and circumstances. Do not assume every buyer qualifies for an advertised exemption.
- Ask the bank about valuation, required insurance or takaful and other financing charges. Separately budget for repairs, moving, utilities and any ongoing management charges.
Before paying: check the timing and conditions
- Put the payee, amount, due date and release conditions for each payment in one list, then match it against when your savings and financing are available.
- Have your lawyer explain the offer and refund conditions, including what happens if financing is not approved. Keep the written terms, receipts and confirmed quotations together.
Your next step
Have your target price, own cash and bank assumptions ready. Add the written transaction quotations separately.
Plan the deposit and monthly payment