Ready-to-move vs under-construction: how to pick

Both ready-to-move and under-construction inventory have legitimate use cases. Here's how to decide.

Ready-to-move: the case for

• You can walk through the actual unit before signing
• No construction-delay risk
• GST does not apply (under-construction units carry 5% GST)
• You can move in within 6-8 weeks of registration

Ready-to-move: the case against

• Premium of 10-18% over comparable under-construction inventory
• Choice is limited; the unit you want may already be sold
• You inherit any quality issues from the construction

Under-construction: the case for

• Lower price; better appreciation potential during construction
• More units to choose from, including premium positions
• Staged payments soften the cash-flow strain

Under-construction: the case against

• Delay risk (median Bangalore project delivers 6-14 months late)
• GST applicable
• You buy a render, not a real unit

The 5-question test

1. Do you need to move in within 6 months? → Ready-to-move
2. Can you tolerate an 18-24 month wait? → Under-construction is viable
3. Is the developer Tier-1 RERA-registered with multiple completed Bangalore projects? → Under-construction is safer
4. Are you stretching your budget? → Lean toward Ready-to-move (no construction-delay financing risk)
5. Is this an investment? → Under-construction often has better entry-price economics

Most balanced answers point to under-construction with a Tier-1 developer. Stretch buyers and short-timeline buyers should default to Ready-to-move.