Outright payment

Land and house adverts often quote an outright price next to a payment-plan price. Paying in one go usually earns a discount, because the developer or seller gets all the money at once and carries no risk of you defaulting.

Paying does not give you title by itself. Full payment entitles you to the property under your contract, but your legal title comes from a deed of assignment, or a sublease in many estates, signed by the seller. Where the land has a statutory right of occupancy, the deed then needs the Governor's Consent, followed by stamping and registration at the land registry. Until those steps are done, your interest is not perfected.

Check before you pay. Because the whole price leaves your hands at once, due diligence matters most here. Before paying, do a land search, have a surveyor chart the survey plan, confirm that the seller owns the land or has written authority from the owner, and inspect the plot or building yourself. A developer's reputation is not a substitute for these checks.

Paperwork. Sign a contract of sale before the money moves. It should state the price, what the price includes, and when the deed and other documents will be handed over. Get a receipt showing the full amount, the property and the payer.

Off-plan homes. Paying outright for a home that is not yet built still leaves you exposed to delivery delays. Developers' contracts often let them extend the handover date, so read the delay clauses before you pay.