Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by hojinkoh 1022 days ago
In the city I'm aspiring to buy a house (a.k.a. somewhere near Tokyo), you only need to put the down payment if the construction hasn't finished yet. There will be no mortgage until after the house is ready.

I kind of think this may be a slightly better model in terms of homebuyer protection... (May not sound good for the developer though)
2 comments
ManuelKiessling 1022 days ago
When a flat I‘ve bought in Germany was constructed, the payment to the developer happened „Zug-um-Zug“, that is, they received a total of like 7 payments as the development reached certain milestones.

Had to take the whole mortgage up front in one go, though.

link
seanmcdirmid 1022 days ago
In the USA, you obtain short term high interest financing until the home is completed, then you spin that into a mortgage. Most people buy almost completed new homes from developers, however, which means the developer takes that initial loan/risk.
link