08/10/2026
“It’s a pre-launch price. It’ll be higher after launch. Just give us the EOI cheque today.”
It sounds like an opportunity. Sometimes it is. But sometimes the lowest price carries the highest risk.
Under RERA, a developer cannot advertise, book or sell units in a project that hasn’t been registered.
So if a project has no RERA number, a buyer isn’t buying property. They’re buying a promise. And a promise can change: the plan, the unit’s location, the launch timeline. If the project never launches, getting money back can be difficult.
That doesn’t mean every early-stage opportunity is a bad one. Early entry into the right project can genuinely benefit buyers.
Before handing over any cheque, I recommend checking four things:
1. Is the project registered on RERA?
2. Are the licence and building plan approved?
3. Is the EOI amount refundable, and is that in writing?
4. What is the developer’s record of on-time delivery?
One more point worth knowing: for RERA-registered projects, a significant part of buyers’ money must be kept in a separate bank account for that project. That’s an important safeguard.
A lower price is good. Protected money is better.
Have you ever been offered a pre-launch deal? How did you evaluate it?
This post is for general awareness and is not legal or investment advice.
RealEstateIndia Gurugram Noida DelhiNCR