Buying an apartment: advice for buyers. How to buy an apartment correctly: step-by-step instructions. What to do after you have bought an apartment

Buying real estate for an ordinary Russian resident is fraught with difficulties. Problems begin from the very first stage - choosing an apartment that meets your needs and capabilities. Despite the rapid growth of new buildings, affordable housing space is still in short supply. Naturally, a potential buyer has painful doubts: which housing option to choose - primary or secondary?

In this article we will tell you the features of purchasing a secondary car. Let's start with the nuances that you need to pay attention to when inspecting secondary living space, and end with documentary support of the transaction.

Buying an apartment on the secondary market

So, you have chosen the “secondary” one. Its advantages: you immediately become the owner of the finished property, you yourself choose the infrastructure of the area of ​​future residence that is suitable for your circumstances, adequate neighbors, and also receive considerable savings in comparison with the “remake” option. And most importantly, you can move in right away!

There are also disadvantages. Is it possible to foresee all the “undercurrents” of such an acquisition? The answer from experts is clear: it is possible, but only after thoroughly understanding the competent advice. And the first one is never enter into a deal without a thorough inspection of the property.

Key points of the preliminary inspection of the selected object

Everyone has their own criteria and priorities in assessing advantages or disadvantages, so you should be guided by objective indicators pointed out by experts.

When buying a home on the secondary market, follow the plan that experienced professionals usually follow.

Be sure to study the history of the apartment before purchasing.

Visual inspection

  • It’s better to start getting acquainted with an inspection of the local area and the general condition of the house: Pay attention to the landscaping of the yard
    , namely: the presence of children's and sports grounds, landscaping, comfortable benches, parking spaces, fences, grooming and cleanliness.
  • A neglected appearance, dirt and garbage can serve as indirect evidence of who you will live and communicate with, and will say a lot about careless managers. Old houses are often in poor condition
  • . Take a closer look at the appearance: are there any cracks in the walls, crumbled balconies.: condition of stairwells, garbage chute. Make sure the elevator is in good working order and that there are no leaks from a leaky roof.
  • Talk to the residents of the house, and find out how long ago the communal communications were replaced.

Direct inspection of the apartment

It is carried out in stages and involves the following sequence of actions:

A methodical, step-by-step inspection will reveal obvious and hidden defects, which will help reduce the purchase price and protect you from problems after moving into a new home.

It’s a good idea to invite experienced specialists who can evaluate the quality of plumbing work, the correctness of electrical wiring and communications connections, and the extent to which identified deficiencies are eliminated. It’s even better to make an official independent examination of the technical condition of the apartment or demand it from the seller.

Don’t forget: when making a serious purchase, you can’t turn a blind eye to the obvious disadvantages. Bargain or look for an option worthy of your investment.

Conclusion of a preliminary agreement

So, the option has been chosen and it’s time to secure it. The transfer of part of the amount to the seller towards a future purchase must be documented, otherwise in the event of a failed transaction, these funds may be lost to you. Therefore it is concluded. It contains the following points:

  1. Passport and contact details of persons those making the transaction (seller and buyer), addresses of actual location.
  2. Address and description of the apartment, for which an advance (deposit) is paid.
  3. Deadline for concluding a deal and signing an agreement purchase and sale.
  4. Purchase price taking into account the commission payment and a ban on changing it.
  5. Advance amount(deposit). When making an advance, it is concluded.
  6. Deposit return period, if the transaction did not take place due to the fault of the seller.
  7. Apartment vacancy period: deregistration of residents and removal of personal belongings.

Advance and deposit differ in the method of return to the buyer: the deposit is paid in double amount.

The transfer of the deposit must be recorded in a receipt from the buyer.

Required documents when purchasing a secondary apartment

Another important task that the buyer must solve is checking the documents for the purchase and sale transaction. All of them must be originals:

Let's look at the title documents in more detail. These are contracts of donation, inheritance (will), purchase and sale. The form of transfer of rights is important for determining the range of additional documents.

  • By inheritance. The written consent of other heirs, if any, is required.
  • According to the gift agreement. Such a right can be alienated by the donor if significant damage is caused to the property. Information on how to correctly draw up a deed of gift for an apartment

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In the process of drawing up an agreement, an integrated approach is required on the part of the buyer, which includes: advice from a professional lawyer, knowledge of the main points of Russian legislation and the experience of relatives or friends.

We talked about which apartment is better to buy: a resale apartment or a new building.

Based on the experience of professional realtors, You can highlight the main points that you should pay special attention to.

  1. Before you start drawing up a purchase and sale agreement for the apartment you like, you should clarify certain points:
    • how many owners have the right to this living space;
    • from what sources was the previous transaction financed by the current owners and how long ago it was carried out;
    • are there any persons under 18 years of age among the owners;
    • whether any of the family members serves in the army or is serving a sentence in prison;
    • how many people are registered in the apartment at the moment and whether they are ready to leave it;
    • if the current owner inherited the living space, then you need to find out on what basis.
  2. It is advisable to copy all documents that are related to the apartment being purchased at the preliminary stage of drawing up the contract.
  3. When registering square meters as your property, you should not hope that before the transaction the registration authorities will automatically check the legal purity of the “resale” property. They are able to recognize minor and non-serious violations, but no one will detect serious fraud.
  4. It is necessary to carefully check the passports of the apartment owners.

    Passports should not contain any corrections, erasures, deletions, etc.

Common mistakes made by secondary buyers

All problems that arise after signing a purchase and sale agreement can be divided into five points:

  1. Pursuit of the lowest cost. The price of an apartment that looks clearly underestimated in relation to the entire real estate market should be a concern in the first place. After all, the main goal of attackers is to implement their fraudulent scheme as quickly as possible.
  2. Lack of experience and knowledge in the field of real estate transactions.
  3. Purchase of non-privatized housing.
  4. Purchasing real estate that previous owners received through inheritance.
  5. Excessive haste when completing a transaction. The desire to move into the apartment you like as quickly as possible usually works against the buyer, because... You can miss very important nuances when completing a transaction.

Dangers and Risks

The main problems associated with purchasing housing on the secondary market are divided into:

  1. Legal. These include pitfalls associated with conducting a potential transaction. At this stage, the greatest number of fraudulent schemes occur, up to the recognition of the purchase and sale agreement as illegal. As a result, the new owner is deprived of the right to living space, and may also not see the money paid for it.
  2. Documentary. This means correctly certified documents for this living space. Quite often you can find illegal redevelopment, a deliberate increase in the number of square meters, problems with the building management company, etc.

How to protect yourself?

Initially it is necessary to check the authenticity of documents, relating to both the seller and the purchased apartment. The main ones are:

  • document confirming ownership;
  • certificate for the apartment;
  • cadastral passport;
  • certificate of inheritance (if the housing was inherited by the previous owners);
  • technical certificate.

All of the above documents must be presented to the buyer in original.

What questions should you ask the seller?

If everything is in order with the documents, then it would be a good idea to ask the seller directly about the apartment itself.

The most important questions for the secondary seller should concern:

  • thermal insulation (what materials are the walls and ceilings of the house made of, how do they retain heat or cold, etc.);
  • sound insulation (can you hear any extraneous noise in the apartment coming from neighbors or from the street);
  • electrical wiring (how long ago it was changed, whether there are periodic voltage drops, etc.);
  • heating (how well the apartment warms up when cold weather sets in);
  • plumbing (are there any faults);
  • meters (which devices have them and which ones don’t).

All of the above information, although not official, will give the buyer a better understanding of the apartment and help identify hidden problems.

Common fraud and deception schemes

There are a lot of risks associated with purchasing apartments. Next will be disassembled The most common fraudulent schemes:


Video on the topic

Video about the nuances of buying an apartment on the secondary market:

Conclusion

Buying an apartment on the secondary market is a responsible step that includes many different nuances. The main task is to carefully check the “purity” of the transaction and try to completely minimize possible risks. To do this, it is advisable to take the help of professional realtors. After all, it is much better to overpay a certain amount at the very beginning than to waste time, money and nerves on possible legal proceedings in the future.

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01Feb

Hello! In this article we will talk about how to buy an apartment correctly.

Today you will learn:

  1. How does primary housing differ from secondary housing?
  2. How to choose an apartment and estimate its cost;
  3. What are the different ways to buy an apartment?
  4. How to buy an apartment with a mortgage or maternity capital;
  5. How to check an apartment before buying;
  6. How to prepare all the documents yourself and when you need to seek help from a realtor.

Owning an apartment is the dream of many. This is freedom, and comfort, and... The real estate market never stands still; there is always supply, as well as demand. But the wider the river, the more stones there are at its bottom. Deception, fraud, mistakes due to carelessness - all this can turn the holiday of acquisition into a major failure.

You should approach the purchase of an apartment with all responsibility, because there is a lot of money and long-term investments at stake.

What you need to know when choosing housing

Before you start choosing a living space, make a list of the minimum characteristics that will be put forward as requirements for “candidates”.

For example, these could be:

  • Low noise level;
  • Proximity to public transport stops or metro stations;
  • Large insulated balcony or windows on the south side;
  • Availability of equipped parking or children's playground.

Don't be afraid to prioritize. If the most important thing for you is fresh air and proximity to a park, but you receive an offer for a luxurious renovated apartment, but next to an industrial area, it is better to continue looking for other options.

The real estate market is wide even in small towns, and it is not impossible for a new apartment to meet several parameters that are important to you.

Start your journey to a new living space with our step-by-step instructions:

  1. Determine the required characteristics of the apartment(dimensions, location). In addition, it is worth narrowing your search in advance by deciding whether you will look for an apartment on the primary or secondary market, and if on the secondary market, then what kind of renovation and furniture it should have. Having set your requirements, do not deviate from them, tempted by tempting offers from cunning sellers who will try to sell something that is not what you really need.
  2. Determine the amount, which you are willing to spend on buying an apartment. Let this amount be a little less than what you actually have in your pocket, because in addition to the main expenses, additional expenses may arise (for example, repairs or the purchase of furniture). You should not consider offers starting with the cheapest options. As a rule, cheap apartments have their own skeletons hidden in closets. Finding a good deal without a catch is, of course, possible, but the chances are comparable to winning the lottery.
  3. Choose the most suitable source of funding. Pay immediately in cash, take out a mortgage or installments – we’ll talk more about these options below.
  4. Decide how you will look for housing: do everything yourself or use the services of a realtor or intermediary. For an independent search, there are also two options: place your own advertisement for the purchase of an apartment, or look for advertisements for sale.
  5. Explore several priority options. It is always better to have a choice, therefore, even if you liked the first apartment and satisfied it in all respects, then do not rush to conclude an agreement, but look at a few more. Perhaps you will remain unconvinced and return to the first option, but you will also be confident that this proposal was truly the best. During the inspection, pay attention to:
  • Location area (public transport, shops, schools);
  • Condition of the house (garbage chute, elevator, entrance, yard, parking lot);
  • Condition of the living space (walls, floor and ceiling, plumbing, wiring, windows and balcony, temperature, lighting and sound insulation);
  • Neighbours.
  1. Make a deal. Check whether you and the seller have all the necessary papers. Conclude and submit all documents to the registering state authority. And finally, sign the deed of transferring the apartment into ownership of the buyer.

As a guarantee that both parties will complete the transaction, the buyer can transfer a deposit to the seller (about 5% of the transaction amount). It is not returned to the buyer if he decides to refuse the transaction. If the seller refuses, he returns the deposit in double amount.

All the details of the deposit are described in a special agreement, which is drawn up in two copies. The fact of transfer of the deposit is confirmed by a receipt - the seller leaves it to the buyer.

Primary or secondary housing

The entire real estate market can be divided into two main groups:

  • Primary housing (new buildings) are apartments in newly built buildings that belong to the developer and have not yet been owned by individuals. Such living space does not yet have its own history and its future appearance largely depends on the buyer;
  • Secondary – owned by an individual (seller).

Primary housing costs noticeably less, but there are a number of possible risks associated with it:

  • Disputed rights to land (if construction began on land with a disputed status, even a completed house can be demolished or transferred to third parties, leaving the shareholders with nothing);
  • Suspension or freezing of construction;
  • Savings on materials (for example, the use of cheap wiring, pipes, heating systems), which will become noticeable only after the house is put into operation;
  • Re-sale of one residential space.

Primary housing

Secondary housing

Owner - developer or contractor

Owned by an individual (or persons)

The living space is in its original condition

Previous owners may have broken or damaged something

There may be negative consequences of the developer’s savings (poor sound insulation, poor heating in winter), which cannot be immediately verified

The shortcomings of the structure have already been identified, but they are often kept silent

Requires cosmetic repairs. Setup is expensive

Repairs are cheaper and may not be needed at all.

Age – new apartments

The house can be completely new, or it can be a hundred years old.

No problems with documents or registration of former residents

Possible problems with documents, fraud. Litigation regarding non-coordination of the sale of real estate with the persons registered in it is widespread

No major repairs or modernization required

Forced major repairs may be required (if the building is not new)

The process of registering rights to own real estate is more complicated and longer

Registration of owner's rights is faster, you can register immediately

The developer may freeze construction

To move in, there is no need to wait a long time for the building to be put into operation.

How much does it cost to buy an apartment

Only real estate sellers in your city can answer this question. In the Russian Federation, the price of one square meter varies greatly depending on the region.

According to regional real estate agencies, it can be calculated that in 2017 the average cost per square meter of an apartment in Russian cities ranges from 25,000 to 220,000 rubles. From small towns to the capital.

When planning a budget for the purchase of living space, do not forget to include possible additional expenses:

  • Realtor commission (up to 3%);
  • Re-registration of documents;
  • Repair of premises;
  • Purchase of furniture and other household goods.

How to estimate the cost of an apartment and not overpay

To estimate the cost of an apartment, you can seek help from realtors or experienced intermediaries.

Little trick : introducing yourself as a seller, call several real estate agencies and describe the parameters of the apartment you are interested in. Experts will give their estimated value. All you have to do is compare the prices received with the available offers and conclude whether the price is too high or is within acceptable limits.

To evaluate the offer, you need to understand what the cost of the apartment depends on.

We list the main parameters:

  • Number of floors of the building and the floor on which the living space is located;
  • Age of the building, its features (courtyard, basement);
  • Adjacent territory;
  • The area and its infrastructure;
  • Apartment layout;
  • Number of rooms;
  • Total footage of residential and non-residential premises;
  • The presence and condition of a balcony or loggia;
  • Heating;
  • Separate or shared bathroom;
  • Average amount of utility bills.

It is enough to compare several offers with similar parameters to conclude whether the price is too high or is within reasonable limits.

Who to buy an apartment from

In the case of purchasing housing, not only the methods of financing and payment may differ, but also the persons or companies acting as the seller may be completely different. Let's consider from whom, and according to what schemes apartments are most often purchased today.

Buying an apartment from a developer

This method can result in significant risks. You can reduce them to a minimum if you carefully check all documents and information about the developer. He must have a positive reputation and as many successfully completed projects as possible. Among the papers, special attention should be paid to the construction permit for connecting the house to communications. We'll talk more about buying an apartment in a new building below.

Purchasing real estate from a contractor in a new building

Apartments become the property of a contractor (an enterprise that takes part in the construction of a house or the supply of materials) as payment for services when the developer does not have the opportunity to pay in any other way. While construction is underway, the apartments are still the property of the developer, and they are transferred to the contractor after all work is completed.

Contractors only accept cash payments for a limited time.

Contractors sell the apartments obtained in this way at market value or with noticeable discounts (up to 20%), which allows them to quickly sell the living space and receive their payment for the work, but without the “gain”. In practice, the quick sale of apartments is more important for the developer than the markup.

For the buyer, this method is less risky than buying from a developer; after a transaction with the contractor, the apartment immediately becomes the property of the new owner. The transaction is formalized using an agreement for the assignment of the right to claim real estate.

Purchasing housing from the owner, without intermediaries

This popular option involves concluding a purchase and sale agreement without the participation of a realtor or other persons in the transaction. Two persons agree and pay between themselves: the seller and the buyer.

The seller can be:

  • Sole owner;
  • Several people (shared ownership);
  • Spouses (when an apartment is purchased during marriage, it becomes joint property).

With such a scheme, it is very important to carefully check the apartment, and after concluding the contract, submit all papers for registration to government agencies (MFC).

If possible, make copies of all documents.

Always ask the owner:

  • How did he become the owner of the apartment?
  • Does the apartment have other owners?
  • How many people are registered in the apartment?
  • Have all debts (utilities) been paid off?

Buying property directly from the owner includes a small bonus in the form of the opportunity to bargain. Most sellers deliberately offer a slightly inflated price, hoping that if the buyer is not satisfied with something, a small discount will fix everything.

Bargain only in person, do not do this over the phone.

First of all, convince the seller that you like the apartment and are ready to buy it, listing its advantages, then gradually move on to noticeable disadvantages. Ask for a price slightly lower than what you actually expect, but don’t go too far, and most likely you will be able to come to a compromise that will allow you to save tens of thousands of rubles on repairs or the purchase of furniture.

The preparation of documents for the purchase of an apartment must be carried out by the seller, the buyer pays a state fee (2000 rubles). It is advisable for the seller to also take part in the formation of the purchase and sale agreement.

Even if you decide to complete the transaction yourself, it is recommended that you show the purchase and sale agreement to an independent lawyer before signing.

Where can I complete a purchase and sale transaction?

Ownership of an apartment is formalized by submitting documents to the MFC or the Rosreestr department.

The following are submitted to the registration department:

  • Passports of the seller and buyer;
  • Contract of sale;
  • Application for state registration of transfer of ownership of an apartment (a sample is available on the Rosreestr website);
  • Cadastral passport (if not previously surrendered);
  • Receipt for payment of state duty;
  • Consent to the sale of real estate from the seller’s spouse (notarized);
  • Consent of parents or guardian if the seller is a minor.

State registration lasts no more than three months, after which the buyer receives the legal status of home owner.

When should you use a realtor?

A trusted person can search for an apartment. Usually, if the future owner of the property cannot or does not want to deal with the entire process on his own, a realtor is hired. He will help you choose options and tell you how to properly arrange the purchase and sale of an apartment.

If you are limited in funds and want to stay within the minimum budget, carefully consider the option of choosing an apartment yourself. If the risks are not high, this method will significantly help you save money.

Who are the intermediaries?

People often refer to realtors who work unofficially as intermediaries.

Sometimes these are novice realtors, thus gaining a client base and gaining the necessary experience. Intermediaries take a smaller percentage, but do not provide guarantees and are not responsible for the work.

In addition, they do not undertake to solve problems that arise (for example, the seller delays in providing documents) when realtors control the transaction at all stages.

How to buy an apartment without being scammed. How to choose a realtor

If you decide to use the help of a realtor, choose him carefully. The larger the agency, the more reliable it is, the larger their base, but at the same time the prices for their services increase proportionally.

Positive indicators are the company’s membership in the guild of realtors and the status of a special partner of the mortgage bank.

Decent agency:

  • Takes his work seriously;
  • Gives certain guarantees and states them in the contract;
  • Has been on the market for a long time;
  • Has the necessary technical equipment (computers in the office);
  • It has a full staff of trained employees, and is ready to provide another realtor if the first one does not suit you;
  • Maintains order in the office.

From a legal point of view, it is safer if the contract indicates the name of the organization, and not just the name of a specific realtor.

A realtor can take an advance from the client, but its size must be reasonable (no more than 100,000 rubles). Be sure to document the receipt of an advance by the agent and note in the contract that the advance is included in the total amount of the realtor’s remuneration. Be sure to indicate the amount itself in the contract, if possible as a fixed amount, and not as a percentage.

  • The realtor undertakes to provide at least three options that meet the client’s initial (preferably recorded in writing) requirements;
  • If the client refuses three options, he is entitled to a refund of part of the advance.

Carefully review the contract with the realtor. It is normal if it contains the following points:

  • The buyer provides the realtor with the requirements for the apartment and their changes in writing;
  • Upon completion of the work, the client must sign;
  • It is permissible to involve third parties - these are professionals who will help the realtor - lawyers, attorneys;
  • The realtor's professional liability is insured.

The following points should be of concern; it is better to ask to remove them from the contract:

  • The buyer is prohibited from communicating with the seller or his representatives;
  • The penalty for unilateral termination of the contract exceeds 6% of the cost of the apartment.

How to check an apartment before buying

Before drawing up a purchase and sale agreement, you must carefully check your future living space. Deception and omissions can await the buyer everywhere: from swollen laminate flooring under the bed to leaking water pipes. And even more so, you won’t end up with problems if the deception is hidden in the papers: for example, there are still registered tenants in the apartment.

Do not take the word of either sellers or realtors - always ask for documentary evidence.

Before you buy an apartment on the secondary market, necessary:

  • Confirm the seller's ownership of the apartment and request a certificate of the method of obtaining this right (purchase agreement, certificate of inheritance);
  • If the sale is carried out by a trusted person, it is necessary to carefully check the authenticity and validity of the power of attorney. Meet with the owner at least once and find out whether he agrees with the sale of his property, whether he himself issued a power of attorney;
  • Find out how many owners the apartment has changed and how often it has been resold (frequent changes of owners in a short time are not a good sign, most likely there is something wrong with this apartment) - the seller must order an extract from the Unified State Register from the Federal Registration Service or the MFC and provide it to the buyer;
  • Request a certificate stating that no one is registered in the apartment (extract from the house register);
  • To check whether the apartment is listed in the will of one of the owners, whether it has the status of being seized or mortgaged, and whether there are other encumbrances on the apartment (for example, whether it is the subject of a legal dispute) - this can be done on the Rosreestr website, using an electronic extract from Unified State Register;
  • Check the area and layout of the apartment (cadastral passport with floor plan of the building, explication);
  • Check the legality of redevelopment and re-equipment (replacement of gas equipment) - to do this, check the furnishings of the apartment with the technical plan;
  • Make sure that the apartment has no debts to the management company or the owners’ association;
  • If you previously purchased an apartment through participation in a housing cooperative, then a certificate of full payment of the share is required;
  • Check whether the living space is for rent, since such an apartment cannot be sold until the end of the lease agreement;
  • If the owner is married, it is worth obtaining and notarizing the spouse’s consent to the sale of property, which may be in the status of jointly acquired property;
  • Obtain permission to sell from the owner's parents or guardians if he has not reached the age of majority.

If you purchase a share of the property (only one owner out of several is selling his part of the apartment), then be sure to receive a waiver document from all other owners confirming that they are not interested in a priority purchase.

Primary housing also needs to be carefully checked before purchasing, we will talk about this below.

Buying an apartment in a building under construction

In most cases, buying an apartment in a building that is just under construction will cost much less than other options. An agreement based on the principle of equity participation helps to achieve tangible savings. The buyer invests in construction, and upon completion becomes the owner.

But there are high risks in such a transaction. An unscrupulous developer can freeze construction, declare himself bankrupt, get sued for illegal construction, or even abscond with the shareholders’ money.

In the legislation of the Russian Federation, issues are described in Federal Law No. 214. However, it only applies if the buyer has a formal share participation agreement. Avoid relations with a developer who refuses to enter into an agreement or offers instead another agreement not approved by law.

A participant in shared construction has the right (and he is obliged to do this for his own safety) to check the following documents:

  • Constituent documents of the developer company (their details must match the details on the shared construction agreement);
  • TIN and OGRN of the company constructing the building;
  • Financial and economic reporting;
  • Balance sheets, distribution of profits and expenses for the last three years;
  • Conclusion of the audit for the last year of operation of the construction company.

In addition to checking the above documents, follow these steps:

  • Analyze the prices for similar proposals from different construction companies (a noticeably low price should alert you - everything has its own reasons);
  • Find out about the developer’s completed and current projects, what is the company’s experience and reputation;
  • Assess your risks by analyzing the construction stage (it is risky to invest money in construction at the foundation pit stage; the project may be frozen even on the eve of the delivery of an almost finished building);
  • If you enter into an agreement not with a representative of the developer, but with an authorized organization, be sure to check its documents, confirmation of the right of representation;
  • Request from the developer documents for the land plot and a building permit, check the bank accreditation of new buildings;
  • Check the permits for connecting the house under construction to the water supply, heating system and electrical networks - all these documents are issued to construction companies before starting work;
  • Read the project declaration.

When all the documents have been verified and the developer’s reputation is beyond doubt, you can proceed to signing the contract.

The share participation agreement must specify:

  • Developer details;
  • Buyer information;
  • Characteristics of living space;
  • Payment method;
  • Deadline for delivery of the object.

Ways to buy an apartment

There are also several ways to purchase housing. Let's look at the most popular schemes today.

Direct cash purchase

Or borrow, but the essence of this method is that the entire amount will be transferred immediately in cash (to the seller himself or through a realtor). This method is the most nerve-wracking. It is difficult to deliver to the place of transaction and transfer such a large amount without worry.

Carefully negotiate the time and place of the transaction, carefully choose the method of travel. Make sure that the purchase agreement is signed immediately after the seller receives the money. It would be useful to have a notary or at least a witness who can confirm the completion of the transaction.

Ownership of the living space passes to the buyer ten days after submitting the documents, upon registration of the transaction.

In this regard, it is better to pay in cash:

  • Against signature before all paperwork is completed;
  • Or after completion of registration of property rights.

There are several ways to reduce the risks when buying an apartment with cash:

  • Rent a safe deposit box, where you put the entire amount, and after receiving ownership, hand over the key to the seller;
  • Use the special service of a notary, when he transfers the entire amount to the seller for a small percentage after completing all the documents;
  • Place the money for safekeeping not in a safe deposit box, but in a current account, with the condition that the bank will transfer it to the seller after signing the agreement.

Buying through a mortgage

A popular option when purchasing a primary home from a developer. A prerequisite for a mortgage is a high and stable salary. But with it, you can immediately become the owner of an apartment, even without having the entire required amount at once. The Law “On Mortgages” was adopted in Russia back in 1998, and is still in effect.

How much a mortgage will cost you depends on the region and the conditions of a particular bank. A down payment of 10-40% is often required, and mortgage rates can range from 10-14%.

Don't rush into making a mortgage decision. Even if you prefer to live on the principle of "here and now", you are unlikely to enjoy paying large sums over the next 15-30 years. Ardent opponents of mortgages have dubbed it “monetary slavery,” which is unacceptable in the modern world.

If you decide that a mortgage is the ideal option for you, carefully choose a real payment that will not force you into strict savings and abandonment of your usual way of life. As practice shows, only a few people manage to pay off their mortgages ahead of schedule, and constant savings and the need to search lead to prolonged depression.

Experts advise against agreeing to payments exceeding 40% of the total family income.

Pros of a mortgage

Cons of a mortgage

Quick solution to housing issue

Long-term “financial slavery” (up to 50 years). And if the monthly amount now seems acceptable, then in ten years you may have to reconsider your lifestyle

Gradual payments in small amounts

Until the full amount is paid, the apartment is pledged to the bank; it can take it back through the court if a dispute arises

Large selection of mortgage lending programs

Not available to everyone. The bank carefully checks the client’s monthly income and solvency

State support for certain segments of the population (for example, payment of part of the loan for the military)

Due to interest (from 11% monthly), a significant final overpayment accumulates (from 70 to 300%)

Fines and penalties for late payments. Up to the seizure of real estate

A painstaking procedure for registration, collecting the necessary documents, a long wait for the bank’s decision

How to choose a bank for a mortgage

There are three parties involved in purchasing a home with a mortgage. This is not only the developer and the buyer, but also the bank providing the mortgage loan. The amount of the mortgage, monthly payments, the percentage of overpayment, and most importantly, whether a particular citizen will be given permission to receive a loan will depend on the bank.

Based on this, consciously choose a bank according to the following questions:

  • What is the possible loan amount?
  • What are the acceptable loan repayment periods?
  • What requirements are put forward to the buyer of an apartment?
  • What is the bank's reputation?
  • Is insurance provided?
  • When and for what violations (delay in payment) can the process of seizure of property begin?

Is it possible to buy an apartment with a mortgage without a down payment?

The fundamental idea of ​​a mortgage is that the buyer must immediately pay part of the cost of the apartment (10-50%). This contribution may be covered by maternity capital; in other cases, you will have to save or borrow funds from other places.

What, then, does advertising say about a mortgage without a down payment? Such offers do exist, but they hide inflated interest rates and risks. For example, the agreement may indicate that the bank has the right to repossess the apartment without returning the money paid for a short delay in payment.

Buying an apartment in installments

An intermediate option between a lump sum payment and a long-term mortgage. It is optimal if you don’t have the entire amount on hand, but it may appear soon. With this payment scheme, the buyer makes a down payment (usually half the full cost), then pays the remaining cost monthly in pre-agreed equal installments. This installment plan lasts from three months to two years.

Some developers themselves offer buyers interest-free installments, while others may request an overpayment of about 10% for such a service.

Purchasing an apartment with maternity capital

Families with more than two children and no other sources of financing for such a large purchase can apply for it. In addition, young families in which one of the spouses is under 30 years of age, and the marriage was concluded less than three years ago or there are children in the family, can resort to maternity capital.

The amount of maternity capital is regularly indexed, which means it is growing. In 2017 it is 453,000 rubles.

The main feature of maternity capital is that the young family will receive funds two months after the purchase and sale transaction is concluded. Buyers pay the difference between the capital amount and the cost of the apartment themselves, in cash.

It should be understood that maternity capital is not the provision of money in hand. The funds will go to a special account and will be debited in favor of the seller at the time of the transaction.

It is allowed to use maternity capital not only for direct financing when purchasing housing, but also for the first mortgage payment or to repay part of a housing loan.

You can buy both primary and secondary housing with maternity capital.

In order to take advantage of maternity capital, after choosing an apartment you must provide the Pension Fund with:

  • Identity documents of parents and all children;
  • Family certificate;
  • SNILS of one of the parents;
  • A copy of the agreement with the seller (or bank);
  • Seller's account or certificate of debt (if a mortgage was issued);
  • Notarized confirmation that within six months each family member will receive a share of the new property.

It is prohibited to buy real estate from relatives with public money.

As a result of frequent attempts at fraud, maternity capital is prohibited from being used to purchase housing from parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters.

It is possible to use maternity capital to buy an apartment from cousins, but you will still have to prove to the state that its funding will be used to improve the child’s living conditions and not otherwise.

How to buy an apartment if you have no money

Finding the necessary funds to purchase your own real estate is quite difficult. And here loans, mortgages and maternity capital come to the rescue. A proven way to save money is to buy an apartment in a building under construction. Even with an overpayment for the loan, its cost will be lower than finished secondary housing.

How to save for an apartment with a salary from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles

Maybe. If you live for several years in affordable housing (usually with your parents) and save each month the same amount as you would pay to pay off a mortgage, you can save for an apartment in about half the time.

That is, if you had to repay the mortgage on a one-room apartment for 16 years, putting aside the amount of payments to the bank, it would be possible to save up for the same living space after 8 years.

Of course, you won’t be living in your own apartment, but you can also start saving for a new purchase (for example, a car) twice as quickly: not 16 years after the mortgage is paid off, but after 8.

What documents are needed to buy an apartment in 2017

To complete a real estate purchase and sale transaction you will need:

  1. Passport of the buyer and seller;
  2. A document confirming ownership of real estate;
  3. Unified housing document (only for Muscovites);
  4. From the seller: a certificate or extracts from the house register confirming the absence of debts and persons registered in the apartment;
  5. Contract of sale.

Documents when purchasing an apartment with a mortgage

The list of documents when purchasing an apartment with a mortgage is much wider:

  1. Copy of the passport;
  2. Expert opinion confirming the cost of the apartment;
  3. Cadastral passport;
  4. Certificate of registration of real estate;
  5. Certificate of family composition;
  6. Certificate of absence of debts;
  7. Application for a mortgage;
  8. Confirmation of solvency.

Notarization of the purchase and sale agreement

In addition to the signatures of the seller and buyer, the contract must be certified by a notary in the following situations:

  • Share for sale;
  • The owner of the apartment is under 18 years of age;
  • The owner is under guardianship (incapacitated).

To do this, any notary is provided with:

  • Passports of the parties to the transaction;
  • Sales and purchase agreement template (without signatures);
  • Certificate of ownership of the apartment, cadastral passport;
  • Permission from the guardian or notification to the remaining participants in the common shared property.

The cost of notarization varies from 0.1% to 0.5% of the contract amount.

Tax deduction after purchasing an apartment

You can get a tax deduction if you work officially and pay income tax.

The tax deduction is 13% of the value of the property, but not more than 260,000 rubles.

During the year, you have the right to return no more than the income tax transferred to the budget from your salary (the same 13% of the official salary). You can make a refund over several years until the amount is returned in full.

Documents for tax refund when purchasing an apartment

To receive a tax deduction, you must provide the following documents to the tax office:

  • Passport;
  • Declaration;
  • Application for tax refund;
  • Confirmation of the amount spent on the purchase of the apartment (payment orders, receipts);
  • Certificate from each place of work (if you have several);
  • Agreement of purchase and sale or participation in shared construction;
  • Certificate of state registration of property rights;
  • The act of acceptance and transfer of the apartment;
  • Loan agreement and certificate of withheld interest (if you took out a mortgage).

The document verification procedure takes no more than three months.