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How to buy pre-construction property in Miami

By Lory Minici · Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty · Updated June 2026

Buying pre-construction property in Miami is simpler than most international buyers imagine. The big difference from a resale is that you pay in stages, over the course of construction, rather than all at once. Here is the process from start to finish.

1. Define what you want the property to do for you

Before looking at any building, the first conversation is about your goal: is it to live in, for a child studying in Miami, for rental income, or to have a foothold in the US? That changes everything — neighborhood, unit type, and rental rules.

2. Choose the project and reserve the unit

With your goal clear, we shortlist the projects that fit and you choose the unit. The reservation is made with a first deposit and a form; at that point the developer holds the unit in your name.

3. The payment plan (the well-known 10/20/10/60)

Every project has its own schedule, but a very common model in Miami is:

Notice: across the whole construction you put in about 40%, in installments, and most of it — the 60% — only at the end. That gives you time to plan financially.

Good news for the buyer: that 60% at closing can usually be financed. At delivery you can take out a mortgage (including as a foreign national) instead of paying it all in cash.

4. Your money is protected in escrow

Your deposits don't go straight to the developer: they sit in an escrow account, controlled by a neutral third party, with specific protection under Florida law. Before any transfer, we always verify the details by phone.

5. Delivery and closing

When the building is ready, you pay the balance (cash or financed), sign the documents, and receive the keys. From there the property is yours — to live in, rent, or hold.

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