What each payment is called, when it falls due, what happens if you are late, and what you get back if you cancel.
Most first-time buyers in Dhaka meet four different words for money in the first week, and nobody explains the difference. Here it is.
Booking money holds a specific flat for a short period while paperwork is prepared. It is a small share of the price. It is not a deposit on the flat and it is not always refundable — ask, and get the answer in writing.
Down payment is the first substantial payment, due when the sales agreement is signed. It typically ranges from 20 to 30 per cent of the price depending on the plan you choose.
Instalments cover the balance. Some plans spread them evenly by month; others tie each one to a construction milestone, so the payment falls due when a slab is cast rather than on a calendar date. A milestone plan means you pay for work that exists. Ask which kind you are signing.
At registration you pay the government's charges — stamp duty, registration fee and the associated costs. These are set by the state, not by us, and they are on top of the flat price. Budget for them from the start; they surprise people.
Two things worth asking before you sign: what the late-payment charge is, and what you receive back if you cancel part-way. Both are in the agreement, and a company that will not point them out is telling you something.