Should You Buy Off-Plan or Completed in Ghana?
Buy completed if you need rent or a home now. Buy off-plan if you hold for 3 to 5 years and accept delivery risk. Sources disagree on price. Imaani Homes’ guide says off-plan prices often sit below the completed market rate. Ownkey’s May 2026 guide says new-build often carries a 10% to 20% premium over resale. Compare each unit with completed sales nearby.
How Do the Two Routes Compare?
| Factor | Off-plan | Completed |
|---|---|---|
| Payment | Instalments tied to construction milestones, often over 12 to 36 months | Full payment on completion, or a mortgage on a finished asset |
| Deposit | 20% to 30% (Imaani Homes) or 30% to 40% (Ownkey) | Set in the sale agreement |
| Occupancy | 3 to 36+ months after purchase. Add a 6 to 12 month buffer | Immediate, or within 30 to 60 days |
| Rental income | None until handover | From day one |
| Main risk | Developer delay or default | Physical condition. Commission a structural survey at GH₵1,500 to GH₵8,000 |
| Upside | Ownkey cites 15% to 40% pre-completion gain on well-selected projects | Market appreciation from the purchase date |
| Best for | Patient investors with a 3 to 5 year horizon | Buyers who need income or occupancy |
Which Returns More?
Off-plan returns more only if the pre-completion gain outweighs the rent you give up. A $107,000 unit at an 8% gross yield earns $8,560 a year. A 24-month wait forgoes about $17,120 of gross rent. This is an illustration, not a forecast. Compare total return over the same period for both routes. For net figures, read the net yield guide for Airport Residential.
What Protects Off-Plan Buyers?
- Route stage payments through a lawyer’s escrow account, not straight to the developer.
- Never pay more than 30% upfront, per Ownkey’s fraud guide.
- Visit two completed projects by the same developer.
- Run a Lands Commission search on the land before the first payment.
- Link each payment to a verified milestone, with dated photos.
The guide to verifying title and developer documents lists each check. The guide to inspecting an off-plan development from abroad covers site visits.
Where Does Regalia Residence Fit?
Regalia Residence is an off-plan development by Imaani Homes in Airport Residential Area, Accra. Studios start from $107,000 including VAT. Pricing is in USD, and payment plans suit buyers who earn abroad. Imaani Homes published a construction update film in July 2026.
Request the Regalia price list or message the sales team on WhatsApp at +233 595 959595.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is off-plan cheaper than completed in Ghana?
Often at purchase, per Imaani Homes. Ownkey reports some new-build carries a 10% to 20% premium over resale, so compare nearby completed sales.
How long does an off-plan purchase take to complete?
Plan for 3 to 36 months from purchase to handover. Ownkey advises a 6 to 12 month buffer beyond the stated date.
How much deposit does an off-plan developer ask for?
20% to 30% in Imaani Homes’ guide and 30% to 40% in Ownkey’s guide. Ownkey advises never paying more than 30% upfront.
Is off-plan safe in Ghana?
Safety depends on the developer and your protections: escrow, milestone payments, a title search on the land, and completed projects you have visited.
Sources
Data as of 24 October 2026.
