Buying preselling property means you are investing your money in a real estate project even before development is finished. If everything goes according to plan, buying preselling property is an ideal scenario—the buyer gets the property for a cheap price, and the developer gets enough money to complete the project. Once the project is completed, buyers can settle into their new homes, or they can profit from their investment by reselling the property for a higher price.

But before you start shelling out money to these developers, be aware of the risks involved. The developers might not find enough investors to fund their project, and so the construction of the property might be delayed, or the developers might even default. You could be waiting forever for the completion of your property, or your investment might even sink to the ground. Make sure these risks to your hard-earned cash are kept at a minimum by reading the tips below.

For related articles, check out these links:

• 5 Things Every Person Should Know before Buying a Home
• Pros and Cons of Living in a House
• The Pros and Cons of Metro Living, Condo Style
• 4 Steps to Making Money through Real Estate Investments
• Shopping for a home online

(First published in Good Housekeeping Magazine, Good Money section as "Delivery Delayed" in April 2009; adapted for use in Female Network. Flashbox photo by Luigi Anzivino via Flickr Creative Commons.)