RealEstate Payment Plans (10:90, 20:80, 50:50) and CLP

So I was checking out some new launches around the outer ring road stretch last weekend because the broker calls are just getting out of hand lately. Honestly, every single sales guy is throwing a different calculation at me and my head is literally spinning with all these different schemes.

About those 10:90 plans

I was talking to a guy in my office who bought a place recently, and he told me that for these 10:90 schemes, they are actually way better if the project is in early stages. Right now, there is literally just an empty plot with huge luxury hoardings and half-built roads where the traffic is already getting so worse, but according to him, you just give that 10% booking amount now. Then you don't need to pay big chunk till you get handover because the bank just starts the EMI only for your 10% portion while it's being built. So I guess you lock in the early appreciation and carpet area without risking too much cash upfront? Sounds decent, but I saw some video online saying bank agreements can be tricky if the builder delays the project by three years. Is these plans even safe? It just feels a bit fishy to me, not sure though.

The 20:80 plans option

Then another builder near the upcoming flyover zone was pushing a 20:80 scheme, which honestly sounds pretty similar to the 10:90 thing. You give 20% now and the bank handles the rest as EMIs for that small part till handover is done. People on some threads were saying these plans are much better when the project is just in pre-launch or excavation phase because your liability is locked to a smaller amount while they are digging the basement. But I don't know, what if the builder just slows down work due to labor strikes or those local water tanker issues? Aren't you still stuck paying EMIs to the bank for that 20% anyway while nothing moves on the ground? Prices look totally crazy for areas that don't even have proper layout roads yet.

What about the 50:50 plans?

Now this 50:50 payment plan option is what is really giving me a massive headache. One sales guy called me morning offering a huge discount on the per-square-foot rate if I pay 50% within two months and give EMIs for that 50% portion till handover. To me, putting down half the money only makes sense if the project is near handover and you can see the progress with your own eyes. Like if the structure is already standing and they are just doing the final paint and brickwork, then okay, maybe it's worth it. But doing a 50:50 on a brand new launch where they haven't even cleared the rocks just feels like an unnecessary risk.

Sticking to a standard clp payment plan?

Usually, everyone online keeps saying that a standard clp payment plan is the safest route to go. With construction linked payments plans, the bank only releases funds in small bits whenever a specific stage like foundation or slab casting is completed, so if the builder stops work, the money flow also stops. But the big problem with a clp payment plan is that the final cost ends up being way more higher because you don't get any of those sweet upfront discounts that come with the 50:50 or 20:80 schemes.

I am just completely torn between trying to save some money or just playing it safe. Anyone else trying to calculate these exact trade-offs lately? It's just so hard to decide if it's better to trust the builder promises or just pay more for the safety.