Market10/30/2026

Proposal to ban the transfer of contracts for future housing: what buyers should know

The National Assembly is discussing a proposal to ban the transfer of sale and purchase contracts for future housing in order to curb speculation and flipping. Opinions in support and concerns remain divided.

Proposal to ban the transfer of contracts for future housing

While the National Assembly was discussing the draft revised Law on Real Estate Business in late October 2026, one proposal drew public attention: banning the transfer of sale and purchase contracts for future housing. According to Thanh Niên, Tuổi Trẻ, Dân Trí, VnExpress and CafeF, the stated goal is to stop speculation and "flipping", that is, buying and selling contracts repeatedly while the homes are still on paper.

The proposal was put forward by a National Assembly deputy during the discussion session. The newspapers have not yet published the specific wording of the provision, so its scope of application, effective date and any exceptions remain unclear. This is only an opinion at the discussion stage, not a regulation that has been passed.

Centana Thủ Thiêm, District 2 — illustrative project photo

Support and concerns: two opposing views

According to Thanh Niên, the proposal "has not received the agreement of many people". The newspaper cites two main worries: homebuyers could be affected, and the market risks falling into a "frozen" state.

On the other side, CafeF published the view of a deputy who argues that banning the transfer of contracts on paper is what truly protects homebuyers. Báo Đầu tư also ran an article on proposing urgent measures to separate speculation derived from real estate. The debate therefore revolves around how to limit speculation without harming genuine buyers.

Supporters: see it as a way to stop flipping and protect buyers who need a home to live in.
Those with concerns: fear buyers will lose the ability to exit when needed and that market liquidity will fall.
Not yet available: impact assessment data and the specific wording of the provisions.

Tighter oversight: the "ghost project" issue

At the same time, VietNamNet reported that the Minister of Construction stressed tighter control of "ghost projects" and a ban on accepting deposits for projects that do not yet meet the required conditions. Thanh Niên also published an article on the trick of posting cheap property listings and then taking customers to view projects that do not exist.

These two items show that the legal transparency of projects and speculative behavior are being put on the agenda at the same time. However, the details of the measures are not fully stated in the published headlines, so the official documents need to be monitored.

Perspective for apartment buyers and renters

If the proposal becomes a regulation, buyers of unfinished apartments may have to hold the contract until handover instead of reselling midway. This raises the bar for financial planning and for checking a project's legal status before committing funds. This is a conditional analysis, because the wording of the provisions has not been published.

On pricing, Đức Hưng Group's October 2026 available-units data (2BR apartments, median price) shows large differences between areas. District 2 has a sale price of 6.9 billion VND and a rent of 19 million VND per month; District 7 is 4.2 billion VND and 14 million VND respectively; Thu Duc is 4.7 billion VND and 13 million VND. Binh Thanh stands at 12.3 billion VND and 26 million VND per month. District 1 has a median sale price of 41.5 billion VND, but only 20 units are for sale. Di An (3.8 billion VND) and District 9 (3.7 billion VND) have lower sale price levels, but there are few units for rent, so rental price data is insufficient.

On supply, the October available-units data records 270 units for sale and 87 for rent in District 7, 213 for sale and 135 for rent in District 2, and 174 for sale and 15 for rent in Thu Duc. This is Đức Hưng Group's own data and does not represent the whole market. Renters can use it to compare price levels between districts; buyers should consider holding the asset long term rather than expecting a quick resale.

Carefully check the project's legal status and sales launch conditions before paying a deposit.
Prepare cash flow for the entire wait until handover, and do not rely on transferring the contract.
Compare sale and rental prices by district to assess the efficiency of living in or renting out the unit.
Contact Đức Hưng Group for advice tailored to your specific needs.

Median sale price of 2BR apartments by area — Đức Hưng Group available units, October 2026

Median rent of 2BR apartments by area — Đức Hưng Group available units, October 2026

Points to keep watching

Buyers and investors should pay attention to three points: the official wording of the revised Law on Real Estate Business, the scope of application to contracts already signed, and the measures to tighten conditions for sales launches and deposits. Until a document is passed, any assessment of the impact on prices or liquidity is for reference only.

Frequently asked questions

Has the proposal to ban the transfer of contracts for future housing taken effect?

Not yet. This is a proposal by a deputy during the National Assembly's discussion of the draft revised Law on Real Estate Business, not a regulation that has been passed.

What is the purpose of this proposal?

According to the newspapers, the purpose is to stop speculation and flipping. However, Thanh Niên reports that the proposal has not received the agreement of many people because of concerns about the impact on homebuyers and the risk of a market freeze.

What should people considering buying an apartment do now?

They should carefully check the project's legal status, prepare finances for the entire wait until handover, and follow the official wording of the provisions. You can contact Đức Hưng Group for advice.