The essence of the strategy

Assignment is the sale of rights under a purchase agreement with the developer without registering the property as owned. The investor buys a unit in installments, locks in the price at an early stage of construction, and then sells their contract rights to another buyer — at an already increased price. The property is still under construction at this point.

The key difference from a classic resale: the new buyer accepts the terms of the original contract. This means that the 4% real estate transfer tax (Stamp Duty) does not arise — an assignment of contract rights is not a registration of ownership.

How it works with the leading developers

With Megakim World Corporation (Cambodia's largest developer), the assignment provision is written directly into the original contract. The re-registration cost is fixed: $200–300. There is no percentage of the transaction amount. Assignment is possible at any time during the installment period.

The new buyer inherits all the terms of the contract: the payment plan, the completion date, the rights to the unit. If they wish, they can later register a Strata Title and obtain freehold ownership — in their own name.

Financial benefit using real examples

An example from the database — the "Speculator" strategy on the TS8 Duplex 2BR property (112 m², price $156,680, entry 50% = $78,340):

  • Assignment at the market price of a completed BKK1 property ($3,000/m²)
  • Net income: $179,320
  • ROI: 229% over 36 months on the invested capital

Another real case — Vue Aston: a purchase at $1,800/m² in October 2024, with investors assigning at $2,500/m² before the property's completion (data from an expert webinar, August 2025). The developer raised the price list to $2,700–3,000/m² in the same period.

Tax savings

With full registration of ownership of a property worth $150,000, the buyer pays 4% = $6,000 in transfer tax. Assignment sidesteps this tax — and the savings are factored into the strategy's final return.

An important nuance: when selling an already completed property registered as owned, a capital gains tax arises (CGT 20%); however, with an 80% deduction of expenses without documentation, the effective rate is about 4% of the transaction amount. Assignment during the installment period allows you to avoid this tax entirely.

Limitations and risks

  • The strategy works only as long as there is a steady stream of new buyers. The secondary market in Cambodia is still weakly developed — the main liquidity is through the primary market and assignment.
  • Assignment requires the developer's written consent — check this provision in the contract before buying.
  • If the market stagnates, the appreciation may not cover the costs.

Assignment is not a passive strategy. It requires the right choice of property at an early stage and an understanding of the market. With a well-judged entry, it is one of the most effective tools for capital growth in the Cambodian market.