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Hi. I am buying a property from a developer by cash. I hv paid booking fee directly to the developer and already received payment receipt. The booking fee is part of the 10% downpayment, the remaining of which is due upon S&P signing. The developer has direct me to a solicitor for finalising S&P/MOT processes. The appointed solicitor will represent me as the buyer while the developer is not appointed any legal firm to represent them. I hv read through the draft S&P ( & I presumed the developer has seen the draft too). The draft stated about the remaining downpayment fee and balance of total property cost to be paid to the solicitor, instead directly to the developer. I hv clarified this with the solicitor; they claimed that this is to allow them to ensure the developer meet all the rqmnts stated in S&P as well MOT process. My question : is it normal & legally ligit for the solicitor to get the buyer to pay the property downpayment and remaining property cost to be paid to the solicitor rather than buyer pay directly to the developer. Pls advise. Thank you.