One of the challenges for a real estate agent or developer is to meet the goal that he sets for himself, or if he works for a large real estate conglomerate, then there are ways to make life easier.

Using sales management software, the lead generation potential is enhanced. You can eliminate those lead sources that are not working for you. You want to maximize your sources so that the profits or commissions are consistently growing.

One growing area for agents or developers, is the sale of apartments. The greatest source of return is the use of online tools to generate business. Having the right advertisement online which gives the consumer as many answers as possible, will help the agent to make the sale and gain a referral or two.

Holiday workers are a major source of increasing sales with good returns. These holiday workers need apartments that are comfortable and less pricey. You will want to make sure that the property you are selling will meet most of the needs of your buyer. Some major items that buyers are interested in, is the location or neighborhood in which they are purchasing and whether it is conducive to their lifestyle. Additional items that they consider are parking, security, privacy and rules of the property.

A developer has another means of selling property, a buy off-the-plan method. This buy off-plan purchasing method provides for a longer than normal settlement with no progress payments at the time of signing the contract. The 10% deposit is held in a legislated trust account. By law, the 10% cannot be used by the developer until the property is fully completed. The full balance is paid on completion, often giving you more than 12-24 months to organize your financial affairs.

Another incentive for investors for purchasing new off-plan property, a savings of up to $25,000 or more in Government Stamp Duty. Stamp Duty is a State Government tax on the transfer of property and is charged in all Australian states. In Victoria, the simple rule applies, that if you purchase an established property, full stamp duty is payable on the total purchase price of the property. If you purchase “off-the-plan,” you only pay Stamp Duty on the value of what physically exists at the time of purchase, ie. if construction has not begun, you pay substantially less Stamp Duty. This saving can sometimes be more than $25,000.

Your only outlay is the 10% deposit up front, enabling you to use the funds elsewhere. Stamp duty is only available on new property and only in Victoria. Full Stamp Duty is not realized on older properties.

The main advantage of buying off-plan include substantial Stamp Duty savings, longer than normal settlement time frame, the opportunity to select from a range of finishes and options, and also significant depreciation tax savings. These savings are greater than those available on existing buildings if purchased for investment purposes. The investment is really not a significant amount of money to begin a business of selling apartments. Apartments are up for sale in ranges from $365,000 for 1 bedroom, to $650,000 for a 3 bedroom apartment. To lease an apartment, approximately $520 a month is needed.