In Australia, there are three main ways to purchase real estate: 

1. Private treaty – when the vendor or home owner sets the price they want to sell their property for and their real estate agent negotiates with prospective buyers individually to achieve a sale as close to this price as possible. 

1. An auction is a public sale held by a licensed auctioneer. Property is put up for auction, and if the reserve price is met, the property is sold to the highest bidder. 

1. Tender and Expression of Interest are processes in which you submit a single offer, usually accompanied by a 5% or 10% deposit, and the vendor accepts or rejects it. 

• Purchasing an apartment – Purchasing an apartment can be less expensive than purchasing a house, and the owner’s corporation is usually responsible for building maintenance. They usually come with strata fees and less control over body corporate adjustments. 
• Buying a house has a higher capital growth potential than renting an apartment. Houses typically have larger lots, longer leases, and can offer excellent long-term capital gains. 
• Purchasing a new property – One significant advantage of purchasing a new property as an investment is the ability to claim full depreciation on both the ‘plant and equipment’ and the ‘capital works’. With new buildings, investors benefit from increased overall base tax deductions as well as lower maintenance costs. 

In real estate investing, location is critical. Consider the type of renter you are looking for as well as the best location to attract them. You should also think about proximity to public transportation and major roads, access to cafes and other amenities, school catchment, parks, beaches, and other recreational opportunities, crime rate, developments, and streetscapes

Stamp duty is a tax levied by state governments in Australia on the sale or transfer of land or property. The charges levied by the state government may differ depending on the purpose of the property purchased.