Dont forget that you as a buyer have a lot of options available to you to save money on your purchase. First the selling price. Saash is right, it costs you around 30 percent more to build than to buy. If you have time and you dont need to move in straight away, you have leverage, you can use this as a concession to trade with your buyer for a lower price or an extra thing that comes with the place. Maybe you like the curtains? Sure you if you buy you pay transfer fees, but rather than trying to avoid them, negotiate them. The actual transfer tax is an unavoidable cost, but what the lawyers charge - now thats negotiable. Most will hate to admit it, but trust me an hour phonining around can cut this by a third. Rather than trying to gain 10 or more percent over a 12 month period, rather try saving this amount. Less hassle, less stress and if the market turns against you, your capital is intact. What sort of a return would you like, translate it to rands and then see how you can save this.