A method of effecting sale of real estate between a vendor and a purchaser whereby a contract of sale is effected between the vendor and an intermediate legal entity, the contract specifying a settlement period. The interest in the contract is assigned from the intermediary to the purchaser, and a purchase price, a deposit, an instalment amount and an effective date for sale are determined, the settlement period extending from the effective date. Also contracted is the portion of the capital growth to be paid to the vendor at the end of the settlement period. The deposit is then transferred to the vendor, and during the settlement period, on dates determined at least partly from the effective date, a plurality of instalment payments are transferred from the purchaser to the vendor. At the end of the settlement period, a new market value of the real estate is determined and a capital growth value calculated. A balance payment is calculated at least partially from the capital growth value, the purchaser is recorded as the proprietor and the balance payment is transferred to the vendor. The contract of sale may be directly effected between the vendor and purchaser without the use of an intermediate legal entity. The vendor has the right to enter into a rental agreement with the purchaser effective from the expiry of the settlement period.