Property News

The Rental Housing Tribunal (RHT) is an independent body appointed by the Provincial Minister of Housing to promote stability in the rental housing sector and to resolve disputes between landlords and... read more

- By Anna Malczyk - The property business is a high-risk, high-profit industry that is very competitive – and anyone working in it should take every chance to get ahead. However, many have not yet ... read more

The desires and expectations of hopeful buyers should not be underestimated when it comes to selling your house, according to Absa’s senior economist Jacques du Toit. The buyers’ belief, anticipat... read more

By Rob Paddock There seems to be some confusion of late as to the differences between home owners’ associations and sectional title schemes. Sectional title is a legal arrangement in terms of which... read more

By Clint Riddin The term capital in accounting terminology usually refers to expenditure which relates to purchasing or investing in or acquiring property, plant or equipment which is then used in... read more

If there has been one constant factor in the history of Paddocks, it must be the UCT (Law@Work) Sectional Title Scheme Management course. For the last six years, this course has driven the company’s... read more

Next month’s opening of the R8-billion King Shaka International Airport is a boost to Durban’s North Coast and will drive demand for property in the upmarket area, according to Adrian Goslett, regiona... read more

Twitter has been ridiculed as a time wasting fad, and praised as a groundbreaking business tool. It’s been featured on Oprah, and tweets have even been sent from the International Space Station. Mil... read more

Whether you are a new graduate facing up to the “real world” for the first time, or a battle hardened professional at the peak of your career – it can be tough to keep on top of it all. Every day, ne... read more

The information in the article is courtesy of Property24 (“Residential Market to Rebound Then”, 6 November 2008) Real estate group, Colliers International (COL), indicated that the South African re... read more

Bill Rawson, chairman of Rawson Properties says that 80% of residential housing is now aimed at the sub-500k market and most of the remaining 20% is demand for homes in the 500k to R1m range. Rawson a... read more

An international property website reported yesterday that the Fifa 2010 World Cup is expected to inject as much as £ 1.5 billion (around R23.4 billion) into South Africa, as tourists and visitors from... read more

The information in the article is courtesy of Realestateweb, (“Tenant’s rental deposit: what you need to know”, 14 November 2008) Realestateweb’s columist, Mike Spencer – property valuer, estate ag... read more

The information in the article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Six reasons to be cheerful about 2009 – Property boss – 20 November 2009) Jan Le Roux, CEO of Leapfrog Property Group says that he sees ... read more

The information in this article is courtesy or Realestateweb (Property sales, rentals. Will you pay less commission? - 21 November 2008) Realestateweb reports that more and more properties are spen... read more

Choosing and Using a Building Contractor (This article is courtesy of Paddock Press - an ad-hoc free digital newsletter published to educate and update the sectional title community). Building ... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Bad Builders: What to do? – 5 December 2008) According to Luthando Vutula, managing executive of Absa Home Loans, it is absolutely esse... read more

(The information in this article is courtesy of PropertyWire (South African Property Market Might Be Reaching Temporary Bottom – 8 December 2008) At the moment property sales in South Africa have g... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of The Property Magazine (Foreigners snapping up rentals in Camps Bay, Clifton and Bakoven – November 2008) According to The Property Magazine the... read more

This article is courtesy of Realestateweb and Bill Rawson (“How to keep your tenants paying and behaving”, 23 October 2008). Chief executive of the Rawson Property Group, and seasoned investor, Bil... read more

The information in the article is courtesy of Realestateweb ("We're moving back to the townships" - 19 November 2008) Many property buyers living in the suburbs have now decided to pack up and move... read more

Once again it is that time of year when everyone is frantically filing their tax returns and for most this is fairly easy process. But what are the tax implications of selling or owning a property? ... read more

This article is courtesy of RealEstateWeb (Ouch! More bad mortgage figures point to scary property scenario” – 29 October 2008) FNB released its figures for outstanding mortgages for September and ... read more

Les Reynard reports that body corporate trustees, according to management rule 46(1) under the Sectional Titles Act, are responsible for appointing managing agents. This appointment must be in writing... read more

The information in the article is courtesy of RealEstateWeb and Tony Clarke (“Estate agency boss lashes out at stock brokers, financial intermediaries” – 27 October 2008.) Tony Clark, Managing Dire... read more

An article published on the Engineering News website has indicated an increased awareness amongst South Africans to save energy and a consequent acceleration in green-building techniques amidst... read more

Tapping into your home equity to pay university fees, consolidate credit card debt or even to buy a new car is becoming commonplace amongst homeowners. While there is no doubt that this is a cost ... read more

The Times reports that there have been a significant drop in the number of rental tenants who are paying in full and on time. This is according to TNP, a registered credit bureau and developer of the ... read more

This article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Tito’s Tonic: Too little, Too Late – 12 December 2008) Yesterday South Africans heard that the repo rate was cut by half a percent. This announcement by T... read more

PropertyWire, a global property news service, reported that the real estate market in South Africa is experiencing the toughest conditions most people can remember. However, they do predict that the c... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Big reasons not to sell your own home – 26 November 2008) Private property sales are becoming more and more popular as homeowners try t... read more

(Information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Holiday homes: The pros and cons – 19 November 2007) While on holiday this year, some might become so bedazzled by the local scenery that ... read more

This article is courtesy of Realestateweb (2009: Auctioneer gazes into his crystal ball – 22 December 2008) Rael Levitt, CEO of the Alliance Group warns that global events will continue to have a h... read more

iAfrica reports that despite the expectations for lower interest rates and inflation, the outlook for the South African residential property market in 2009 remains bleak. According to Jacques Du To... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of RealEstateWeb (Market forces cull more agents – new stats – 14 January 2009) With the number of estate agents cut by around 20% from 2008 it seems ine... read more

With banks asking deposits on home loans, South African property owners can expect rental demand to increase significantly. Absa Home Loans’ Head Luthando Vutula says that it might take some time for ... read more

The South African residential property market has reached a 12 year low. This comes after Standard Bank released it median house price index on Tuesday 20 January 2009. According to the index there... read more

Homebuyers and owners in South Africa are in for some good news should the Monetary Policy Committee decide to cut the repo rate by a full 100 basis points in February. This would mean a drop of nearl... read more

Cape Town has been voted ‘Best World City’ in the 2008 Telegraph Awards. This spectacular destination was voted above major cities like San Francisco and Sydney to walk away with the honours. If that’... read more

The University of Cape Town now presents two new one-day workshops aimed at educating home owners, property investors and property professionals in the areas of Property Tax and Residential Property L... read more

There is one recession-proof property investment in South Africa that experts swear by – student accommodation. According to Berry Everitt of Chas Everitt International, the demand for rental unit... read more

Its not at all uncommon for organisations to purchase property to develop an office block or factory for their own use and then to have events (such as a dotcom bubble or a subprime crisis) overtake t... read more

(The information in this article is courtesy of Business Day) It seems that most South Africans has come to except the political changes in the country. This can be seen in the decline of people se... read more

(This article is courtesy of Realestateweb - 7 Ways to Invest in Property - 5 January 2009) If you are considering investing in property there are a few options to choose from – all of them offerin... read more

This information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Mboweni's big chop: what it means for you – 6 February 2009) South Africa’s interest rate now stands at 11,5%. This comes after the So... read more

(The information in this article is courtesy of BusinessDay - Rents rise as property market slows – 4 February 2009) The Trafalgar rental index show that rent rose by around 13% from January to Dec... read more

There is one recession-proof property investment in South Africa that experts swear by – student accommodation. According to Berry Everitt of Chas Everitt International, the demand for rental unit... read more

This information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Bantry Bay property sold for R36,5m – 9 February 2009) Pam Golding Properties has secured the highest ever price paid for a house in B... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Property market gets CGT boost – 11 February 2009) Thanks to Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, home sellers can expect a tax boost. This... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Report (Mortgage stress escalates as negative equity takes hold – 17 February 2009) According to Auction Alliance, the number of mortgage bon... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Fin24 (Lanseria to get R35bn 'city' – 18 February 2009) Lanseria International Airport will be the address of a massive mixed-use precinct said to be ... read more

PropertyWire, a premier global property news service, reports that South Africa has not been hit as hard as some international real estate sectors but there are factors that are hampering the recovery... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica ( GDP data fuels rate cut – 25 February 2009) According to Rian Le Roux, economist at Old Mutual Investment Group South Africa (OMIGSA), there... read more

This article is courtesy of Realestateweb (House prices fall even faster than expected – 2 March 2009) Worrisome statistics show that the value of your home is 7% less than last year this time – an... read more

According to FNB’s Residential Property barometer, the rental market activity was above average for the first quarter of 2008, with the homebuyers market sitting at a mediocre level. This proves t... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Global property market in tatters – 6 March 2009) South Africa has not been hit as hard by die global economic meltdown as most other c... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Fin24 ( SA house market on edge – 9 March 2009) A cut in the interest rate is what South Africa needs to kick-start the troubled property market. ... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Cut Interest Rates Now! – 11 March 2009) Andre Snyman, CEO of Consumer Assist told iAfrica that growing debt is rapidly putting an increasin... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Urgent MPC Meeting called – 18 March 2009) Tito Mboweni, governor of the South African central bank, announced yesterday that the Monetary Po... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Property demand improves – 23 March 2009) The FNB Residential Property Barometer has shown a mild improvement in property demand levels, alth... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of the Cape Times (Another 1% rate cut on the cards – 24 March 2009) A 100 basis point cut is on the card as the central bank end their 2-day meeting tod... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Hundereds, Bru! – 24 March 2009) Governor Tito Mboweni announced yesterday that the repo rate would be cut by 100 basis points to 9.5%, while... read more

(The Global Property Guide compiled this list based on a 120 sq. m. apartment in city-centre of these cities) The most expensive property market is without a doubt Monte Carlo in Monaco with proper... read more

This information in this article is courtesy of The Property Magazine (Things to consider before turning your home into a guesthouse for 2010). The 2010 Soccer World Cup is coming to South Africa a... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Report (House Market Nears Bottom – Bond Choice – 17 April 2009). One of South Africa’s biggest mortgage originators suggests that the reside... read more

The official result of South Africa’s fourth democratic election was announced on Saturday - 4 days after just more than 17 and a half million voters went to the polls. According to the official r... read more

The South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee announced a 100 basis point but in the repo rate, bringing the rate down to 8.5%. This will take effect on Monday, 4 May. This cut is the ... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Property hails rate cut – 30 April 2009). A step in the right direction. This is how chief executive of Pam Golding Property, Andrew Golding ... read more

Tito Mboweni announced another 100-basis point rate cut on Thursday, bring it down to 8,5%. This means bondholders who have a Prime related mortgage can expect to have some more cash left in their wal... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Mail&Guardian (House prices continue to deteriorate – 4 May 2009). House prices continued to fall during April. This finding by the FNB House Price In... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb ( SA’s worst and best tenants – 16 February 2009) According to the Tenant Profile Network (TPN), the fourth quarter of 2008 saw 54% of t... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Expatriates desire to return home within 24 months – 26 March 2009). The amount of enquiries received from South Africans living abroad... read more

This article is courtesy of iAfrica (Expats boosts CT property – 4 March 2009) iAfrica report that expats returning to South Africa are fuelling rentals as well as sales in Cape Town. This is a... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Don’t over-capitalise – 17 April 2009). A large number of homeowners are opting to improve their current properties as oppose to trying to se... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of The Times (Real estate deal of the Century – 7 May 2009) The ailing property market has taken its toll with only 35 000 read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Day (Bargain time on the Atlantic Seaboard – 6 April 2009) Never has there been a better time to buy property in this sought after area. Acco... read more

The Western Cape property market is looking up according to a recent analysis by Sotheby’s International Realty South Africa. The... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (SA is Easy – 14 April 2009). With South Africa’s diverse landscapes, excellent climate and favorable exchange rates, it’s no surprise that a ... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of IOL News (Crunch Turns Waterfront Into Sore Eye – 14 March 2009) Commercial rentals in South Africa has not... read more

During an economic downturn that has many of us tightening our belts the last thing we welcome is an unexpected expense. As an owner in a sectional title scheme however unexpected expenses are a real ... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Mail & Guardian Online (Economy to see 2,5% growth in 2010 – 14 May 2009) Ettienne Le Roux, senior economist at Rand Merchant Bank recons that South A... read more

(The information in this article is courtesy of Fin24 - Banks "Throttling the Economy" - 19 May 2009) Large commercial banks are constraining the economy while the housing market threatens to colla... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Report (Mortgage stress set to increase – 20 May 2009) Alliance Group Auctioneers believes that properties that are two months behind with th... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (BER sees 150bs cut – 22 May 2009). The Bureau for Economic Research (BER) believes that more limited rate cuts of 50 basis points could be ex... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Fin24 (4200 SA firms to shut in ’09 – 25 May 2009). According to Statistics South Africa, a total of 349 liquidations were recorded for April 2009 – a... read more

SA Officially in Recession The information in this article is courtesy of The Times (SA hits first recession in 17 years – 27 May 2009). South Africa has entered its first recession in 17 years.... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Report (Mboweni signals the last rate cut – 28 May 2009) The South African Reserve Bank’s monetary committee again gave consumer reason to sm... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Day (Recession negates effect of rate cuts on home property market – 2 June 2009) According to John Loos, FNB property strategist, selling du... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Report (Slump in property market cuts estate agent numbers – 8 June 2009) The slow property market and low sales levels have resulted in the ... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of The Times (Absa mid house prices slide 3.6% y/y – 8 June 2009) Absa announced yesterday that the average nominal price of middle-segment housing was d... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Fin24 (100% home loans on offer again – 11 June 2009) The launch of Shaft Citi – a new development for affordable housing in Germiston on the East Ran... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Fin24 (Agents to Auction Off Houses – 22 June 2009) The slow property market has urged South African estate agents to turn to auctions as a means of s... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Day (Real Price Decline Makes Property Buying more Affordable - 15 June 2009) Mike Bester, Realty 1 International Property Group CEO, said in... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Cape property picks up – 23 June 2009) Pam Golding Properties Western Cape Metro region, operating in th... read more

This article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Home Loans: Banks stingier than ever – 30 June 2009) The recent statistics release by the South African Reserve Bank confirms that buyers are struggling t... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Property slide speeds up – 6 July 2009) John Loos, FNB’s property strategist said that the June house price index show no sign of improvement... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of BusinessReport (Bond Choice urges consumers to go out and buy – 10 July 2009) Although South Africa has not been affected as badly as Europe an... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (Property market sentiment worsens – 15 July 2009) The latest FNB Residential Property Barometer shows that demand for residential prope... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica ( Mboweni steps down - 20 July 2009) The current Chair of Absa Bank, Gill Marcus will be Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni’s successor. This... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (The party’s over – 28 July 2009) The Bureau for Economic Research (BER) announced this week that consumers should not expect any interest rat... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Almost, but not quite – 6 August 2009) According to Absa’s House Price Index for July, the houses price deflation may be bottoming out. A... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Fin24 (Rate Cut Surprise – 13 August 2009) South African Reserve Bank Governor, Tito Mboweni surprised the nation yesterday by announcing a 50 basis p... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Women24 - The real cost of buying a house Buying a house is costly and it is best to know about all the cost before you purchase property. Wome... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of iAfrica (Property slump is over! – 21 September 2009). The latest OOBArometer price index is showing some signs of recovery after it recorded a 6.9% i... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Business Report (Absa: House prices set to rise again – 7 October 2009) The latest Absa house price index showed that nominal year-on-year price defla... read more

By Jennifer Paddock All owners of sectional units are obliged to pay validly raised general and special levies to their bodies corporate. When owners default in paying their levies, the owners who ... read more

Is your house in a Company, Close Corporation or Trust? The Taxation Laws Amendment Act became operational on 30 September this year. One of the amendments applies to persons who own their resident... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Realestateweb(House prices surge for fifth consecutive month - 13 November 2009) The oobarometer has shown a rise in house prices for the fifth... read more

Buying property at an auction is something many South Africans don’t consider due to negative connotations like liquidations and insolvencies. Yet in countries like Australia, the largest percentage o... read more

By Lyndi Lawson In the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis the international property market is reeling and while in South Africa the opinion is that things are looking up, general internation... read more

The information is this article is courtesy of Realestateweb (What's in store for property - 2009, 17 November 2008) Lew Greffen, head of Lew Greffen Sotheby’s, said that this is a great time to bu... read more

Landlords has been forced to lower their asking rent due to a dip in demand for rental accommodation. This comes after a number of estate agents, including rentproperty.co.za, announced that the lates... read more

This article is courtesy of RealEstateWeb (“New inflation figures pave way for interest rate cuts” – 30 October 2008) The latest inflation figures will give the nation hope that interest rates wi... read more

Things are starting to look up for the South African Property Market as a number of real estate agents reported an increase in activity, suggesting that the slow market is bottoming out. High inte... read more

The information in this article is courtesy of Property24 (“When tenant run business from home” – 27 October 2008) It is vital for landlords to make sure that tenants are well aware of what they ca... read more

According to information released by property portfolio management company, Capital Investments, they are offering a much improved investment product and also sorting out the problems of one of the co... read more

South African homeowners and estate agents can rest assure that they are not alone in their battle with the poor property market. This comes after Mark Friend, vice president of Realogy Holdings... read more

The slump in the property market is now causing a substantial number of estate agents to close their doors. According to Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty this can be seen in the estimated 30%... read more

Two leading property figures are divided over whether the world stock market is having a good or bad effect on residential property. Saul Geffen, chief executive officer of Ooba (one of the countr... read more

Nedbank has launched an affordable housing finance scheme available to South Africans earning less than R9 760, which makes first time home ownership just that much more accessible. The bank has team... read more

With interest rates so high it is important to get the best possible rate on your home loan. According to valuer and estate agent Mike Spencer of Platinum Global in Bloemfontein, you qualify for ... read more

While the world has been inundated with news about plummeting stock markets, financial systems in trouble and anticipation of a global recession in the last week, there are some estate agency bosses i... read more

The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) aims to expand and streamline its existing training and development program in the coming months, with courses set to be launched early next year.... read more

An article published by The Times discusses Nedbank chief economist, Dr Dennis Dykes’ view that the current crisis in the US could potentially impact South Africa far less than many other countries ar... read more

Real estate veteran Bill Rawson says that while house prices are down, national sales are up dramatically, which suggests that we have reached the bottom of the cycle. Perhaps the most common mistake... read more

A press office feature released by FNB indicates that the risks to property have shifted from interest rates to economic growth and that consumers should heed this latest development. The FNB Propert... read more

The South African Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA) has called on all real estate agents practicing in the country to join the institute. This is in a bid to increase the professionalism and respons... read more

A recent article published by Reuters discusses South African house prices, indicating an increase of 3.6 percent year-on-year in September. This is the first increase in 10 months, reflecting fresh ... read more

FNB has recently indicated that expected job losses are bound to put more pressure on the ailing South African property market. Statistics show that real house prices have dropped by nearly 10% and t... read more

When it comes to buying your first home, there are a number of things required by various parties that can prove extremely complicated. For instance, the transferring attorneys will ask for your tax ... read more

An article in The Times discusses the recent drop in value of assets under management experienced by private client operations following the recent fall in markets. Sean Farrell, CEO of RMB Private B... read more

There is no doubt that this year will be put down as one of the most shocking in South African property market history, with the army of estate agents shrinking unbelievably and panicking sellers stru... read more

FNB’s property strategist, John Loos believes that the recent change in president may have rattled some cages, but it “is unlikely to change an already deteriorating residential market trend”. Kgal... read more

While the main saga plays itself out in New York and London, there has been a significant ripple effect on the rest of the world. Investors in emerging markets like South Africa, which are known as “... read more

A business reporter for Dispatch Online has drawn attention to the lack of business confidence in the home building sector, which appears to have dropped to levels last seen 7 years ago, according to ... read more

While global markets and investors literally shudder in the aftermath of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and AIG, South African property investors are somewhat smug in comparison. Paul Hansen of St... read more

It was recently reported that the Portfolio Committee on Public Works debating the proposed Land Bill had suspended its deliberations on the 14th of August 2008. Now a top law firm has warned clients... read more

Jeanne van Jarsveldt, financial director of RE/MAX Southern Africa has indicated that a serious review of the law is needed to stimulate the property market and encourage first time buyers to invest. ... read more

The troubled US bank at the centre of the global stock market woes has financial ties to a massive development in the Cape set to rival Century City. It is through a private equity fund that Lehman B... read more

An article by Mariana Tolken published by Moneyweb discusses five offshore property hotspots that show promise as retirement destinations, immigration possibilities and big city investments with sound... read more

The CEO of RealNet Property Group, Tjaart van der Walt has warned that landlords looking to increase rentals could land in financial trouble. The current market has seen rental accommodation in stron... read more

According to John Loos, FNB’s property economist, there is improvement expected in the household sector’s financial situation that is likely to reverse the fortunes of the ailing residential mortgage ... read more

Tony Clarke, managing director of Rawson Properties has reported a dramatic improvement in property sales recently. He went on to say that all players in the residential sector have been watching the... read more

An interesting article published on iafrica.com has drawn attention to the international trend towards high-rise living and how this seems to be playing out in South Africa. It seems that despite eff... read more

Despite the current economic conditions where the property market is particularly sluggish, there are experts who believe that there are still ways to maximize profits. Bill Gibson is a sales special... read more

If you own at least 5 residential property investments then SARS may soon hand you a gift by changing the tax law. Tax expert David Warneke explains that the new Revenue Laws Amendment Bill issued on... read more

The latest reports from FNB’s house price index indicate that a drop of 5% is the worst South African consumers can expect before things in the residential property market begin to improve. Before no... read more

Shaun le Roux is a portfolio manager at Alphen Asset Management and in an article published by Realestateweb, he poses the big question pervading the minds of many smaller investors: is residential pr... read more

An article in the UK’s Guardian has highlighted a global phenomenon in the house price crash that began in the US and spread across the globe, this according to international estate agents Knight Fran... read more

No doubt, there are many South African consumers who breathed a significant sigh of relief at the Reserve Bank’s recent decision to put interest rates on hold. According to Rael Levitt, chief executi... read more

With damning statistics and predictions of impending economic doom, it is no surprise that many investors are tempted to believe that the local markets are in crisis. According to an article publishe... read more

Realestateweb has published yet another article detailing the grim situation still being experienced in the South African property market, this time revealing the latest figures from RE/MAX of Souther... read more

There has been vigorous debate recently concerning the government’s proposed Land Bill aimed at speeding up the land reform program in South Africa. Farmers and citizens alike can breathe a huge sigh... read more

The South African property market may be experiencing difficult times, but data released by the South African Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG) indicates that the situation is not quite as dim as some o... read more

A Business Report article has drawn attention to the intensifying conditions in the current property market with the demand for rental properties in South Africa literally going through the roof. Thi... read more

In the current property market climate, investors are understandably shy and there are many potential buyers who are choosing to rent and rather bide their time until the market improves. However, th... read more

According to a recent article published by Business Report, economists seem to have divergent views when it comes to the property market outlook. This came to light at a fractional ownership conferen... read more

Astute property developers, investors and entrepreneurs will no doubt already be aware of the next big era in the property, namely the profound impact that ‘green building’ practices are going to have... read more

An article by Realestateweb has drawn attention to the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) and its stern warning to all estate agents and house sitters to comply or “face consequences”. Th... read more

An article in Business Day draws attention to commercial property association, Sapoa and its flagship property development course, which attracted the highest number of international delegates in its ... read more

An article published by South African Insurance Times and Investment News poses the question: change to cash, or not? This comes in response to the current volatility and uncertainty surrounding the ... read more

Recently, it was reported that the Ombudsman for Banking Services fired a warning shot at FNB for its decision to withdraw home loan approvals on a large scale. An article by Realestateweb dis... read more

An article published by Realestateweb predicts that interest rates will begin to fall fast from later this year, according to a top economist. Inflation is set to drop more than it has risen a... read more

An Engineering News article has drawn attention to the recent trend in South Africa where property investors are set to place more emphasis on green building. This comes after the United Natio... read more

An article by Realestateweb has drawn attention to the Ombudsman for Banking Services' recent warning shot fired at First National Bank (FNB)’s decision to withdraw home loan approvals “on a la... read more

An Engineering News article draws attention to the expected launch of South Africa’s green building rating tool in Cape Town in November. The Green Star rating tool will be launched at the ina... read more

An article published by Realestateweb has drawn attention to the government’s proposed Land Bill and the possibility that it could be about more than just real estate, potentially allowing the ... read more

An article published on the property iafrica website indicates that the there is more than meets the eye when it comes to owning property. The current gap between asking prices and selling prices con... read more

An article by I-Net Bridge published in The Times indicates that Standard Bank’s median house price dropped to R570 000 in July, which reflects a contraction of 2.6% year-on-year. The bank... read more

An article published in Business Day has drawn attention to market sentiment, suggesting that it may not be as reliable a short-term barometer as many investment commentators seem to think. ... read more

An article published on the IOL website discusses the results of what some are calling a landmark case for South African farmers and other citizens with business interests in crisis torn Zimbabwe. On... read more

An article published on the IOL website has drawn attention to civil society’s reactions over the government’s proposed land bill. Fears have been expressed about the possibility of a Zimbabwe-like s... read more

An article published in the Weekend Post has drawn attention to the Karoo’s newfound status as a dream location for property investment. In fact, with the rest of the Western Cape suffering fr... read more

An article published on the IOL website draws attention to the plight being suffered by real estate agents across South Africa. Hard times in the property industry have literally decimated the number... read more

An article by Dispatch Online’s business correspondent, Xolile Bhengu has drawn attention to the fact that despite lower prices, houses are harder to sell. In fact, sellers are having to settl... read more

An international article published by Business 24/7 indicates that international real estate transactions have dipped by 46%, a figure influenced by the global credit crunch and economic uncert... read more

An article published on by Real Estate Web draws attention to the winners of the coveted South African property awards. Jacoba (Kobie) Potgieter from Port Elizabeth is the new Nedbank Property... read more

An article published on the Personal Finance website draws attention to concerns over the current downturn in the South African market and urges investors not to bail out just yet. You will lo... read more

An article released by the South African Insurance Times and Investment News website argues that despite the prevalent doom and gloom currently being experienced in the residential property market, co... read more

A recent article discusses the results of the latest Master Card Worldwide Index of Consumer Confidence for the latter half of 2008, which shows that South Africans remain impressively optimist... read more

An article published by the Daily Dispatch Online discusses the current trend in the property market and urges buyers that the time to invest in a fixed asset like property is about six months ... read more

An article published by Real Estate Web provides some excellent insights on how to beat property tax. “For expenses to be tax deductible against rental income, there must be a genuine intention to co... read more

An article published on the Engineering News website has drawn attention to the successful introduction of ‘green’ building systems into the industry by steel framework building company, Vela S... read more

An article in the Weekend Post has highlighted the fact that while South Africans are currently under increased financial pressure due to rising inflation and interest rates, as well as the ste... read more

An article in Business Day has called an end to the seven year boom in the property market, saying that homeowners can literally wave goodbye. The main focus at the JSE on Monday involved prop... read more

An article published on the Cape Business News website draws attention to the plight currently being experienced by tenants in the retail industry. The current economic situation in South Afri... read more

An article published on the Business Report website draws attention to the latest trend in the property market, where homeowners now face the risk of negative equity on their homes as house pri... read more

An article in Business Day reports that property loan stock company, Vukile sees light at the end of the tunnel and is in fact expecting reasonable growth in distributions over the year to Marc... read more

An article published in Newsweek brings up an interesting notion as it discusses the recent hype surrounding globalization making the world a smaller place, with barriers falling and fear of fo... read more

An article published on the Reuters Africa website yesterday indicates that South African median house prices fell by 11.3% year-on-year in June, put under even more pressure by higher interest... read more

An article in The Times reports that more repossessions are bound to be on the cards as South Africans face yet another interest rate hike. There is simply no good news for homeowners trying t... read more

An article published on the Sify website has highlighted increasing inflation in a number of emerging markets over the last year. While this problem is also being experienced in developed mark... read more

While the current downcycle being experienced in the South African property market is perceived as terrible news in terms of interest rates, there are still those astute investors who are bound to pic... read more

An article published on the IOL website has highlighted the clashing opinions of various experts and major players in the South African property industry. A “war of words” seems to have broken... read more

An article published by I-Net Bridge has drawn attention to the “perfect storm” created in the housing market by a combination of interest rate hikes and tightening financial liquidity. Simon ... read more

An article in Business Day published last week discusses the monetary policy committee’s decision to raise interest rates by just 50 basis points. The move was seen as an ‘ironic twist’ and re... read more

An article in the Sunday Tribune has reported that civil society organizations believe the draft Expropriation Bill currently before Parliament is ‘the greatest single threat yet to the nationa... read more

A recent article by Douglas Rogers published in the UK’s Telegraph newspaper reported on Plettenberg Bay as South Africa’s new playground for the well to do. According to the article, it is Pl... read more

A news article published on the Property Magazine website draws attention to South Africa’s planned rail network rejuvenation. With predictions of an increase in rail usage in South Africa, fu... read more

A transcript published on the Business Day website outlines a discussion by the Property Experts on South Africa’s Home Channel on DSTV. The debate centred around estate living, why it has bec... read more

An article published in the UK’s Guardian newspaper reports that South Africa’s President will not be attending an emergency meeting of African nations to discuss the election crisis in Zimbabw... read more

Sectional title schemes provide an ideal opportunity for developers to reap considerable profits in the real estate market. Such developments can comprise residential units, offices, shops, commercial... read more

An article published in The Times has reported on the idea of emigration as holding a renewed appeal for local South Africans. A wealth survey carried out in August last year showed that 96% o... read more

An article in Business Day indicates that there may be a shift in investment from residential to commercial and industrial property. Auction house ClareMart Auction Group said this week that i... read more

An article published in Business Day indicates that South African markets are braced for a tough few days ahead, as oil prices head towards $150 a barrel and the Reserve Bank is set to deliver ... read more

Property economist for FNB, John Loos was recently reported as predicting a 40% drop in house prices by year-end. An article published in Personal Finance refutes these predictions with report... read more

An article in Business Day has drawn attention to a shock prediction for high-end house price decline. A leading property expert says that house prices could fall as much as 40% by year-end, e... read more

The Bizcommunity website has published an article detailing evidence released by a recent report that reveals South Africa’s property market is in good shape and that while growth may be slowin... read more

An article published on the Bizcommunity website reports on a recent visit by Dolf de Roos to South Africa. De Roos is an international speaker, educator, investor and author of eight best-sel... read more

An article published in Business Report draws attention to growing concern over the ever-lengthening list of negative factors burdening property prices in South Africa. Reserve Bank governor, ... read more

An article in Business Day reports that the lower property prices and spiraling interest rates have created investment opportunities for big players, such as the Public Investment Corporation (... read more

An article published in the UK’s Independent has drawn attention to the fact that the housing slump is spreading globally, with the adverse effects of the credit crunch on property values takin... read more

An article published in Business Day has highlighted the increasing negative factors dampening the residential property market, most recently the wave of xenophobic attacks that have spread fro... read more

An article in Business Day has drawn attention to the fact that banks are declining more and more mortgage applications, which combined with the implementation of the National Credit Act has re... read more

A press feature released by FNB Insurance Brokers has warned that homeowners should beware of a housing market muddle that could render them “vulnerable to under-insurance running into hundreds... read more

An article published in The Times reports how business leaders have spoken out to condemn the spate of xenophobic attacks that have spread throughout the countries main provinces, claiming more... read more

An article in Business Day reports that it is not just real estate agents who are facing job losses, small and mid-sized construction companies that turned down work a year ago because they wer... read more

An article in Business Day reports that building plans passed for the private sector have fallen by a seasonally adjusted 1.7% in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same time last y... read more

A statement released by the Democratic Alliance (DA) this week calls for joint Public Works and Agriculture / Land Affairs deliberations on the government’s proposed Expropriation Bill. The st... read more

An article published on the Business Report website has indicated that the severe slowdown in residential property sales is leading to a number of estate agents leaving the industry and the wor... read more

Dispatch Online’s business reporter, Siya Miti discusses how political uncertainty, the current electricity crisis and the never-ending effects of crime are “hot on the heels” of interest rate ... read more

A press office feature released by Mazars Moores Rowland has given some valuable advice on how to make the most of the high interest rates. The current situation can benefit you if you do a re... read more

An article published in BuaNews has highlighted the incredible eco-friendly inventions of Dr Hans Hahn, who runs an eco-tourism lodge based in Soutpansberg. The Moshavehla Lodge is detached fr... read more

An article published on the Business Report website reports that Standard Bank expects a “relatively mild cyclical downturn rather than a full-blown recession” when it comes to the residential ... read more

An interesting article in the Business News section of the Bangkok Post highlights the latest trend in international property investment: fractional ownership. It’s important to differentiate ... read more

An article in Business Day reports that soaring interest rates and rising inflation are continuing to worsen residential property woes, with house prices in the middle segment of the market dro... read more

According to Reuters News, the South African government has made a move to curb the development of coastal property in a bid to protect the vast stretches of coastline from environmental damage... read more

An article in a property portal magazine in the UK has reported that International Housing Solutions (IHS), an affiliate of Mortgage & Equity, LLC (‘MuniMae’) and Howard Eurocape Limited has announced... read more

YOUR WILL I am sure that you are familiar with the saying that nothing is certain in life, other than death and taxes. For this reason, if for no other, it is important to ensure... read more

An article published in The Times has drawn attention to the current downtrend in the property market, indicating that property values have plummeted by nearly a tenth in just a single year. I... read more

An article on a Holiday Letting website in the UK has drawn attention to property investment opportunities on the up in Johannesburg as the 2010 World Cup approaches. The rest of the country m... read more

An article by Luyanda Makapela in BuaNews reports that concern over electricity supply shortages and the proposed moratorium on new property developments is somewhat unfounded, according to Hou... read more

An article by I-Net Bridge suggests that while most agencies are struggling in the current property market, Pam Golding reports a total growth in turnover of 13.5% over the previous year, which... read more

An article on the Dispatch website indicates that the First National Bank (FNB) residential property barometer has recorded an all time low for any quarter measured since its launch in 2003. ... read more

An interview with property economist Erwin Rode of Rode & Associates indicates that the house party most South Africans have been enjoying over recent years is officially over for now. There... read more

An article in Business Day reports an immediate negative impact on property values across the board after the latest interest rate hike. The Alliance Group auction house expects this to result... read more

BUYING PROPERTY AS A NON-RESIDENT IN SOUTH AFRICA INFORMATION TO ASSIST South Africa is said to have one of the best Deeds registration systems in the world which is highly accurate. All the in... read more

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SELLERS AND PURCHASERS For TRANSFERS make provision for extras such as post and petties, Rates Clearance Certificate or a Levy Clearance Certificate (+) R1 000 For B... read more

An article in the Mail & Guardian Online has indicated that consumers and small businesses are beginning to collapse under the increased debt burden created by higher interest rates, petrol pri... read more

An article published on the Iafrica Business website has suggested that the latest interest rate hike will have a negative effect on the residential property market, particularly in light of the predi... read more

An article in Business Day has expressed concern over the latest proposals by the government to revise the regulatory framework of professions in the building industry. The engineering and oth... read more

An article on the Save Energy website (About.com) provides some excellent tips on how to save energy at home. It needn’t take days of planning; there are many things that you can do to save energy ri... read more

An article on the Property24 website has reported statements made by a leading South African real estate group that call for the Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) to be scrapped and to be allowed to ... read more

In light of the current energy crisis in South Africa, it would be useful to know how to save energy at home. The Sustainable Home Design website provides some excellent information. When it comes t... read more

An article on the Bloomberg News website reports that South African house prices have dropped for the first time in 8 years, as borrowing costs continue to rise, this is according to Africa’s b... read more

An article on the Engineering News website discusses the commercial property index results released on Monday 31 March 2008. While there has been growing concern about the performance of the S... read more

An article in BuaNews reports that the City of Johannesburg has approved the new assessment rates tariffs, which should come into effect on 1st July 2008. The public is able to raise objections until... read more

An article published on the iAfrica website (20 March 2008) reports the results from the annual South African Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG) ‘Top Ten’, carried out by a leading local marketing... read more

With electricity use such a problem around the country at the moment, it might help to have some useful information about what you can do at home to help. An article on “Greening your home” by Giles ... read more

The government’s Expropriation Bill has caused much consternation amongst farmers in the country, following the approval of the draft policy by Cabinet earlier this month. The Bill is due to be table... read more

SASFIN Bank has said that it will back plans by property entrepreneur, Stuart Chait to establish a ‘land bank’ company. The plan is to ensure the reliable supply of land for about R10bn worth of prop... read more

The South African construction sector is the latest to feel the pinch of the national electricity crisis that has gripped the country. The rolling blackouts have effectively “smothered industry” and ... read more

An article in the UK Sunday Times (Karen Robinson, “Durban Regnerated”) has given Durban the thumbs up in terms of overseas property investment opportunities, despite the growing concerns about securi... read more

If you have a business in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, it might interest you to know that Park Lane, a R100 million office park development in Pinelands, Cape Town, is soon to be completed. The deve... read more

An article by Michael Appel (BuaNews, 19 February 2008) details the decision made by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Martinus van Schalkwyk, to give developers the go ahead for the ... read more

In an article published in Business Day (7 February 2008), Nick Wilson analyses the effect that the shortage of electricity may have on the property cycle. He draws attention to the fact that if the ... read more

Michelle Swart (Business Day, 8 February 2008) spoke to a variety of experts in the property industry to ascertain their opinions on the most recent interest rate announcement. Swart highlights the h... read more

Bruce Whitfield conducted an interview with Jan Kleynhans, Chief Executive of Home Loans at FNB, to discuss the current state of the property market. According to Kleynhans, the latest FNB property b... read more

BuaNews recently published an article detailing the government’s new Integrated Zoning Scheme (IZS) in the Cape. The IZS aims to control the use of land and property development within the Cape Town ... read more

A recent article published on the Property Wire website announces the top 5 emerging property investment hotspots in 2008. The article points out that property markets are frequently “defined by low ... read more

A recent article by I-Net Bridge published in The Times, seems to suggest that property prices will improve. According to property expert John Loos from FNB, the impact of new credit laws enforced by... read more

Those wonderful and imposing buildings in Observatory that originally housed the Lion Match Factory are currently sparking a great deal of enthusiasm. The reason is because their regeneration, as part... read more

Plaaslike huiskopers se groeiende versugting na ‘n plattelandse leefstyl ondersteun gesonde groei in eiendomsmarkte – en huispryse – in klein dorpies regdeur die land. Alex Fenwick, uitvoerende hoo... read more

For most people purchasing a home is a major investment, requiring a substantial loan from a financial institution. However, many consumers do not know how banks go about making the all-important deci... read more

Now buying or selling property brings its own rewards – a return trip overseas! Property group International Realtors (IR) and five star rated Qatar Airways announced a groundbreaking partnership d... read more

Overseas exhibitions are not just a mandate-getting ploy by SA estate agents, according to Chas Everitt International, which recently took part in several such showcases. MD Berry Everitt says: "De... read more

Buying off-plan is often an appealing option for buyers who want a new, hassle-free home, but building delays and fine print can obstruct the path to the dream package. Susan van Aswegen of Sotheb... read more

More is definitely not better when it comes to estate agents marketing your home. "In fact," says Chris Cloete, co-owner of the Chas Everitt International Franchise in Cape Town's northern suburbs, ... read more

Now, more than ever, home sellers need the heavyweight support of established real estate brands, says Aida CEO Alex Fenwick. "The South African property market is currently much more favourable t... read more

With house prices on the increase, more and more young people are buying property jointly. However, couples are well advised to draw up a legal contract. This contract should reinforce each partner's ... read more

Much has been written about the potential positive impact on the South African property market of the Football World Cup in 2010, but a closer look at the lessons of the Olympics in Athens means a lot... read more

For several years property buyers have avoided transfer duty by simply buying a trust that held a property thereby effecting transfer and avoiding transfer fees — but now the South African Revenue Ser... read more

The quality of building in South Africa today is often criticised for its lack of consistency, and new developments experiencing damp problems, structural cracking or plaster cracking within the first... read more

Since 1998, listed property yields have closely tracked those of long bonds, implying that investors view these assets in a similar light. More recently, however, listed yields have dropped below thos... read more

The Rode team recently did some calculations to establish what rentals investors would expect from new office developments in popular office nodes such as Bryanston in the northern suburbs of Johannes... read more

House prices exceed replacement costs Interesting implications can be derived from the fact that, according to Absa's latest house-price indices, old house prices are currently only 5% cheaper than... read more

Property economist Erwin Rode says that his light-hearted remark that from a purely financial point of view it would be smart to sell his home right now, rent for 5 to 10 years, and then buy another h... read more

Property ownership is one of the best ways to create wealth and young South Africans should look to invest in property if they can afford it. So says Saul Geffen, managing director of South Africa... read more

Few areas of South Africa have missed out on the property boom of the past few years and for the most part, growth has been fuelled by similar drivers. The property market of Ermelo, however, stands... read more

Shifting social trends and traditions, coupled with empowerment and growing equality in the workplace, mean that many more women are buying their own homes as a mark of independence - often before get... read more

With the property market as buoyant as it is, many property owners are contemplating subdivision of their stands to change land use rights which can be very lucrative if rezoning permission is granted... read more

Vacant land outperforms housing A recent study by property economists and valuers Rode & Associates has found that vacant land has grown faster than house prices over the past few years and seems s... read more

Double whammy for office property market After many years of underperforming, office rentals are set to soar sky high as both demand and supply side factors are exerting upward pressure, predicts the... read more

In spite of a rosy forecast for economic growth of 4 to 5 percent for South Africa over the next five years, house-price growth is unlikely to even beat consumer inflation, says Erwin Rode of property... read more

Listed funds are generally reporting that properties at appropriate yields are hard to come by these days. That is especially true as far as retail property is concerned. This situation is largely cau... read more

1. Introduction and Recent Changes in Legislation Various vehicles exist for purchasers of immovable property. Transfer can be effected to a purchaser in his personal capacity (a natural person), ... read more

There are increasing signs that the demand for listed property cannot be adequately met by existing property funds. Garth Johnson, editor of Rode’s Report, a quarterly overview of the local property... read more

Why buy-to-let is not a good idea: If we weren't so emotional about our homes, the best financial decision for us to make at a time like now when real house prices are near or at the top of the prope... read more

South Africa’s residential tenants are in the pound seats. Most are saving tens of thousands of rands a year by renting instead of buying, says Neville Schaefer, CEO of national residential property m... read more

South Africa follows a system of land registration where every piece of land is reflected on a diagram and ownership recorded in one of the regionally located Deeds Registries where documents are avai... read more