Purchasing a property is a major investment that should be considered carefully. On the surface, a home could be stunning, but there might be underlying issues that, if overlooked, could cost you a lot to repair.

When Eskom informed Parliament in September that rotational power outages were here to stay until at least March 2022, many consumers took a hard look at how they could become less reliant on the national grid.

It took a lockdown to show us the faults in our thinking. To understand what it is that is important. It took time away from distraction to realise that life is short, that possession is a trap, and that there has to be more to it than first-world luxuries, wrapped in the ever-important guise of making more money instead of more time.

Not all of us can afford the “bargains” on offer in South Africa’s property hotspots. Are there still opportunities available for those with a little less to spend.

If the owners in a specific Sectional Title scheme want to make new “house rules” for their scheme, it’s very important that they follow the proper procedure, says Berry Everitt, CEO of the Chas Everitt International property group.

A common mistake amongst first-time buyers is buying impulsively and based on emotion. “To avoid this, view your property as an investment – be rational, do your homework and take your time in making your purchasing decision,” says Grant Smee, Managing Director of Only Realty.

There are many payment applications and software providers claiming to do all it takes to manage rental payments, but rental payment processing is not for the unprepared. These are the top 10 questions you should ask rental payment providers to ensure you’re getting the best value for money.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the fact that managing such properties – and tenants – is becoming ever more complex, and that there are not many private investors with the specialist knowledge or time to do so. Increasingly, they need help from properly trained and qualified letting agents who also comply with relevant legislation and regulations.”

Return on investment is a tricky thing. On the one hand, you have to consider what you are paying, what the rental possibilities are like, what the market is doing-now and ten years from now. And on the other hand, what the weather is doing.

When it comes to property, most estate agents will tell you that the three L’s are, and have been since forever: Location. Location. Location. They are not wrong. But they are also not right. Because the new three L’s go beyond just positioning. The new order of the day is Location, Luxury and Lifestyle.

Flyt Property Investments says that we should see the upgrade of communal living enjoy a re-surge of popularity in South Africa. This will provide a post-Covid living option which will also bridge the gap for urban residents looking for homes that provide secure micro-spaces, shared living areas, and common spaces at affordable prices.

If you’re a home seller, now is not the time to withdraw your
property from the market in the hopes of selling it at a higher
price next year.

“I am continually amazed at people who sign agreements for millions of rand in property purchases without consulting a lawyer. The problem is that many offers to purchase have either been over-edited or are simply not comprehensive.”

While the market has picked up significantly and Seeff ended July with the highest sales in six years, buyers putting in low offers are left disappointed, says Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff Property Group. Contrary to expectation, sellers in many areas are achieving close to and often full asking price in the lower price […]

Property professionals operate today in an environment of ever-increasing requirements for better transparency, disclosure, accountability and governance.  Professional indemnity cover in the real-estate world is very similar to medical malpractice cover for doctors. While the sale or rental management of a client’s home may not require the precision of a surgeon, even a simple property […]

For many buyers, sectional title living offers heightened security, affordability and a more communal way of life. However, sectional title ownership comes with a variety of ownership responsibilities and legalities of which buyers are not always aware. “There are considerable differences with regards to investing in the two type of properties. When purchasing a freehold […]

While we like to think that our lease agreements protect us during times like these, the reality is that the current lockdown and subsequent economic fallout is something none of us could have predicted or fully prepared for.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure a luxury unit in the brand-new Newlands Peak development for as little as R996 per month.

The eviction process protects tenants, but landlords still have rights The global spread of COVID-19 has impact millions of people worldwide and locally. Many have been placed on unpaid leave, others have been informed of a reduction in salary or completely lost all income. This has led to the inability of many tenants to continue […]

South Africa’s GDP contracted by 2% in the first quarter of 2020, during which lockdown had only just begun. This means that there will be worse news to follow for the second quarter of the year when lockdown restrictions were in full force and real estate services were unable to operate until alert level 3. […]

Economic fall-out of Covid-19 will be that more property listings will flood the market as many property owners will be forced to sell for financial reasons.

Steps landlords should take before they can issue a defaulting tenant with an eviction notice.

The South African Reserve Bank has cut the repo rate to a record low of 3.75% since the beginning of this year, with the hope that this will help alleviate the anticipated sharp contraction in South Africa’s economic activity.

The growing possibility that a life with some form of lockdown restrictions, face masks and social distancing may well persist into 2021

If you buy a freehold home in an estate or any other gated development, the future value of your property will depend very heavily on how well that development is managed by the Home-Owners’ Association (HOA) and its directors.

People often talk glibly about adapting to change, but in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crisis, it seems more likely that we are going to have to fundamentally change in order to adapt to new situations, conditions and environments in the future. 

Lockdown level 4 – are evictions allowed? The easing of the rigorous lockdown rules that governed us for five weeks was met with rejoicing by most South Africans, particularly those with dogs and athletes who were missing their daily runs/cycle rides.

News that the various Deeds Offices around the country are permitted to open soon is very positive news for homeowners whose concluded property sales can now be processed and proceeds received.

“Factors such as the deposit, valuation, financing, any inspections required, fixtures and fittings and the occupation date are important considerations that must not be overlooked.”

If your home has already been listed for sale, now is not the time to take it off the market – and if you are thinking of selling for any reason, now’s the time to get it listed.   That’s the advice of Berry Everitt, CEO of the Chas Everitt International property group, who says that […]

While sales can be lined up during the lockdown period through virtual showings and online communications, no deals can be finalised until the Deeds Office reopens after the lockdown has been lifted. 

South Africa has limited water resources so even at the best of times, we should all be thinking about ways to save water.

As interest rates tumble and property prices come under pressure in the months following the immediate Covid-19 health crisis, lower-income families could be presented with their best opportunity in almost a decade to become home-owners.

The bank is offering opt-in payment relief to all customers whose accounts were up to date prior to the Covid19 crisis.

There are several actions that Sectional Title trustees can take now to ease the financial pressure on owners who may be struggling to pay their levies as well as their home loan instalments and other debt commitments.

We find ourselves in challenging times. The COVID-19 virus has brought the world and economies to a near stand-still

Many home-owners are worried about not being able to pay their bond instalments over the next few months…

How do we continue buying or selling properties in light of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic as a national disaster?

The current spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and the efforts to contain it have impacted almost all aspects of daily life.

Lightstone Property recently released their Residential Property Indices for March 2020. This is based on analysis of data….

As we enter the new financial year, it’s time to start thinking about tax savings – or strictly speaking, what….

The South African residential rental market has been a tenants’ market for some time. Despite this, market research….

Not many of us can afford the home or investment property of our dreams on one income, which is why more and more….