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 But
"property sales activity" is up dramatically
RE/MAX offices in all nine provinces participated in a national survey
investigating national property sales activity and the current state of
the South African real estate market and report the following:
Dramatic increase
92% characterized the increase in property sales activity as dramatic
compared to the previous six months. 76% of RE/MAX offices recorded an
increase of up to 25% in sales activity, 18% an increase of 26 - 50%,
and 6% an increase of 51% and higher.
Most active price brackets
Polled on the most active property price brackets, 34% said sales activity
for properties in the R750 000 - R999 999 category was where most movement
was recorded. This was followed by properties in the price range of R500
000 - R749 000 at 23%. Homes valued below R500 000 constituted 13% of
most active sales, and the same percentage was recorded in the bracket
for homes valued between R1 million - R1,5 million.
Price negotiation
When the offices were asked to which percentage sellers can further negotiate
down prices of a homes, 50% said between 6 - 10% of a property's value,
24% said between 11 - 15%, and 16% said 1 - 5% of the value.
Time taken to sell
When asked what the average period is for a house on the market before
it gets sold, 32% of respondents noted it took up to 3 months, 24 % of
all offices recorded a period of four months and 14% said it can take
up to six months to sell listed properties.
Some opinions on the future:
Alliance Group
"In the first half of the year the property market will experience
larger property liquidations and insolvencies than ever experienced in
the country. In 2010 people will start spending more as the stock market
continues to rally and the economic outlook improves. The property market,
still burdened by debt, faces a long, hard slog, in fact our view is that
the property market is indeed in a period of a slow, weak and dull recovery."
FNB Home Loans strategist - John Loos
Finally, 2010 arrives, and promises better times after a tough few years!
December was the second month of year-on-year increase in house prices
after almost a year of decline. The trend bodes well for a better 2010,
after the market hit "rock bottom" in the first half of 2009
and thereafter began to show improvement. As such, it is realistic to
expect a significantly better residential property price performance for
2010 as a whole.
Absa's Jacques du Toit, property economist
Housing market conditions are expected to improve further in 2010, but
it is set to be a gradual process with nominal price growth forecast to
remain in single digits over the next twelve months
Dr Andrew Golding, CE of Pam Golding Properties (PGP)
"We are looking forward to 2010 with great enthusiasm and optimism,
having come through two tough trading years. The market seems to have
reached its trough and if the last four months of 2009 are anything to
go by, then we should be in for a steadily improving market through 2010."
Seeff Properties
A "cautiously optimistic" Seeff believes that this year will
bring good news - increased demand for property, more sales as well as
conservative price increases. We will see more activity and more demand
which will translate into more sales provided that banks keep their doors
open to providing more finance.
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Newsletter:
3 February 2012 to 10 February 2012 - Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa
