Pretoria - The slowdown in the residential property market is worsening, with the rate of growth in house prices declining from 19.6 percent in August to 17.6 percent last month, according to the latest Absa house price index released yesterday.

Jacques du Toit, a senior economist at Absa economic research, said last month's growth in house prices was the lowest year-on-year growth since December 2002, when it was 17.3 percent...

Supplied by Dave Welmans www.thepropertygame.co.za

Buy-to-let-ERs are more focused on rental income and the cost of finance, as it is the difference between these that determines this investor's profit. Let's say they buy a unit for R300 000 from a developer and secure a tenant for R2200. If the cost of finance is R2700 per month and the levy (sectional title unit) is R500 the investor must be prepared to carry the unit to the tune of R1000 per month until rentals escalate by approximately 30% before they break even and then move into profit territory...

Johannesburg inner city rents are being driven up by growing tenant demand, according to the fourth Trafalgar inner city report.

The best bachelor flats are renting for just under 2,000 rand/month and the top three bed units are close to 3,000 and/month.

Strong demand and little new development are causing a squeeze on availability, pushing up prices and making tenants more aware of competition for units. In general, there is a noticeable shortage of three-bed apartments. Two-bed units are in demand for shared accommodation, and one- bed units are most popular with couples or young professionals...

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 financial responsibilities in a way that is as legally binding as their bond is to the bank. This will prevent unnecessary complications should the relationship turn sour, says Bruce Swain, Regional Director of RE/MAX Southern Africa...

'Air slowly being let out of the over-inflated balloon,' report says

House-price increases are still recording double-digit annual growth rates in several nations, according to a report by ResearchWorldwide.com, a real estate information company – while the appreciation rate has collapsed in a handful of countries...

Built around the M1 halfway between Johannesburg and Pretoria, Midrand is an accurate reflection of current economic expansion of Gauteng. Home to large-scale industries such as textiles and motor vehicles, it is a superbly located business venue...

View Properties in Gauteng | View Properties in Midrand

Gauteng, Midrand, Carlswald Lifestyle Estate Bedrooms 5.00 Bathrooms 5.00 This classic style home is situated in the "Carlswald Lifestyle Estate" which offers, great security, a gym, jogging trails through the 'eco landscaped' estate, and much more! Some of the extra's - A formal lounge with wrap around glass windows, a wine cellar, cascading waterfall and pond, a hand painted kitchen with granite finishes.

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Although many people are not aware of this, one of the best things you can do to keep your perennial garden looking well groomed all summer is to prune the plants regularly. This has been especially important this year when many plants grew up to twice their normal size due to all of the rain we had this spring...

Pretoria - Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) members responsible for financial irregularities at the statutory consumer protection body of the property industry will face further disciplinary action in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA)...

Cell Phone enquiries from the public

Number allocated to the specific property. They will then SMS that number to 35476 and will receive an SMS back with all the details of the property. At the same time the agent / agency will also be informed of a potential buyer. How's that for technology working for you! The cost - mahala! Free to all CyberAgent subscribers.

Here's a diagram on the way this process will work...

1. Agent captures the details of the property and pictures into CyberAgent
   
2. Agent updates the property to the Internet
   
3. The Internet server sends back a unique number for that property
   
4. Agent puts up his "For Sale" board together with our SMS board
   
5. Potential buyer sees the "SMS" board and SMS's the unique number to the Internet server
   
6. The Internet server sends back an SMS with all the property details and a link to the website where he/she can view pictures on the property
   

If you would like to know more about the above features and benefits that CyberAgent offer, visit: www.cyberagent.co.za or email: sales@cyberprop.com

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