Edition 9 of 2004, Friday 12 March 2004

Dear reader,

On Tuesday US astronomers released a Hubble telescope image of the first galaxies formed shortly after the universe was born. Among the thousand of pictures are some of the first to emerge from the so-called dark ages, a period after the "Big Bang" in which stars began to form 13 billion years ago.

At the same time operatin "Rosetta" took off. A billion-euro European spacecraft that began a decade-long quest to hunt a comet in the depths of the Solar System and shadow it round the Sun in a bid to tease out secrets of how life began on Earth.

But what about us here in South Africa? Did you know that two "dirty snowballs" are approaching? Two comets may be visible to the naked eye this April and May.
"If Comet Q4 NEAT and T7 LINEAR don't fizzle out (comets being notoriously unpredictable), observers away from city lights may see two glowing 'heads', each with a dim, ghostly 'tail'" reports SAAO.

In light of the above we put our focus on the town of Sutherland this week.

Is it constitutional for local authorities to hold property owners responsible for tenants' water and electricity arrears? Read more in Real Estate in South Africa.

Over the next two weeks in Have fun, we are going to teach you how to through a housewarming party to show off your new house!

CyberProp greetings!

The editor

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Arrears ruling to be tested
COMMERCIAL and residential property owners will get their opportunity in the next two days to test in court if it is constitutional for local authorities to hold property owners responsible for tenants' water and electricity arrears.

Thirty landlords, under the umbrella of the Transfer Rights Action Campaign, will take on the City of Johannesburg and the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality in the Constitutional Court, which is set to hear arguments today and tomorrow.

The campaign objects to landlords carrying the burden of their delinquent tenant s' unpaid municipal water and electricity accounts.

Should they succeed, owners forced to pay tenants' arrears may claim back millions from local government. Success will simplify property transfers, a headache for some owners trying to sell their properties.

In September last year, Port Elizabeth High Court judges Frank Kroon and Eric Leach ruled in two cases heard together that section 118 of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act was constitutionally invalid.

Mar 10 2004 07:52:30:000AM Nick Wilson Business Day 1st Edition_

Insights from Bridgeway Limited

Bond Switching – What’s it all about?

The current environment has seen the lowering of interest rates combined with significant increases in the value of residential property in most areas. This has lead to a strong trend in the home-loan market where home-owners are:

• re-financing their home-loans at highly competitive rates; and
• obtaining greater home-loans based on the increased value of their property, thereby gaining access to surplus funds.

Kevin Cimring of Bridgeway says that in certain circumstances this may present an effective financial planning opportunity...

Click here to read more

Selling a home is always nerve-wracking, even when demand exceeds supply and buyers seem desperate to snap up just about any home that comes on to the market.

Many times, all the sellers’ hopes for the future are riding on the proceeds of their sale, so it is natural to be beset by doubts. Will the market support the asking price? Will the property be noticed among the hundreds advertised for sale every weekend? Will potential buyers appreciate just how well the property has been maintained?

Click here to read more

UNLISTED Hollard's short-term insurance arm, SA's third-largest short-term insurer, expects to increase its gross premium income by between 14% and 15% to about R3,4bn for the year to June.

Hollard CE Paolo Cavallieri said the short-term insurance division, which includes a range of partnerships such as LegalWise and Petsure, had earned R1,7bn in gross premiums over the six months to December. It expects a 20% rise in profit after tax to R130m-R140m for the full year.

Click here to read more

Here, in the heart of the Roggeveld mountains, any visitor can kick off his shoes and forget about the stresses of city-life. The crisp, clear skies has made Sutherland the choice for Southern Africa's biggest Observatory. Whether you are an amateur astronomer or just want to relax beneath the milky-way and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Karoo, Sutherland is the place for you!

Click here to read more

Throw a Housewarming Party

Show off your new home with pride by hosting a welcoming housewarming party for friends and relatives. It will not only be a memorable event, but you'll have a deadline for decorating and organizing projects.
This week - Part 1:
Hosting the Grand Tour During Your Party

Moving into a new home ranks among the more exciting events in life. It's definitely time to break out the bubbly and celebrate. It can also be stressful if you're moving away from friends and family. In either case, holding a housewarming party is a good way to welcome new and old friends to your home.

Click here to read more

For all our readers who would be looking to apply for a bond you can now contact Aliza Swanepoel, 082 718 1192 or at eliza@cyberprop.com

A warm welcome to you Aliza!

Mortgage Originators
The term "Mortgage origination" refers to the person or company who sources and arranges the loan for a buyer, they can also be referred to as mortgage brokers. There are subtle differences between the two. Generally speaking an originator does most of the work of getting the bond on your behalf, while a broker will simply act as the intermediary.

CyberBonds now offer this service, which can save you a lot of time and effort when looking for the best deal. Consumers can get loan approval in a couple of hours for no increased costs or obligation. In addition consultants will shop around for the best rates and packages that suit your particular needs.

For more information about CyberBonds click here to enter your details and one of our consultants will contact you.

Advertising:

For more information on how you can advertise on www.cyberprop.com or on this newsletter, send your emails to advertising@cyberprop.com

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