LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Gulf Arab investors invested $13 billion in direct global real estate markets last year -- about 5 percent of the region's petrodollar-inflated current account surpluses -- Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) said on Wednesday.

According to a report from the global property services firm, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries were also responsible for almost 25 percent of all global property development in their home markets and significant flows into indirect real estate funds...

NEW property developments have all but ground to a halt in the Bryanston area because there is not enough electrical power to support them.
With a two-year waiting period for more services, property pundits say, Johannesburg’s City Power department has not done enough to meet the growing power needs of the area.

David Green, MD of Pace Property Group, says retail and office developments have “literally ground to a halt” in Bryanston as a result.

The commercial and industrial property market is continuing to perform strongly in all categories including office, retail and industrial.

Gerhard Zeelie, head of First National Bank (FNB) Commercial Property Division, said this is driven by a strong economy combined with constraints in the supply of new stock.

"Two years ago there were significantly higher vacancies than today, especially with regard to office space. However, vacancies have declined steadily due to the higher level of economic activity and the resultant demand for office space...

The voetstoots clause remains a thorny issue for South Africans, and buyers and sellers alike still don't fully grasp its scope and implications, which could catch out unsuspecting home seekers.

According to the MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank, Lanice Steward, the clause has been a concern to homebuyers for as long as property has been bought and sold in South Africa...

The founder of South Africa’s second-largest fast food chain, George Sombonos, has made a R5.7- million profit on a Jo burg mansion that he bought 13-years ago.

The 4069m² property in Sandhurst, one of the most exclusive suburbs in the country, cost the Chicken Licken managing director a mere R1.8-million in 1993.

But Sambonos, whose fast food empire boasts a R300-million annual turnover, said this week the property in Empire Place was worth the R7.5-million it sold for. A neighbouring property was sold for R13.6-million last year.

Estate agents said the sale of a house in Sandhurst was rare because homes there were often passed from one generation to the next. Only 29 properties have been sold in Empire Place since 1997.

The high-security enclave in Sandton, northern JO burg, boasts only 640 sought-after addresses and is home to SA’s ultra rich, including controversial businessman Dave King, Congolese cellphone billionaire Miko Rwayitare, IT multimillionaire Robert Gumede and hotelier and insurance tycoon Douw Steyn.

Sombonos said he sold his Sandhurst home because he wanted to “downsize to a smaller garden” — Simpiwe Piliso

The Valley of the Olifants is one of the last unspoilt corners of Africa - unhurried, contented and timeless. Here the sights and sounds, the smells and tastes, the very touch of history and heritage fill up the senses of those who seek the spirit of an age gone by...

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When autumn nights start to get cold, it’s time to prepare your garden for winter. Winterising not only makes your garden look better during the cold weather months, but will make for easier work in the spring and will protect less hardy plants from the cold. Start closing your garden down when there is frost in the forecast or the temperature consistently starts to drop...

Use your home to fund the golden years

Following the international success of "reverse" mortgages, some large South African lenders have recently introduced this concept to the local market and, in the light of the shortage of retirement accommodation, it is definitely worth consideration by homeowners of retirement age.

So says Dr Piet Botha, chairman of the Nationlink estate agency group, who explains that a reverse loan is a home loan taken against the debt free portion of the value of the home, and is useful for owners who might need money to finance an investment opportunity, a large-scale renovation project, unexpected medical costs, or simply to be financially independent...

Cape Town's Century City has become a top choice for homebuyers in the market for the "new urban" lifestyle in a secure precinct that meets all their residential, retail, work and entertainment needs.

The area is rapidly becoming Cape Town's answer to Johannesburg's upmarket Melrose Arch, says Dante Fratti, area specialist for Chas Everitt International, who with partner Hilda Visagie has sold more than 125 homes in Century City in the past two years...

The ninth edition of the Madrid Real Estate Exhibition, taking place from 29 May to 2 June, will cover a total of 100 000 square meters. SIMA’s International content will be distributed in two areas: SIMA’s Hall I (International Institutional and Investment Pavilion, and SIMA’s Inmotur (International Holiday Homes Pavilion), an area devoted to second homes in foreign countries where hundreds of property and property related exhibitors from more than 20 markets will participate...

Cell Phone enquiries from the public

Buyers driving past your advertising boards will be able to see an unique Internet 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 propert

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

For Sale Property:
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To Rent Property:
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