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Weekly Newsletter
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Friday, 16 May, 2008
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Maybe it's not quite that easy. But liberalisation of the economy has started and, as a country on its knees desperate for food and "strategic" goods, Zimbabwe has introduced a barter system in return for assets...
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| >> Charge more rent |
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The answer to both is: It doesn’t matter! One and two bedroom flat rentals in my area are about R2500 to R3500 per month. My flats rent for R4000 and R4500 per month and my vacancy rate is less than three percent. Yes, my flats are nice, but not that much nicer. So what is it that makes the higher rent worth it? Two things: The fellow tenants and the landlord.
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| >> Getting tenants to pay more than average |
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Sell yourself to the tenant. Explain why they’re better off renting from you...
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| >> The implications of household debt - by John Loos |
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While the economic environment is admittedly different in many ways from
1998, it is possible that a prime rate of 18% today would have a similar
effect to the 25,5% prime rate peak of 1998. Should the SARB stop hiking
rates very soon, perhaps at prime of 15,5%, the debt-service ratio (a
good indicator of
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| >> Standard Bank downplays house slump |
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Johannesburg - The residential property market is expected to suffer a relatively mild cyclical downturn rather than a full-blown recession, according to Standard Bank. The bank made this prediction this week despite its own property gauge disclosing that the median house price fell to R530 000 last month from R550 000 in March. At this pace, prices would fall nearly 44 percent in 12 months. The decline since April last year translated into a negative annual growth
rate of 8.6 percent, Standard Bank said. The five-month moving average
growth rate worsened to minus 2.8 percent year on year... |
| >> Tony Clarke takes up the cudgels on SA home prices - many reports misleading he says |
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Another chief executive in the real estate sector, Tony Clarke, MD of Rawson Properties, has come out with a strong statement condemning some of the “decidedly negative” media reports published recently throughout South Africa on the current conditions in the residential property sector. “Too many people’s thinking,” said Clarke, “has been skewed by the exceptional conditions that we enjoyed from 2002 to 2007. It has to be accepted that property is a long-term investment and is subject to cycles. Now that the market has swung in the buyers’ favour, some homeowners have been talking as if we are facing a collapse in house prices – but nothing could be further from the truth.”
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| >> Chas Everitt International opens in Zambia |
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The franchise rights to this operation have been awarded to Chandalala Kondolo, who has gained extensive experience in the Zambian market over the past 12 years as the principal of his own agency and as a consultant to international and Zambian organisations in the residential, commercial and agricultural property sectors...
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| >> Current USA and SA property conditions not comparable |
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Any suggestion that the South African property market could follow the USA property market in its recent downward plunge is way off the mark, says Anthony Smook, Chief Executive of the new, but fast growing, bond origination company, A Mortgage Loan, which is headquartered in Paarl. In the USA, said Smook, a lack of investment and banking regulations and high pressure selling by bond salesmen resulted in some 10% of the total population overextending themselves on their housing purchases...
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| >> News from - Chas Everitt International |
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The launch of this venture has proved to be well timed due to the convergence of a number of factors, chief amongst these being...
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| >> Garden Route - the future in semi-gration? |
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The Garden route has long since been one of SA’s quality tourist and holiday destinations. More recently, though, it appears to be increasing in popularity as a “semi-gration” destination according to an FNB special survey, as quality of life in the larger metros deteriorates. Many of these “semi-grators” commute long distance to the larger cities. However, rapid growth in the economy of this region suggests that an increasing number of skilled people may be attracted to the region by its own economic opportunities. All of this is great for residential property in the area, and we see the Garden Route as one of SA’s top performing property regions in the years to come...
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| >> Letters to the editor |
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Green Building Council of South Africa Breakfast Presentation The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA), will be hosting a breakfast presentation on Tuesday 20th May 2008, at The Cape Town Hotel School in Granger Bay.
The presentation, titled “Workplace - A Case Study of a 6-Star Green Building” will be given by Anika Spears, the Environmental Manager of Buildcorp Australia - the developers of the Workplace.
Spears will be sharing her experience as a project team member, on this, the first building in Sydney to achieve a 6-Star Green Star rating – the highest level of green accreditation. This building will become the headquarters of Google Australia amongst others. The presentation will give insight into how the team went beyond standard design to construct a world-leading green building.
The GBCSA is currently customising the Australian Green Star rating tool for use by the South African property industry and the first Green Star SA tool (Commercial Office) will be launched in pilot form in July 2008. This presentation provides an interesting insight into what goes into a building to achieve a 6-Star rating and is recommended for anyone currently interested in the application of Green Star in future projects.
Unfortunately, due to the speaker’s availability the event will only be held in Cape Town, however the GBCSA assures all interested parties that similar events will be held in major centres in future!
About the Speaker Anika Spears, from Sydney Australia, studied and practised as an architect before making the change into project management and sustainable development. In 2004 she joined Lend Lease, a global property group, as a project manager and was involved in Australia’s two first interior 5 star Green Star projects. Anika joined Buildcorp Group in 2006 as their new Environment Manager.
About Workplace6 As a world leading project, this six storey commercial building includes black water recycling, chilled beam air-conditioning technology and a harbour heat exchange system. The building features natural light penetration across all internal work spaces via an atrium. Being powered with 25% GreenPower, the building has premium amenities for tenants such as showers and change rooms with lockers, secure car spaces and 120 bicycle racks.
For further information please contact the GBCSA at Tel: 021 659 5990 alternatively mail info@gbcsa.org.za.
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| >> Focus on The Garden Route, Western Cape, South Africa |
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>> View Properties in the Garden Route
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| >> Property of the week |
Search for property in your area |
| >> BetterBond's tips to home buyers and sellers |
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Tips to make your home more appealing to potential buyers Potential buyers look around a property to see how they can use the space to suit their own needs. When looking at each room, they also look for faults, for reasons why they might put in a lower offer than the asking price. Most buyers respond well to a clean, clutter-free home in good repair and homes that are in tip-top shape for showings, normally garner higher offers than homes that aren’t ready for showings. In this article, we’ll examine the entrance, lounge and dining room areas. Let’s start with your entrance. Try to create as much light as possible, add a plant or flowers and possibly a mirror to reflect the light. Paint the walls in a warm neutral colour, so the house feels cosy. If you have a large entrance hall, you might want to add a rug to break the space up. If you have brass door handles or a brass knocker, make sure they are clean and polished. First impressions count. If you have painted the lounge in neutral colours, make sure the furniture, ornaments, or loose rug adds a splash of colour – this is the accent colour of the room – if the furniture is pale and neutral too, your room will look bland and washed out. Load your couches and chairs with vibrant cushions that complement your accent colour. If the lounge is small, don’t use a centre coffee table, rather use smaller side tables – this will give the impression of more space. Make sure all the lights work, don’t have any bare bulbs. You could also have some lamps in the lounge to create a lovely ambience. Turn them on during the showhouse. Lastly, clear out any clutter in your lounge by removing some of your smaller ornaments or personal family photos. A dining room should be a dining room, not an office, not a playroom, not a catch all spot. It should allow the buyer to feel as if they have found the perfect place to sit down to dinner. Place a nice centerpiece and set the table. If you have a dresser or sideboard in the dining room, make sure you only have a few select ornaments. Next week, we’LL look at tips that will make your kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms look more appealing to potential buyers. Article by: Cheryl Marais – Direct Marketing Manager - Betterbond
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| >> Software at its best! |
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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For Sale Property: To Rent Property: |
“What
can I rent it for?” “What are the rentals?” If I
had one Rand for every time I’ve heard these two questions,
I’d be a rich man. Two brilliant articles from iAfrica;
Want
to buy property or shares in Zimbabwe? Just bring along a bag of fertiliser
or some cooking oil.
“What
can I rent it for?” “What are the rentals?” If I had one
Rand for every time I’ve heard these two questions, I’d be a
rich man. 
JOHANNESBURG
(May 13) - Given a far higher household debt-to-disposable income ratio
in South Africa these days compared with the 1990s, it would take the
SA Reserve Bank (SARB) far less effort, in terms of raising interest rates,
to inflict the same financial pain on the household sector as it did in
the late 1990s.
The
Chas Everitt International property group is making its first foray into
Africa this month (subs: May 2008) with the opening of an office in the
Zambian capital of Lusaka.
Where
ever you are, you've most probably heard about the Garden Route, and rightly
so, for this is one of the most magnificent, awe-inspiring stretches of
land in South Africa, if not the world, with majestic mountains, breathtaking
views, a natural garden of rich, colourful vistas, with valleys and lakes,
rivers and forests, a paradise for bird-lovers and nature lovers, an eco-destination
like few others in the world, with miles upon miles of beautiful, white
sandy beaches and a zillion things to do and explore...
