They say that when we think of time we tend to think
of the ways in which we measure the passing of time.
This can be done by watching a clock or by measuring an interval.
But what is time when buying a property? You’ve heard
on numerous occasions from family and friends that you should
buy property as it will always be a good investment. But if
you could pick any day of the year to buy a property which
day will you pick? According to real estate statistics there
are two days that does stand out, Christmas day and Easter
Sunday. Is it that people are in good spirits and enjoying
family time? I will leave you to think about it.
According to Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight it
is now the time to buy. Several Cape estate agencies have,
achieved record sales in January or February - and APKF was
very definitely no exception. “What we are witnessing
- as we have done in previous years after a downturn - is
a new trend: many sellers, who waited in the wings for prices
to stabilise and start growing, are now coming back to the
market in a hurry. Many now realise that if they wait more
than one or two more months they could lose out. Now
is the time to take action
Headlines: Contraction in residential building activity
continued unabated in early 2010, Absa home loans said on
Wednesday. Residential building activity in the South African
housing market showed a significant contraction in January
2010 compared with a year ago, "despite indications that
the pace of contraction slowed down towards the end of last
year," senior property analyst Jacques du Toit said in
a statement. Earlier, Statistics SA released data showing
the value of recorded building plans passed by larger municipalities
(at current prices) for January 2010 fell 17.4 percent compared
with January 2009. Building not recovering
Market news: Property trends for 2010 With
the World Cup looming and plenty of post-budget positive sentiment
flowing, Dieter Deppisch, head of Property Data Research at
the South African Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG), assesses
three trends that will significantly impact the property market
this year and their implications for buyers and sellers.
House prices will rise, albeit modestly
Property investors will make greater use of technology
A perennial favorite of Chinese investors, Australian
real estate is gaining allure with oil and mining
rich Russian buyers driven from the troubled Dubai
market. Joining these investors in the Aussie
residential market are buyers from South Africa,
Malaysia and Singapore — all looking to take
advantage of a recent change permitting full foreign
ownership in new residential construction...
Data shows house prices will rise, albeit
modestly.
With the World Cup looming and plenty of post-budget
positive sentiment flowing, Dieter Deppisch, head
of Property Data Research at the South African
Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG), assesses three
trends that will significantly impact the property
market this year and their implications for buyers
and sellers...
Several Cape estate agencies have, says Lanice
Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight, achieved record
sales in January or February - and APKF was very
definitely no exception...
The reluctance felt by a small proportion of
the South African home buying public to use bond
originators is without justification, says Lanice
Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank, the Cape
based estate agency...
Clients, says Rob Lawrence, National Manager
of Rawson Finance, often ask bond originators
to explain why their bond applications are declined,
or why a bank will not give them the amount they
requested, and makes them a lower offer...
Everyone knows that it’s vital to pick a
good location when you buy a property, but you
also need to think about the lifestyle you want
as a homeowner...
Many of us take for granted the impression visitors
and guests get when they enter our homes through
the front door. Having a beautiful exterior entrance
not only makes an impact on visitors but it is
uplifting for the owner to come home to each day...
“It’s still a buyer’s market so
bargain hunters should seriously consider property
investment,” says Aucor’s property division
head Paul Winterstein...
The average home uses around 250 000L of water
a year, but owners can significantly cut down
on the amount drawn from the mains – and
on their municipal water bills – by simply
installing tanks to harvest rain water from their
roofs...
Growthpoint Properties Limited’s coveted
commercial property bursaries have enabled five
talented young university students the opportunity
to study towards a stimulating career in South
Africa’s dynamic property industry...
Homeowners with large stands are increasingly
selling off parts of their property to reduce
their home loans, achieve greater security and
lower their maintenance costs and property rates...
Although the City Council has been conscientious
about publicising the new valuations on homes,
many of the homeowners, says Lanice Steward, MD
of Anne Porter Knight Frank, the Cape Peninsula
estate agency, remain unaware that their homes
have been revalued...
Owners of flats and townhouses in Cape Town now
face a new threat, one which has the potential
to derail the value of their units, says Tony
Clarke, MD of Rawson Properties...
The year 2009, says Quintin Rossi, National Leasing
Executive of Redefine Properties, one of the two
largest JSE Securities Exchange listed property
companies in South Africa, presented the property
sector with the toughest trading conditions they
had experienced since 1998...
An unprecedented demand for rental properties
along Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard has resulted
in a shortage of stock across all areas and price
ranges. Last year rentals increased from between
6 and 10%. Currently, the sector is seeing a 12
to 20% increase year-on-year depending on the
area...
South Africa’s oldest real estate franchising
group, Aida National Franchises, has notched up
another first in the local property industry by
joining the UK-based Association of Business Executives
(ABE)...
St Helena Bay is unique as it is the only place
on the West Coast where the sun rises over the
sea. This is particularly important for early
morning whale and bird watchers...
The Richards Bay CBD is abuzz with buy-to-let
property investors who are snapping up two bedroom
apartments in the R450 000 price range, says Phil
Hammill, area principal for Pam Golding Properties...
Jeannette & Wessel Vorster have 18 years
experience in Real Estate in St Helena Bay and
are proud to announce that they have opened their
own Estate Agency, St Helena Bay Real Estate...
Holiday units in Shelly Beach and Uvongo on the
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast are once again in favour
among buyers and investors...
To
the editor
I have read your article on “The benefits of
having your own design” with interest. You
may be interested in another, and somewhat similar, but
very cost effective alternative.
The concept of selling standard architect designed
house plans at a huge discount, compared to architects
fees for a custom design, is well known in the USA.
Inhouseplans.com started selling standard plans for
the South African market and is growing in popularity.
Sales in Africa, up to Kenia and Nigeria as well as
Mauritius has more than doubled in 2009 from 2008.
All the house plans available on the inhouseplans.com
website have been designed by qualified architects who
are registered with the South African Council for Architects,
members of the South African Institute of Architects
with many years of experience in the house building
industry. The advice and information on offer on the
website and included in the documentation you receive
when buying a house plan from inhouseplans.com comes
with years of experience.
Question:
Cats have been using the garden in the common
property outside our front door and dining room
window as a toilet for more than a year. The body
corporate is refusing to restore the area and
take measures to prevent recurrence. This disgusting
situation is steadily worsening to the point where
we can no longer entertain guests...
Moving to a new area can be an unnerving experience
for adults, but for the kids the experience can
be downright traumatic. The prospect of leaving
friends, school and familiar settings can cause
serious problems at a time when parents already
have their hands full...
Far from being a passing trend, Green Building is fast
becoming the mainstream property norm. Join the Green
Building Council and leading international and local experts
for two days of presentations and panel discussions covering
all aspects of green building.
