Properties for Sale: 134,598
Properties to Rent: 10,061

The difficulties currently being experienced by applicants for bond finance are another good reason for a further 0,5% drop in the interest rate, says Bill Rawson, Chairman of Rawson Properties...

The latest statistics released by bond origination company ooba reveal that the recovery in house prices continued year-on-year in March with above inflation growth...

According to the latest Rode's Report on the SA Property Market, in the fourth quarter of 2009 the overall growth in market rentals for office space was weak. This was especially evident in Cape Town (-6%) and Johannesburg (-4%) decentralized, where rentals were, on average, lower than what they were a year ago...

Although the banks currently have several mortgage products available especially for first-time buyers, it is still difficult for many to qualify for a home loan due to the stringent requirements of the National Credit Act...

South Africa, says Rob Lawrence, National Manager for Rawson Finance, has in the last decade seen a big rise in the number of self-employed people. These entrepreneurs, he says, usually operate either as sole proprietors, through registered close corporations or Pty (Ltd) companies...

It is reported that the courts are now more inclined to interpret the provisions of the National Credit Act in favour of those whose homes the banks try to repossess, particularly if they are from disadvantaged backgrounds...

Lanice Steward gives some advice to owner-builders

Those who build for themselves, possibly after also doing much of the design themselves or in collaboration with a designer, can bring about substantial savings and can gain great satisfaction from the whole process, says Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank...

The very first thing that you need to do, before you even start looking for houses to buy, is to work out what you can afford and what size bond you qualify for...

Many homeowners are looking at the upgrading opportunities presented by the current market and making offers to purchase bigger and better properties before they have even listed their existing homes for sale...

Latin phrases, as well all know, are much liked by those who draw up legal agreements – but they do have a tendency to confuse the average reader...

It still comes as a surprise to her, says Lanice Steward of the Cape residential estate agency, Anne Porter Knight Frank, how many people, including some estate agents, do not carefully read through the terms and conditions on which bonds are granted to them...

A few days and a few rands spent on preparing a home prior to putting it on show, almost certainly will result in its achieving more offers at higher prices, says Simon Raab, Greeff Properties’ Sales Manager for the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town...

Even if your property for sale has been on the market too long for your liking, you should not be tempted to switch from a sole mandate with one estate agent to an open mandate involving several agents...

If there was any doubt about the matter, a US study shows that well conceived home improvements do generally enhance values and saleability...

The owners of units in sectional title schemes are usually aware that it is the body corporate’s duty to maintain and, if necessary, repair all common property in their schemes while they themselves are responsible for all maintenance in their section...

If there was any doubt about the matter, a US study shows that well conceived home improvements do generally enhance values and saleability...

One of the questions put to managing agents by trustees and owners of sectional title property with disturbing frequency, says Michael Bauer, General Manager of IHFM is, “We have a major problem with tenants in our scheme and their general disregard for the rules of the scheme. Can we evict them?”

If there is one aspect of home design which has benefited more than most from ongoing improvements in technology it is flooring, says Cheryl Neave, PR Manager for the Cape Town Building Centre...

Cape Town - the Mother City of South Africa. Cape Town is a city of many attractions, a mix of cultures, landscapes, architecture, lifestyles, customs and scenery. Cape Town offers you mountains, beaches, sea, rivers, wind and a wonderful climate...

Mokopane rentals white hot

Strong rental demand among mine contractors in Mokopane (formerly Potgietersrus) is underpinning the property market in this Limpopo town...

Cape Town, South Africa Real Estate: Winning Over the World

For a while, it seemed an overwhelming majority of South African headlines were negative -- poverty, HIV/AIDS epidemic and horrible crime rates . These issues still plague the country but it is pressing forward with wobbly confidence as its getting ready to host the 2010 World Soccer Cup. South Africa is anxious to show itself as an emerging leader...

The Chas Everitt International flag is now flying high at Boschenmeer, one of the country’s premier golfery estates, thanks to the conversion of a top local agency to the national brand...

The FNB synopsis is quiet correct. Estate Agents must now recognize that their target market has changed considerably from the traditional white middle-class families to now be the upwardly mobile black families who want to reside in established suburbs with good schools as these purchasers place a tremendous value on education. There is bound to be a knock-on effect, especially when we take into account that our black population vastly outnumbers those of the other race groups. As the ratio of black purchasers has increased by more than 50% over the past five years I think we can safely predict that this sector of our market will again increase by at least 50% by 2015 as South Africa’s large employers will continue to pursue BEE initiatives. For sellers to capitalize on this phenomenon they will need to see that their ‘agents of choice’ market their properties through the media and the internet in such a manner that it adequately reaches this aspiring client base. Generally speaking our black middle-class families are enthusiastic buyers who show excitement when participating in the real estate market which they are keen to enter as they definitely appreciate the long-term benefits of real home ownership”.

Owen Dormehl, CEO of Dormehl Property Group
www.dpgprop.co.za

South African companies of all sizes will almost certainly find that they have to redraft many of their contractual documents if they are to avoid running into trouble as a result of the new Consumer Protection Act, says Grant Gunston, Senior Director of Grant Gunston Attorneys...

Low-cost skills training for poor unemployed people in Tshwane’s north-west areas is set for a huge boost thanks to a groundbreaking public-private partnership deal between the Tshwane metro council, the University of Pretoria and Rama Horizon Developments, the company involved in the multimillion rand Rama City project...