WITH its Rea Vaya rapid bus transit system on the point of starting operations, the City of Johannesburg is now looking at ways to finance the continuing provision of public transport.

The city was reviewing a study it would make public before the end of the year that outlined some of the options for revenue-raising, mayoral committee for transport member Rehana Moosajee said yesterday...

There are many optimists out there who predict that house prices will start to recover by the end of 2009. Let's think this one through.

"Recover" needs to be defined, of course. If it means that prices will stop sliding in nominal terms, then this is remotely possible. But nominal prices that stop sliding are not the same as any meaningful rise. To rise significantly, prices have to exceed rises in inflation, which could either be regarded as consumer inflation (as in the CPI) or replacement costs. So how realistic are the medium-term prospects for real growth...

Sales of luxury properties, so conspicuous by their general absence last year, have now definitely made a comeback in the Johannesburg market.

That’s the word from Lew Geffen, chairman of Sotheby’s International Realty in SA, who says the number of “big ticket” sales over R4m made by his Johannesburg offices over the past six months is 21% up on the number of such properties sold in the first half of last year...

For homeowners, there can be few things as devastating as being unable to pay your monthly bond instalments, having your property repossessed by the bank and having your credit rating badly damaged.

But fortunately, says Berry Everitt, CEO of the Chas Everitt International property group, some help is now at hand for those who through circumstances such as job loss find themselves in this terrible position...

How to fix problems yourself, for free

Many house-hunters can't buy their own home with the help of mortgage finance from a bank because they don't have a good track record of repaying their debt on time and in full each month. Caroline Buthelezi of the office of the Credit Information Ombud spells out the facts about negative credit bureau listings and how you can help yourself to get rid of a major obstacle between you and home ownership.

You see posters on street poles. You may even get calls from telemarketers offering ‘credit repair' or ‘credit rescue' services. They all make the same claims...

Home repossessions are everybody’s business, so even those who are not feeling the pinch of unemployment or a strained household budget should welcome and encourage any measures taken by the banks to help those homeowners who are in distress.

So says Colleen Gray, MD of CENTURY 21 in South Africa, who notes that the major banks have moved relatively fast in this recession to introduce some anti-repossession measures...

Although it has to be admitted that the recession probably has another nine months to run, Anne Porter Knight Frank, the Claremont headquartered estate agency (with a fast growing Atlantic Seaboard branch), is finding that optimism is now returning to the residential property sector, says Lanice Steward, the company’s MD...

If you’re househunting, you should carefully choose the areas you want to look in before you pick out any properties.

That’s the advice of Harcourts Africa CEO Martin Schultheiss, who says: “In the heat of the moment, buyers often forget that location, location and location are still the most important aspects of a property purchase...

Sellers have repeatedly been exhorted in recent months to keep market conditions in mind when setting property prices – but now it is buyers’ turn to a swallow a spoonful of reality.

This is the view of Tjaart van der Walt, CEO of the RealNet property group. “Much has been said about educating sellers to drop their prices in order to achieve sales in the current market. But buyers also need to be educated,” he says...

The cost of parking your car in Cape Town's central business district (CBD) is almost double that of Johannesburg, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

Colliers International's second annual parking report says monthly parking in these cities costs less than it did a year ago, but Cape Town "remains the most expensive city in the country for monthly parking"...

The monthly price paid for a parking place in Bucharest has increased by 33% this year, as compared to 2008, to 205 dollars, thus exceeding the levels in Berlin, Lisbon and Warsaw, but remaining under those in Sofia and Budapest, according to real estate services company Colliers International.

This year, Bucharest is on the 16th place of 48 cities in Europe, Middle East and Africa area (EMEA), in terms of monthly rates for a parking place, while last year the real estate services company Colliers placed the Capital on the 11th position. The survey examines the parking places in the centre of the Capital and which are not occupied on the basis of a subscription...

A recent Supreme Court of Appeal decision should be sending a warning signal to all who believe that in a property purchase agreement they may be able to avoid the primary obligation of paying the full amount within the stipulated period, says Tony Clarke, MD of Rawson Properties. In the case referred to the appellants, a married couple, the registered owners of a KZN commercial property, had signed an agreement with the respondent in terms of which he would purchase the property from them and be given immediate occupation of it...

Over 30 people attended the seminar recently organized by the Cape Peninsula Organisation for the Aged and presented by Greeff Properties and Simon Lloyd Properties to help clarify the issues facing anyone who is contemplating taking retirement, especially if they are moving into a retirement residence...

One of the problems that can face South Africa’s sectional title schemes is that, while they have to be under the control of a group of trustees (as laid down in the Sectional Title Act and Prescribed Management Rules), it often happens that these people, elected by the owners, have little or no previous experience on the detailed rules and regulations of sectional title schemes. This lack of expertise, says Michael Bauer, General Manager of IHFM (Pty) Ltd, a firm which has been specialising in sectional title management and management of home owners’ associations since 2004 and which manages 14 schemes with some 800 units in all, can cause serious problems for all involved and can threaten the viability of a scheme...

A property analyst says the financial strain on potential buyers is forcing real estate agents out of work.

He says the realtors are struggling to make profits quickly enough, as an increasing number of people are more cautious about their spending.

According to the latest First National Bank property barometer, a large number of properties are staying on the market for longer periods before being purchased.

FNB property analyst John Loos believes it is a matter of finding the right price.

"Prices are still by and large unrealistic. Ninety one percent of sellers ultimately have to drop their asking price to make a sale and the average time on the market is still rising; in the Western Cape it’s up to an estimated twenty two weeks," says Loos.

Article from:

Finding a really excellent estate agent can take a lot of stress out of a property deal and save consumers time and money.

The question, says Dr Willie Marais, national president of the Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA), is what makes an agent a great agent – and how does one find such an agent?

“There are of course some intangible qualities that catapult some agents into an exceptional class of their own. However, there are some clear pointers that consumers who want to identify a top agent can follow,” he says...

Industry honours RealNet CEO

Tjaart van der Walt, CEO of the RealNet franchise group, has been honoured as one of the real estate industry’s top executives with the presentation of a Movers & Shakers accolade at the recent Nedbank Property Association Awards ceremony.

Van der Walt is one of just eight SA property professionals to be awarded this title this year.

“The Nedbank Property Association Awards are the only national awards event in which the industry as a whole can participate and I therefore regard it as a great honour for me and, by extension, the RealNet group to receive this accolade,” he says.

“RealNet’s vision is to be the most respected real estate group and to build the most profitable franchises in South Africa. As such, the reward is a token of respect from colleagues in the real estate profession and the financial services industry.

“What is more, while I am the recipient, this award really belongs to our excellent management team and support staff, franchisees and agents, who are the true representatives of the RealNet brand and culture.”

Van der Walt adds that the awards event this year reflected the high standards and dedication in the local real estate industry. “It clearly revealed there are many outstanding entrepreneurs and small businesses which not only provide a 24/7 professional and underestimated service to buyers and sellers of real estate, but also can challenge any other industry regarding social responsibility projects on ground level through thousands of real estate offices and agents countrywide – and I am really proud to be part of this profession.”

Van der Walt holds formal tertiary qualifications in town and regional planning, project management and financial management as well as an MBA from Bond University (Australia) specialising in entrepreneurship, business planning and strategy. He also studied advanced strategy at the University of Cape Town.

He has held several leadership positions in business, including chairman and committee member of the Association of Consulting Town and Regional Planners and is currently a director on the national board of the Institute of Estate Agents (IEASA).

Editor: Congratulation on you achievement Mr. Van der Walt

Share your comments with us by sending it to news@cyberprop.com

The areas we are going to take a closer look at this week are;

• Shelley Point
  
• George

SHELLEY POINT POSITIONS ITSELF AS A PREMIER CONFERENCE VENUE

The Shelley Point Hotel, Country Club and Spa on the Cape West Coast will be targeting the conference market to a far greater degree than they have done thus far, said Allan Burgoyne, Dale Capital's resident executive at this 90 hectare resort.

Burgoyne sees conferences contributing 25% or more of the hotel’s turnover by the middle of 2010...

George property market reviving

A revival of George’s property market appears imminent with activity picking up steadily in the popular Garden Route town.

So says Pieter van Rensburg, principal of the local Chas Everitt International franchise, who notes that the local market is “far from dead even now” and that the town is ready for the upswing which he predicts will occur at the beginning of 2010...

The village of Clarens and its immediate surroundings is known for a number of reasons;

• The unique atmosphere and almost European feel to the village.
  
• The characteristic sandstone mountains that stretch from the Golden Gate National Park to the other side of Fouriesburg. The most famous of which is the titanic rock overlooking the Clarens village.
• and many more...

>> View Properties in the Free State
>> View Properties in Clarens

Search for property in your area

Angola's capital Luanda has again been rated the most expensive city in the world for expat workers, followed by Tokyo, according to a survey published Wednesday.

The latest Cost of Living Survey by human resources consultancy ECA International saw Luanda maintain top spot on the world priciest locations for foreigners, while Maseru in the small mountain state Lesotho was the cheapest...

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 property

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:
Eastern Cape Freestate Gauteng Kwazulu Natal Mpumalanga North West Northern Cape Limpopo
Western Cape

To Rent Property:
Eastern Cape Gauteng Kwazulu Natal North West Western Cape

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