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How not to lose your house

Your first call after retrenchment should be to the holder of your mortgage
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Sectional title properties in demand: Pam Golding

Sectional title properties remain popular in Gauteng because of the many advantages this form of property ownership offers, John Herbst, national sales executive at Pam Golding Properties says.

Pay attention to occupational rent clause in offer to purchase

The juggling act required by both buyers and sellers of properties when it comes to moving in and how much occupational rent to charge, is a tricky one.

Property news & opinion

Residential property market deflating: Absa

The average value of homes in the South African residential property market is deflating and if the trend continues, nominal and real price deflation for the year is a strong possibility, Absa said on Wednesday.

Spike in February building plans

The real value of building plans completed as reported by larger municipalities rose by 3.4% year on year in February, according to Statistics SA data released on Thursday.
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Rebosis reported headline profits of 46.09 cents per linked unit

Rebosis Property Fund, the first black-managed and substantially black-held property fund to list on the JSE, on Wednesday reported headline profits of 46.09 cents per linked unit for the six months ended February.

Non-listed commercial property still under strain

Although reports indicate a dramatic improvement in SA's commercial property industry, gains are limited to listed property funds, Gary Palmer, CEO of asset-backed lender, Paragon Lending Solutions said on Tuesday.

Acceleration in house price growth in Q1: FNB

There was an acceleration in house price growth in almost all segments of the market when segmented by room number and title deed in the first quarter of 2012, says John Loos, Household Sector and Property Strategist at FNB.

Fifth consecutive month of house price growth:ooba

Property prices showed positive year-on-year growth of 1.6% in March, as well as positive month-on-month growth of 0.7%, making this the fifth consecutive month ooba has recorded an increase in residential property prices.

SA house price growth highest in Western Cape

The average house price growth in the Western Cape continued to outstrip that of other regions in the first quarter of 2012, according to FNB's property barometer.

Black auctioneers come to the fore

Tirhani Property Auctions will sell two premier properties in Cape Town next month.

Buying into another country

Property experts warn of pitfalls involved in trying to obtain foreign residence

House prices may rise 6% as trading improves

Despite expectations of slower global and local economic growth this year, house prices are expected to rise 6%, compared with 3,2% last year, thanks to a general improvement in trading conditions.

Sandton CBD leads office market recovery: Rode

There are early indications that the grade-A office market might be staging a recovery, Rode's Report on the SA Property Market for the first quarter of 2012 indicates.

SA property counters record growth

Over the past six weeks, nine counters, which make up over 60% of the R155 billion SA listed property sector, reported results for the six-month period to December 2011.

Atterbury launches R25bn Waterfall Business Estate

Atterbury Property Group on Wednesday launched its Waterfall Business Estate - the 1.6 million square metre mixed-use commercial development.

SA property recovery fails to take off in 2011

SA's commercial real estate market maintained modest growth over 2011, producing a 10.4% total return, according to the South African Property Owners Association/Investment Property Databank (IPD) SA Property Index.

Rise in number of foreigners buying SA homes

SA home sellers can now expect to see more foreign buyers in the market once again - although this time around most will probably be looking for permanent residences close to business centres rather than holiday homes.
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Changing the landscape of construction

Skills development in South African business may need more women in order to be truly diverse. A prime example would be the likes of Roxy Ross, one of thousands of small business owners in South Africa who contribute to employment and development in South Africa.

Property price growth will be 'lacklustre'

House price growth will be lacklustre in 2012, Steven Barker, Standard Bank's head of home loans, says.

SA property market solid on global index

You may be worried about sluggish growth in the value of the property you own, but, by comparison with other key markets around the world, South African property has put in a fairly solid performance.

It's still a good time to buy a house

The affordability of housing should remain favourable this year, given declines in real house prices and the prospect of flat interest rates.
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New windows opening in housing market

State shifting from RDP houses to variety of affordable homes, writes Thabang Mokopanele

House price growth continues

According to ooba's latest statistics, property prices in February showed positive year-on-year growth of 4.3%.

The accrual system and widowhood

Antenuptial contract has estate implications. Among the variety of antenuptial contracts designed to apportion a couple's assets at the dissolution of a marriage, the accrual system has become popular for its apparent fairness in its view of how spouses accumulate financial wealth before and after they get married.
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Buy-to-let buying remains in the doldrums

The buy-to-let market remains in the doldrums and rental inflation directionless, and may remain so for some time.

Tolling set to affect property decisions

The proposed tolling of the freeways around Johannesburg is expected to have a negative influence on the property market, with companies taking into account the possible effect of tolls in their choice of location.

Auction Alliance CEO quits

The Board of Auction Alliance has agreed that Rael Levitt will step down as its CEO, pending the outcome of the independent investigation into allegations of racketeering.
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Top homes under the hammer

There are fantastic properties due for auction in the next month that are sure to appeal to investment buyers, writes Michelle Swart

Property market in uncertain environment: expert

The macro economic climate presented in this years' National Budget suggests that the South African property market will in the next year continue to trade in an environment characterised by uncertain and subdued economic growth, according to property economist, Prof Francois Viruly.

‘Children’s rights vital’ when seizing property

Children have a separate interest in forfeiture proceedings based on their rights enshrined in the constitution, and their interests ought not to be absorbed or equated with those of their parents as the owners of the property, the Centre for Child Law said in papers to be presented to the Constitutional Court next month.

News for bonds is potential duration increase

Despite the better deficits announced in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget on Wednesday, in terms of local market financing, there are small changes to domestic bond issuance plans, says BarclaysCapital.

Savings incentives could revive housing market

Rudi Botha, CEO of SA's largest bond originator BetterBond, says this year's Budget Speech will not only further stimulate housing demand, but will also increase the ability of home seekers to qualify for housing finance.

Auction Alliance commissions probe into claims

The Board of Directors of Auction Alliance announced on Wednesday that it has commissioned an investigation by an independent company into allegations that have been leveled against the firm in recent weeks.

Listed property 'lacks value' for investors

JSE-listed property funds are overpriced at current levels as a result of a strong run in this sector in recent years, according asset manager, RE:CM.

WBH Ovcon 6 month headline earnings down 19.5%

Construction group, Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon says revenues increased by 16.5% to R8.4 billion for the six months ended December 2011, from R7.2 billion in 2010.

December jump in plans passed should boost construction

The jump in building plans passed in December signalled improved confidence in the construction sector, Econometrix economist Manqoba Madinane said on Thursday.

Fourth quarter buildings completed soar 35.2% q/q saa

The real value of buildings completed in the fourth quarter soared by 35.2% quarter on quarter (q/q) at a seasonally adjusted annualised (saa) rate, indicating a turnaround for the embattled construction industry, which is a major job provider for low-skilled workers.

House price growth strong in January - ooba

Residential property prices rose 6.7% in January, compared with corresponding period last year, according to bond originator, ooba.

'Insure homes for rebuild cost'

The price gap between building a new home and buying an existing one reached a record level at the end of 2011 following steep rises in the costs of labour and materials.

Developers slowly re-entering property market

Although residential property developers still find it difficult to get loans from banks, which now prefer sustainable income to service loans, some are still entering the market.

'Infrastructure demand at all-time high globally'

As major urban areas strain to support rapidly growing populations adequately, the need for infrastructure globally is at an all-time high, according to KPMG's 2012 Global Construction Survey released on Thursday.

Wilson Bayly reports a decline in earnings

Construction group Wilson Bayly Homes-Ovcon Limited advised on Thursday that for the six months ended 31 December 2011 its results will show a 7.5% to 12.5% decline in earnings per share and a 17.5% to 22.5% decline in headline earnings compared to the comparative period.

Call for longer terms on commercial bonds

In order for banks to expand their markets and become more profitable, they will have to increase commercial bonds from relatively short periods of usually 10 or 12 years to 15 and 20 years, according to Jason Lee, who heads Rawson Properties’ new commercial franchise division.

Further deflation in real terms: Absa Home Loans

House prices, in real terms, i.e. after adjustment for the effect of inflation, are set to deflate further in 2012, based on expected low nominal price growth and headline consumer price inflation to remain above the 6% level according to Absa Home Loans.