Latest News
SA monthly mortgage advances continue to decline -
General News
-
December 2008
(December 01) - Mortgage advances for October continue to decline in year-on-year growth from 16,6% in September to 16,1% in October according to data released by the South African Reserve Bank today.
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Property Ladder - June 2008
Absa expects housing market to slow further -
Property Newsletter
-
June 2008
(June 01) -The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) hiked the key policy rate, the repo rate, by 50 basis points to 12%, prompting banks to raise their prime and mortgage rates to 15,5%. Interest rates have been hiked by a cumulative 500 basis points since mid-2006.
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Alternative materials make building sense -
Property Newsletter
-
June 2008
(June 01) -
Building packages that offer buyers homes built with alternatives to traditional bricks and mortar are gaining popularity because of cost savings.
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Building Blunders - Property Newsletter - June 2008
(June 01) -
I often joke that we could write a delightfully humorous book based on true life short stories of building and renovating nightmares.
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Herbs for Souper Soups - Property Newsletter - June 2008
(June 01) -One of the best things about winter is that it is the season for soup. Soup is the most improvisation-friendly food in the world and it can also be a cure for the common cold.
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Property Ladder - May 2008
Residential property market slumps -
Property Newsletter
-
May 2008
(May 01) -
The FNB Residential Property Barometer for the first quarter 2008 showed a continuing decline in activity levels in the major South African metropolitan areas, as anticipated by property professionals around the country.
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Make your home loan work for you.-
Property Newsletter
-
May 2008
(May 01) -Now is really the time to tighten those purse strings with increased food prices, petrol hikes and proposed electricity tariff increases - but it may also be the right time for a long term saving’s plan.
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Decorating for a warm winter -
Property Newsletter
-
May 2008
(May 01) -Most of us plan for winter by bringing out all our winter woollies, jerseys and jackets that have been hanging around in a spare cupboard, or we rush off to the shops to buy new winter outfits.
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Damage to Sectional Title property -
Property Newsletter
-
May 2008
(May 01) - Be aware of exactly what insurance cover is held by your Body Corporate in a Sectional Title Scheme so you do not end up liable for damages.
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Choosing a tree for a small property -
Property Newsletter
-
May 2008
(May 01) - Choosing the most suitable trees for your property is probably one of the most important gardening decisions you will ever make. When it comes to shrubs, it is much easier to remedy a poor choice or badly positioned plant.
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Property Ladder - April 2008
Bad Debt Could Dominate 2008 -
Property Newsletter
-
April 2008
(April 01) - According to the National Credit Regulator more than 6.3 million South Africans have bad credit records. This figure could increase as prices spiral, fuel, food, interest rates, increased electricity tariffs will all place a huge burden on the consumers monthly budget.
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Investigate Below the Surface -
Property Newsletter
-
April 2008
(April 01) - Buying a home is risky business. After a lengthy search, you have found the perfect house in the right suburb but neglected to investigate what lies beneath the surface.
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South African Residential Property in the Red -
Property Newsletter
-
April 2008
(April 01) - The Standard Bank median house price index recorded a growth rate of -5.2% y/y in March. Affordability and valuation measures for South African residential property yield a broadly similar and consistent picture that provides some explanation with respect to the current state of the South African residential property market.
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April in the Garden -
Property Newsletter
-
April 2008
(April 01) - As the days get cooler and the green starts to fade from leaves and lawn, we become aware that autumn is upon us. Make the most of the cooler weather to get organised for spring.
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Property Ladder - February 2008
( Almost ) Glittering again!-
Property Newsletter
-
February 2008
(February 01) - Pretoria’s residential stability is what Johannesburg aspires to, but has yet to reach as a brief glance at the average price of sectional title flats in Berea, a near equivalent suburb to Pretoria’s Sunnyside, will attest.
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Standard bank anticipates rate cut in fourth quarter -
Property Newsletter
-
February 2008
(February 01) - The Standard Bank median house price index for January recorded growth of 0,0% year-on-year for the second consecutive month, according to the bank’s Residential Property Gauge released today.
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Getting the best price -
Property Newsletter
-
February 2008
(February 01) - A little over a year ago, buying and selling property was simple. But now things are different with the increasing bond rates and the deteriorating confidence in the property market, house prices are expected to remain flat.
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Summery salad herbs -
Property Newsletter
-
February 2008
(February 01) - Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum) has fragrant leaves that can just be added whole to leafy or tomato based salads. For a continuous supply, plant a new crop every six to eight weeks.
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Property Ladder - December 2007
Higher interest rates will further subdue house price growth
-
Property Newsletter
-
December 2007
(December 01) - The Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) yesterday’s hiking of the repo rate by a further 50 basis points to 11%, has prompted banks into raising their prime and mortgage rates to 14,5%.
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Rates increases could reach 400% -
Property Newsletter
-
December 2007
(December 01) - Sectional title homeowners will have to be rated at between 25% and 40% of ordinary residential owners, or their rates will go up by as much 400% more than they paid before the Rates Act was applied.
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Property Ladder - November 2007
Another Interest rate hike before the year's out?
-
Property Newsletter
-
November 2007
(November 01) - T
he Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni announced a 50 basis point increase in the repo rate to 10.5 percent on Thursday, 11 October and Banks did not hesitate to follow suit by raising the prime interest rates to 14%.
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Market activity at its lowest, comments FNB -
Property Newsletter
-
November 2007
(November 01) - Although activity in the residential property market has increased marginally in 3Q07, for the first time in 2007, the level of activity is still at its lowest (excluding immediate post NCA measure).
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Get your tax house in order before buying or selling property -
Property Newsletter
-
November 2007
(November 01) - If you are planning to buy a property, make sure your tax affairs are in order - and make sure you have an exit route from the deal if any other party is not up to date with his taxes.
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Checklist for tenants -
Property Newsletter
-
November 2007
(November 01) - Before signing a lease agreement there are certain important and sometimes forgotten items that should be taken into careful consideration.
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Companion planting in organic gardening -
Property Newsletter
-
November 2007
(November 01) -
Let your flowers socialize!
The practice of companion planting is to create harmony in the garden.
Plants which complement each other are placed together, while those that disagree are kept apart.
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Property Ladder - October 2007
Applying for a home loan - Do you qualify? -
Property Newsletter
-
October 2007
(October 01) - Since the implementation of the National Credit Act, banks will qualify you for a home loan based on the total net disposable income you have available.
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Who maintains sectional title unit? -
Property Newsletter
-
October 2007
(October 01) - Sectional Title home-owners
are often confused as to the
responsibilities regarding the maintenance
of their unit and unsure when to call upon the body corporate for help.
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Sub-prime impact not over yet -
Property Newsletter
-
October 2007
(October 01) - The
turmoil stemming
from the
US sub-prime property loan market
and
tighter credit
will have a
"far-reaching" impact
on the
world economy
, the
International Monetary Fund
said on Monday.
Read More
'Little or no growth' forecast for JHB house prices -
Property Newsletter
-
October 2007
(October 01) - Home price escalations in Johannesburg have come to a virtual standstill and owners should expect little or no growth for the next 12 months.
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Planting around pools -
Property Newsletter
-
October 2007
(October 01) - Many swimming pools areas suffer from inadequate planning in terms of trees, shrubs and flowers that are suitable for planting near and around the pool perimeter.
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General News - September 2007
Beware: New hidden tax in property deals
-
General News
-
September 2007
(September 17) -
Buyers, estate agents and lawyers must dip into own pockets for hefty tax when sellers run from Sars. What you need to know...
Buyers, estate agents
and
lawyers
will
be made to pay tax
for
sellers who skip the country without paying their dues
to the
South African Revenue
Service (Sars).
Read More
Bracing for a global property shock -
General News
-
September 2007
(September 12) - Is South Africa immune to
international property crisis
? What the experts say…
A few months ago, few in South Africa had heard of the United States' sub-prime market. Now it's entered the national lexicon as an increasing number of news reports point to trouble for US property owners.
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Joburg's new gold belt -
General News
-
September 2007
(September 12) -
Want to make big money in
property
?
Buy near
Gautrain
or where it’s busiest – expert.
Whether you love or hate the idea of the vastly expensive Gautrain that’s set to cut through the nation’s busiest region, don’t ignore it from a property perspective.
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Property market pinch to relax next year - FNB -
General News
-
September 2007
(September 18) -Cape Town - An extended slowdown in the
residential property market
,
based on a soft global landing
, was expected in the near term as the National Credit Act (NCA) bit on top of increased interest rates,
First National Bank (FNB) strategist
John Loos
said yesterday.
Read More
Property Ladder - September 2007
Homeowners struggling to sell their property
-
Property Newsletter
-
September 2007
(September 01) - Pretoria - Three out of four residential properties are now being sold for less than the asking price and the average time a home remains on the market before it is sold has increased from eight to 10 weeks.
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Interest Rates and Property -
Newsletter
-
September 2007
(September 01) - The rising trend in interest rates since mid-2006 caused the debt servicing cost of households to increase to about 9.5% of disposable income in the first quarter of 2007.
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Major Facelift for JHB -
Property Newsletter
-
September 2007
(September 01) -
Plans in pipeline for high-rise blocks in posh neighbourhoods
One of the biggest urban-planning changes in the city of Joburg's history is looming, with spacious suburbs possibly having to make way for giant apartment and office blocks.
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Spring into a new herb year -
Property Newsletter
-
September 2007
(September 01) - It is time to get active in the herb garden. The garden centres are full of lush and healthy plants that are just begging to be taken home.
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Property Ladder - August 2007
The National Credit Act and you the consumer -
Property Newsletter
-
August 2007
(August 01) - With high house prices, increased interest rates and now The National Credit Act (NCA) – Can you still get onto the property ladder?.
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Rentals to rise substantially over the next decade -
Property Newsletter
-
August 2007
(August 01) - The rise in South African residential rents is picking up steadily, driven particularly by the powering ahead of Johannesburg and East London, according to the latest Trafalgar property index..
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Voetstoots – What does it mean? -
Property Newsletter
-
August 2007
(August 01) - Voetstoots means: ‘as it stands’. There are two kinds of defects which relate to property. A latent defect is a defect which is hidden or which is not visible or apparent.
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Paint it Perfect -
Property Newsletter
-
August 2007
(August 01) - Painting your home can be a very daunting experience, especially if you are not one of those DIY people! In fact, you only realize how little you know about it until the fateful day you decide your cream walled lounge has passed its sell-by date and it’s time to add some colour.
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Grass Glorious Grass -
Property Newsletter
-
August 2007
(August 01) - Ornamental grasses are becoming increasingly popular in urban landscapes. Considering their versatility and their unique, eye-catching beauty, this is not really surprising.
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