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ABSA Housing Index is the most comprehensive in the country.

 

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Residential building activity contracted in September

In September 2010 levels of activity in the South African residential building and construction sector were down compared with the preceding month, while on an annual basis growth rates also deteriorated. Although growth in a...

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• The South African economy emerged from recession in the second half of 2009,
with real GDP rising at an annualised rate of 0,9% in the third quarter. Positive real
economic growth of 2,5% is forecast for 2010.
• Despite a trend of declining interest rates during the...

THE rand hit a new 13-month peak yesterday, boosted by rising global risk appetite, higher gold prices and a surge in reserves after a 2,17bn shot in the arm from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 

The currency firmed to R7,57/ — its strongest level since August l...

The rand is rallying again. As this is written it has climbed for the sixth consecutive day against the US Dollar and has recently breached the 10 month high against the greenback trading to a high at 7.6711.  This is, in large part, due to a reversal in global risk aversion as investors s...

Jackie Cameron*Starting now with a residential portfolio: lessons from the pros

A few years ago, property was quite simply the sexiest dinner party conversation. Everyone, from your dominee to your domestic worker, wanted a piece of buy-to-let action as residential real estate p...

Global real estate markets appear attractively priced for an investor with a long term horizon, say some property fund managers.

 

According to the July review of the listed property sector by Catalyst Fund Managers, this does not necessarily mean there is value in ever...

There are still many unknowns and the system, while healing, is by no means healed, said Jeremy Gardiner, director at Investec Asset Management on Wednesday.

 

Gardiner noted that it did however look certain that this was a recession and not a depression, and while the...

Intro
There has been a large increase in queries regarding local property from expats living abroad which indicates that South Africa is seeing an increase in the number of expats returning home

 

Is this because of the current economic climate in countries abroad ...

...and a Brief 20 Year History of its Fluctuations:

The most important financial institution in any monetary economy is the central bank. South Africa's central bank is the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), which was established in 1920.

 

There is ongoing demand for rental properties in the Cape Town metropolitan area due to affordability and bond finance issues and all income groups are renting, albeit for different reasons.

 

Pam Golding Properties' (PGP) Western Cape rentals division reports an ongoin...

The Draft 2009 Taxation Laws Amendments contain a proposal that, if enacted, will allow individuals to transfer their domestic residence out of a company or close corporation, for a period of two years, tax-free.

 

The motivation for the proposal was to allow such enti...

Sectional title expert Jennifer Paddock gives a legal perspective on some of the issues raised by readers.

 

A recent newsletter in our complex stated that the Body Corporate will fine an owner if they have to write a letter to you ...

OFFICIALLY in its first recession now since 1992, SA became another formal casualty of the global credit crunch two weeks ago.

 

However, with consumer confidence in the US having improved measurably in recent weeks, South Africans can realistically hope now that the wo...

May oobarometer price index recorded a marginal year-on-year drop in houses prices of 0.5 percent.

 

"The oobarometer continues to reflect declines in year-on-year house prices, but at a slower rate," says Saul Geffen, chief executive of ooba. "We believe that the rece...

Tito Mboweni, the SA Reserve bank governor has been labelled a man with 2 faces, not by choice, purely by the public’s perceptions on his actions taken to help our ailing economy. He has been seen in a very negative light with the past rate hikes, but with the 5th consecutive rate cut, Ti...

A Zuma Presidency could surprise with some remarkably positive outcomes during its period of office.

 

Here follows a modest attempt at short-listing a few obvious outcomes to look out for, this in addition to any gains or losses from new policy emphasis, direction or ...

Rentals in the City Bowl area of Cape Town are escalating rapidly as strict bank lending protocols take the wind out of potential buyers' sails.

 

So says Yazid Khan, letting agent for the Chas Everitt International franchise, who notes that many of those keen to buy p...

With the 2010 Soccer World Cup drawing closer, there's much debate as to the real spin-offs this major event will have for South Africa.

 

Comments Dr Andrew Golding, CE of the Pam Golding Property group: "While we are now in the run-up to this event, as we start approa...

Johannesburg - The need for accommodation will continue to force customers to rent, Redcon Property Development said on Monday.

 

Despite the anticipated decrease in interest rates over a period of time, this would not provide sufficient funds for a deposit on a home, ...

Johannesburg - While a 100 basis-point cut in South Africa's repo rate on Thursday went according to the script, a senior economist told I-Net Bridge that gloomy views on the economy by the central bank may see deeper-than-expected rate cuts.

 

Economist from Nedbank, ...

The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that registered voters living overseas can vote for the National Assembly in the April 22 elections.

They must notify the chief electoral officer of their intention to vote by March 27, the court ordered.

 

Handing ...

With just over 40 days till elections, the 2009 elections are by far the most important elections South Africa has faced since that of the 1994 elections. The country has seen 30 political parties register to contest the April 22 provincial and national elections today.

 

For many the idea/concept of buying a house is a complex and time consuming process, a process that can be tedious, long winded, expensive and emotionally draining. For many, they couldn’t be more wrong if they tried…

 

Here at IPS we pride ourselves in an e...

We've seen a 1 percent cut in SA's repo rate, the biggest single cut since 2003, bringing the rate down to 10.5%. Further cuts are
expected either at the next MPC meeting or possibly sooner. That's positive news for consumers and borrowers in SA and if we do
see a further two percent ...

Every city needs a snappy one-word handle to pull in the tourists and the investors. So, when you think of Paris, you think of love; when y...

The inauguration of Morgan Tsvangirai as the Prime Minster of Zimbabwe is the latest in a series of events set to have a positive effect on the residential property market within the next few months.

 

"We are already seeing signs of recovery in the market, including mo...

South Africa's targeted headline CPI inflation slowed to 8.1 percent year-on-year in January but was above forecasts, although this was unlikely to dim expectations of an early interest rate cut.

 

Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday that inflation slowed from 9.5...

Banks are repossessing fewer houses and cars, debt counselling organisation Consumer Assist said on Monday.

 

"Banks, which at one stage were repossessing 10 to 20 houses are now rethinking that strategy because they have realised that unoccupied houses don't sell quic...

Real estate and tax experts size up this week’s budget and what it means for property players.

Real estate and tax experts size up this week's budget and what it means for property players.

 

It came as no surprise to Romeo Makhubela, chief invest...

The latest figures from Absa Homeloans indicate clearly that in 2008 house price growth slowed noticeably in all price categories and across most of South Africa – but the overall picture is nowhere near as bleak as many property watchers would have us think.

 

T...

Globally, economic policymakers have shown tremendous aggression for
some time, such as the Fed expansion of its balance sheet, the dramatic
drop in interest rates near zero and many governments guaranteeing their
bank systems or parts thereof.

 

Governme...

The Gautrain, currently under construction at a cost of R3m an hour, is poised to change not only the commuting habits of thousands of Gauteng residents but also where they choose to live and play.

 

According to Realty 1 International Property Group principals in and a...

Plans to develop a massive mixed-use precinct at Lanseria International Airport, which is to be at least three times the size of the Sandton central business district, were unveiled in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

 

Cradle City, as the project is known, will comprise abou...

The SA property industry's executives overwhelmingly approved of the Budget that was announced on Thursday, but there are also certain reservations.

 

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel is to be lauded for encouraging banks to extend credit to worthy customers as it has bec...

The lights have dimmed in Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium and now the spotlight is swinging south to focus on South Africa as it prepares for the world's next huge sporting extravaganza – the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

"This event, less than two years away, will draw an estim...

A whopping 47% of first time buyers and 36% of all owners of property registered at the Deeds Office in SA are black – an increase of 63,4% in the past 10 years.

 

But, says Kura Chihota, executive director of the Leapfrog Property Group, this might be giving the ...

The residential property market shows some positive signs, says FNB in its survey of business confidence among estate agents.

 

The latest findings from the latest FNB Residential Property Barometer show that while some positive signs are starting to emerge in the Sout...

Well the last 6 months has certainly been a very interesting period globally when it comes to interest rates. Most of the Western World has an economic policy of ‘Inflation Targeting” where there is a single mandate to their countries reserve bank to keep inflation within a band. Th...

South Africans abroad should be allowed to vote, the Pretoria High Court ruled on Monday.

 

Handing down judgment, Acting Judge Piet Ebersohn ruled that the current legislation infringed on the rights of South Africans living abroad.

 

The cou...

The South African property market has been halted by the rising of interest rates for the last 24 months, the NCA and now the global markets. In fact South Africa is the last major economy to aggressively drop interest rates in the face of the global situation! However in the last 6 months oil ...

Some say it’s the worsening weather conditions, others say it’s the new 5 tiered working holiday debacle, others say it’s the global economic crisis, but I think its safe to say no matter the reason, South Africans are returning home in their droves.

Possibly t...

With its assertive dominance in the United Kingdom, Australia, Dubai, International Property Solutions has decided to tighten its grip on the South African market with its recent opening of its Cape Town office.

 

Johannesburg was the first office to be opened in South...

Early in January the markets were spooked by the release of the ANC’s 2009 Election Manifesto. The document was badly received as investors deemed the Manifesto a shift to the left by the ANC. With an emphasis on welfare and benefits, social security provision, infrastructure investment a...

The latest FNB Residential Property Barometer on Monday revealed that while some positive signs are starting to emerge in the South African housing market, the global economic
crisis keeps the 2009 outlook uncertain.

 

The overall indicator of the FNB Residential ...

South African homebuyers can be grateful that they have been spared the direst consequences of the global credit crisis.

 

So says Bill Rawson, chairman of Rawson Properties, who has recently been in discussions with a leading UK mortgage banker, and admits that what he...

The rand’s recovery from the very recent lows reached on October 22nd has been sharp and impressive. The road ahead remains rocky though and there are various factors that could still shake the foundations and send the rand reeling again,
though perhaps not quite to the same levels.<...

What is the best area to buy in? Do I buy in an existing area and pay premium, or do I buy in an up and coming area with room for capital growth? These are the questions many investors and first time buyers are faced with when embarking on their first property purchase.

 

2008 has been heralded as a buyer’s market, the return of the Year of Good Bargains. To quote the great oil magnet John Paul Getty, “I buy when other people are selling”, this quote is possibly one of the simplest yet profound quotes that is perfectly applicable to where South...

JOHANNESBURG (December 01) - A new measurement for living costs that starts in January could make South Africans “shed our obsession with house price and its delusions of wealth’” says Andrew Schaefer, MD of national property managers Trafalgar, in a company media release.

CAPE TOWN - The last few months have clearly shown that South Africa is not protected from or immune to the global financial problems and this has implications for the property market.

 

Much has been said about how we are not too badly affected by the sub-prime crisis ...

Standard Bank's latest data for median house prices shows that values are up 13% compared to November last year - but the bank has cautioned that this is because fewer lower-priced properties are selling, not because houses increased in value.

 

The data, and the bank's...

By Cees Bruggemans, Chief Economist FNB
03 December 2008
 

The local interest rate debate still seems to be mired in the idea of having no December cut as opposed to perhaps having a 0.5% cut.

 

But what if the SARB is preparing a surprise for n...

‘The art of estimation as being worthless’. That’s the definition I’ve always been given for the title word of this article. Normally it’s a cheap bar trick to bang this word out, now it has a place. In the present global economic climate estimation is worthless an...

Johannesburg - South Africa has performed well in a survey of the best cities for business in the developing world.

 

The project, funded by MasterCard, indentified cities with the highest potential for commercial activity.

 

South Africa has m...

 

It is hoped the deal will ease access to markets within the region and end problems arising ...

 

South Africa's rand recouped some of its losses against the dollar on Wednesday, while stocks also turned positive after the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank...

Most of you would have noticed the furor surrounding Thabo Mbeki’s recall last week. His removal from office has left many foreigners, and some South Africans concerned for the future of our country, and some are saying that the election by Parliament of our new president in the last week...

South African house prices rose on an annual basis for the first time in seven months in September as changes to lending laws distorted the data, said Standard Bank Group Ltd., Africa's biggest lender.

 

House prices advanced 3.6 percent last month from a year ago, aft...

In real life, disastrous events cannot be prevented by going back in time, and do things differently, thereby preventing the disastrous
outcome from coming about.

 

We cannot go back to the morning of 911 and prevent people from boarding planes that would then be u...

As global markets churn investors' stomachs, South African property investors are feeling pretty smug

It was a hell of a week on Wall Street, with reverberations across financial markets. The seemingly-unshakeable Lehman Brothers collapsed and AIG, one of the world's largest in...

Imagine that you’re floating in a hot air balloon looking down at the picture-perfect world and then suddenly the atmosphere
disappears and you’re crashing to earth. That’s what the markets have gone through in the last two weeks. I suspect that by
the time you read ...

South Africa has shelved legislation designed to speed up a land reform programme by allowing the government to expropriate white-owned farms.

A parliamentary committee blamed a lack of consultation and said it aimed to re-introduce the Bill at a later date.