Maintain rental properties well
With the recession only partially behind us and with incomes often no longer rising in line with inflation (or any recognised growth strategy) it can be tempting to landlords to skimp on maintenance – but this is always “fatal” to the long-term value of
30 August 2010Read More .....
More pay to stay on KZN North Coast
The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, and Ballito and Umhlanga in particular, is seeing a growing number of buyers, especially from Gauteng, looking to become permanent residents whilst investors are returning to these areas.
14 July 2010Read More .....
More upmarket units for Jhb CBD
The historic Stuttafords office building will be converted into 133 rental apartments in what is to be the first big residential development in the Johannesburg CBD since the economic downturn.
17 June 2010Read More .....
Making lots of money with conversion rates
Making it easier for a customer to make a buying decision…
31 May 2010Read More .....
Marcus announces rate relief
Johannesburg - The South African Reserve Bank's (Sarb's) monetary policy committee (MPC) has cut the key repo rate by 50 basis points on Thursday, bringing it down to 6.5%, with the prime lending rate dropping to 10%.
25 March 2010Read More .....
Meer huise in metro’s verkoop
Die vraag na primêre wonings in die land se groot metropolitaanse gebiede dryf tans die groei in volume en huispryse.
2 February 2010Read More .....
Make more money for your body corporate
New tax incentive tip for sectional title, share block scheme owners.
3 December 2009Read More .....
Marketing: Video killing all the stars
Is video likely to be the new real estate marketing tool?
20 November 2009Read More .....
Marcus draws plaudits for verve
Johannesburg - Gill Marcus underlined her debut as Reserve Bank governor by saying monetary policy remained "open for discussion" in a speech observers lauded for its blend of openness, transparency and caution.
18 November 2009Read More .....
Marcus shows rate cut caution
Johannesburg - The South African Reserve Bank's (Sarb's) monetary policy committee (MPC) has left the key repo rate unchanged on Tuesday at 7%, leaving the prime lending rate steady at 10.5%
18 November 2009Read More .....
Make sure rates are paid before buying
Regular warnings by spokespeople for the real estate industry about the danger of trying to move into a property on which the rates or the water/services bills have not been paid, have gone unnoticed by many buyers.
11 November 2009Read More .....
Make some instant hot water
Hot water on demand for as long as you want – tankless gas water heating systems are a great way of lowering your monthly electricity bill.
3 November 2009Read More .....
Mortgage advances growth still slowing
Mortgage advances growth by monetary institutions tapered off to 4,8% year-on-year (y/y) in September 2009 (5,6% y/y in August), which was the lowest growth rate since February 2000.
30 October 2009Read More .....
Municipalities overspend on budgets
Municipalities are showing a "poor" ability to accurately plan and spend their budgets, a report on the state of local government in South Africa revealed on Wednesday.
23 October 2009Read More .....
Mahatma Gandhi's old house sold
The buyer intends to preserve the house as a heritage property.
6 October 2009Read More .....
Mauritius-eiendom is gesog onder SA kopers
Suid-Afrikaners koop toenemend eiendom in Mauritius en beleggers het ingeklim in die nuwe La Balise Marina-ontwikkeling op die eiland.
2 October 2009Read More .....
Median house price down 5,2%
The September smoothed data for median house prices yielded a rate of contraction of 5,2% y/y, the same decline as in August, according to the latest Standard Bank House Price house price index released on Thursday.
2 October 2009Read More .....
Make the best property purchase possible
Essential home buying tips.
29 September 2009Read More .....
MONEY MASTER: Make the most from your resale
THE property market is one that has seen highs and lows over the past three years due to the global economic pressures in the market.
25 September 2009Read More .....
Mortgage originators: Why we still need them
Should we allow banks to wean us off home loan consultants?
21 September 2009Read More .....
Muizenberg eyesore sold to local investor
OUT WITH THE OLD Muizenberg local authorities and residents are delighted at the recent sale of the notorious green slum hotel located diagonally across the railway station at 176 Main Road, overlooking False Bay.
15 September 2009Read More .....
Mixed-use project to get Town Centre
Rama City, the new mixed-used development to the north west of Pretoria, will have at its heart a new Town Centre.
9 September 2009Read More .....
Meer huislenings goedgekeur
Johannesburg. – Die afswaai in die huismark is op ’n einde en banke het sedert April vanjaar al hoe meer aansoeke om huislenings goedgekeur.
2 September 2009Read More .....
More signs South Africa's housing market is recovering
FNB's latest stats show property market isn't quite as bad as it was.
2 September 2009Read More .....
Mount a cool media unit!
Take a look at the Muro Media Storage unit, an ingenious customisable flat panel TV and media centre solution with a price tag of almost R6k (US$650).
1 September 2009Read More .....
Mixed-use project springs up in Dbn
The 48 ha Bridge City mixed-use, town centre development is starting to take shape in the north-west of Durban, just off the KwaMashu Highway adjacent to Phoenix Industrial Park.
28 August 2009Read More .....
Measure power use of every device
As of July 2009 everyone in South Africa is paying more per Kilowatt Hour for electricity.
26 August 2009Read More .....
Mixed-use Midrand project launched
A large mixed-use development in Midrand has been launched after all required approvals were given the green light.
25 August 2009Read More .....
Mitchell's Plain to get new project
Construction on Mitchell's Plain's latest housing project will commence later this month.
14 August 2009Read More .....
Marriage contract dictates sale
The marital property regime governing your marriage determines who is required to sign an agreement of sale and the transfer documents in respect of a transfer of immovable property.
13 August 2009Read More .....
More rate cuts 'undesirable'
Johannesburg - The repo rate, the rate at which banks borrow money from the SA Reserve Bank, has been cut by 5.5 percentage points since last year, but some economists reckon we could see it a further 0.5 down this week.
13 August 2009Read More .....
Mboweni boosts your bank balance - for now
Last interest rate cut? Some economists think so.
14 August 2009Read More .....
Mirror, mirror on the wall. . .
Mirrors are excellent things to use for faking what a room often lacks. The illusions of different dimensions and extra light they give to a room make them one of the most versatile forms of decor.
12 August 2009Read More .....
Minder wil huisie by see hê
Johannesburg. - Die pryse van eiendom langs die Suid-Afrikaanse kus, veral dié wat grootliks vir ontspanningsdoeleindes gekoop is, is waarskynlik nou die meeste van alle residensiële eiendom onder druk.
3 August 2009Read More .....
Mortgage originators play an invaluable role
THERE are early signs that the dynamics in the property market have again begun to shift. By no small stretch of the imagination can sellers think the change has come into their favour, but month- on-month property sales figures show buyers are on the sc
31 July 2009Read More .....
Maintaining windows, exterior doors
Any item that gets pushed, pulled and slammed as much as windows and doors in a typical South African home is likely to take a beating over time.
30 July 2009Read More .....
More on pre-paid meters
In this article, which follows on last week's article, where we described the difference between primary prepaid meters and landlord owned sub-meters, we are exploring prepaid metering for sectional title schemes and body corporates.
27 July 2009Read More .....
More rules for foreign homeowners
When they sold their residential properties in South Africa foreign buyers were until recently allowed to repatriate all the funds brought into this country for this purpose - provided that their original Deed of Sale was endorsed to make it clear that t
23 July 2009Read More .....
More money for Joburg property entrepreneurs
Fund manager steps in where bank funding has dried up.
17 July 2009Read More .....
MATCH: "No" to private homes
Shortage of 2010 rooms for soccer fans, but Fifa body rejects home-owners.
17 July 2009Read More .....
Meer skaal af oor finansies
Johannesburg. – Al hoe meer huiseienaars skaal af weens finansiële druk en die laer inkomste-segment van die huismark word die hardste geslaan.
17 July 2009Read More .....
Mining Props Up Lydenburg Prices
In stark contrast to prevailing property market conditions, the Lydenburg property market is positively buoyant.
13 July 2009Read More .....
MPs to live and work in new precinct
THE established South African Irish property company Eurocape, which already owns extensive land in the city, and was responsible for prestigious developments Mandela Rhodes Place and Taj Cape Town Hotel, has announced plans for a mixed-use development i
10 July 2009Read More .....
Mark vir goedkoper huise óók onder druk
Hoewel die druk in die huismark wydverspreid is, ervaar die onderkant van die mark tans die grootste prysdaling in 24 jaar.
8 July 2009Read More .....
Mortgage advances still slowing
Despite the 450 basis points interest rate cut since December, mortgage advances growth is expected to slow down further in the near term on the back of prevailing economic conditions, according to Absa Home Loans property analyst, Jacques du Toit.
2 July 2009Read More .....
More luxury penthouses for Cape Town
Developer says R18m is a more realistic price than R100m
30 June 2009Read More .....
Mastering mosaic
Gone are the days when if you thought of mosaic tiles in the home, your mind would immediately conjure up images of 70s-inspired swimming pools and bathrooms.
29 June 2009Read More .....
Midrand rentals flourish; sales down
The rental market in Midrand has flourished recently in tandem with a tapering off in home buying and the launching of new developments in the area.
26 June 2009Read More .....
More houses to be built on CT erf
A 2,000sqm erf in Upper Claremont on which the Maister residence was built, circa 1938, has been bought developers who will develop another two 400sqm double-storey houses on the northern portion of the erf.
29 June 2009Read More .....
MP's moving to 'SA's Capitol Hill'?
South African parliamentarians vacate Acasia Park due to 5,000 houses being built and occupy their very own Capitol Hill right next to parliament in Cape Town's Roeland Street.
26 June 2009Read More .....
Mix décor and sound the right way
Ludwig van Beethoven once said: "Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life". This may be so, but for the most part, high-tech audio and visual equipment are often at odds with well-compiled interior décor styles.
24 June 2009Read More .....
Minder kom tussen bank en verband
Johannesburg. - Standard Bank het sedert Januarie miljoene rand aan kommissiegeld bespaar deur nie meer die dienste van verbandtussengangers te gebruik nie.
22 June 2009Read More .....
Moot buyers choose older homes
Homebuyers in Pretoria's Moot areas are shunning new developments in favour of pre-owned homes that are more affordable.
19 June 2009Read More .....
Make first impression last
Though halls, stairs and landings are often put last in the decorating stakes, they are usually the first places visitors see. Just a little imagination ensures that they reflect the character of the house at its best.
10 June 2009Read More .....
Major upgrade for Sandton City
Sandton City is expanding and undergoing a major refurbishment, with the first phase of a broader vision to reposition the centre already underway.
5 June 2009Read More .....
Midrand entry-level market surging
The entry-level sector of Midrand's property market is experiencing a spate of recent activity due to buyers seeking to upgrade from the surrounding townships, especially Thembisa.
5 June 2009Read More .....
Mortgage loan growth slumps further
The growth in the country's total mortgage loans outstanding continued its decline in April 10,5% in April, down from 11,3% in March.
29 May 2009Read More .....
Make the most of interest rate cuts
There have been four consecutive interest-rate cuts since December last year.
18 May 2009Read More .....
Montecasino to get big addition
Southern Sun yesterday launched a new development at Gauteng's Montecasino worth R700m.
8 May 2009Read More .....
Mortgage numbers "lowest in 6 years"
More evidence economic woes are taking a heavy toll in the property industry. Stats, graphs...
30 April 2009Read More .....
Minister to SA's housing needs!
Dear Housing Minister (whether you're wearing Jimmy Choo shoes or not),
28 April 2009Read More .....
Moz hotel industry grows by 12% pa
Mozambique is rapidly becoming a magnet for tourists, particularly those from Southern Africa, Europe and the United States.
29 April 2009Read More .....
Many homes not insured against fire
Some 240 fires have broken out in the Greater Cape Town area this year and although these have resulted in the total destruction of only a few homes, many others have been badly damaged.
29 April 2009Read More .....
More affordable housing for CT
Another affordable housing project is planned for Cape Town.
24 April 2009Read More .....
Making sense
To experience the word around us, we use five basic senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. Although we use these every day, we often neglect to include them into our home decor.
28 April 2009Read More .....
Millionaires' row property just became property bargain-hunters' row
Sandhurst property neighbouring R65m home sold for a song.
20 April 2009Read More .....
More tips for sellers
Sellers acceptance of offers to purchase a year or so ago was usually a mere formality with few hitches, but in today's environment, sellers need to be on high alert when entertaining offers to purchase.
15 April 2009Read More .....
March oobarometer shows 4.2% drop
The March oobarometer price index shows a decrease of 4.2% in year-on-year house prices.
9 April 2009Read More .....
Mortgage originators battle to survive
Only 2 in 10 home loans approved, slashed commissions hammer mortgage intermediaries - origination boss.
31 March 2009Read More .....
Mortgage growth slows slightly
February total mortgage advances growth slowed very slightly from 11,93% year-on-year (y/y) in the previous month to 11,86%.
31 March 2009Read More .....
Mixed-use Malakite Park takes green approach
BALWIN Properties is developing the R2bn Malakite Park in Greenstone Hill, which includes 50000m² of AAA-grade offices, a four-star residential hotel, The Malakite, and an upmarket sectional title residential development, Strelitzia, with 376 apartments.
26 March 2009Read More .....
Make occupation arrangements formal
A successful home sale is usually cause for celebration, but a change to the occupational arrangements post-sale can quickly sour relations between buyer and seller.
26 March 2009Read More .....
Making scents
The sense of smell triggers memories far more strongly than any other sense.
24 March 2009Read More .....
Measure, move and maximise!
Home décor and DIY expert JaniceAnderssen says if you need to maximise on space in your townhouse or apartment for even wilder parties, follow the basic element of design for furniture arrangement.
24 March 2009Read More .....
Make sliding door in a day
I have wanted to add a sliding door to my lounge for a few months, but it took me a while to work out the easiest and most affordable way to do it!
23 March 2009Read More .....
More permanent residents in Hermanus
Six years ago, around 45% of Hermanus's population comprised permanent residents, many of whom were retirees.
20 March 2009Read More .....
Mass property auction in PE 18/3
A record number of properties in and around Port Elizabeth will go on auction simultaneously on 18 March and 23 April.
18 March 2009Read More .....
Meeste eiendomsagente duik reeds in hek
Suid-Afrika se multimiljardrand-eiendomsbedryf het reeds 55 000 geregistreerde eiendomsagente verloor as gevolg van verswakkende huismarkomstandighede. Dit lyk of nog duisende eiendomsagente uit die mark gaan val.
12 March 2009Read More .....
Make garden safe for toddlers
It is healthy for children to play outdoors – both physically to get some sunshine, as well as for their development. Gardens are the ideal place for children to play boisterously, explore nature and let off some steam.
3 March 2009Read More .....
Mortgage advances growth slows
The year-on-year (y/y) growth in the value of mortgage advances by monetary institutions (the total net outstanding balance on mortgage loans at these institutions) slowed down to 11,9% in January 2009 from 13,2% in December last year, based on data rele
4 March 2009Read More .....
Make bedroom ready for romance
Home décor and DIY expert Janice Anderssen shows you how to add some romance to your bedroom before you start cuddling during those cold winter months.
2 March 2009Read More .....
