Will solar power increase the value of your home?

The upfront investment is high, which you’ll want to recover when you sell. Stage 6 loadshedding is now firmly in effect, many South Africans are without power for up to 12 hours each day, and the threat of Stage 8 blackouts looms large on the horizon.  It’s no wonder then that many households are turning […]

How to obtain a home loan: Things to consider before you apply

With most of the major interest rate hikes now out of the way, 2023 is set to provide a more stable environment for financially savvy, would-be home-buyers to enter the property market. While the economic outlook is set to be less turbulent than during the previous year, it’s still vitally important to take charge of […]

Six projected home loan trends for 2023

Looking ahead to what is likely to drive home loans this year Despite challenges of external factors such as ongoing interest rate hikes and rising costs of living, the ongoing demand for home loans remained relatively stable in 2022, slightly down on 2021 volumes, but up on 2020 and 2019 volumes. This sustained demand can […]

Take your homeowner relationship to the next level

Despite the recent interest rate increase, South Africa is still currently in what is deemed a “buyer’s market”, where first-time homebuyers are enjoying the opportunity of entering the property market at a much earlier stage than their financial situations would have allowed in previous years. But it’s precisely the fact that so many homebuyers are […]

The facts of property auctions

Buying and selling properties through auction has always been a staple of the real estate market. And to this day, it remains one of the best ways to purchase properties at bargain prices. Unfortunately, numerous misconceptions around properties that go up for auction also exist, some of which are entirely unfounded and can be easily […]

Can neighbours interfere in building plans?

Disputes between neighbours tend to ensue where an owner decides to build on or renovate their property and the neighbouring owner believes that such building works will have a detrimental effect on their property rights. Neighbours who are disgruntled by the noise nuisance, possible obstruction of an existing view from their property, or the aesthetic features of the building works, […]

Make the property transfer easy by picking the right conveyancer

Since property transfers are some of the highest-value transactions that you may make in your lifetime, it naturally follows that you need to ensure that you don’t let your money go to waste – especially when choosing someone to handle the process for you. Choosing the right conveyancing attorney can save you a lot of headaches down the […]

Become a water-wise household

Having a Wikipedia page dedicated to a years-long national drought is not something any country wishes for. Yet, that is exactly what South Africa has achieved. South Africa has always been a country prone to droughts and has become rather resilient against the threatening heat, but when the rainfall lost its regular pattern across most of the country and almost entirely disappeared in some […]

Find the right home, the first time

Contrary to popular belief, while price is a strong determining factor in whether you are able to afford a home, the property value has little impact on whether you’d be satisfied with your new home. How you experience your new home will depend heavily on a variety of other factors. Once you have a clearly defined budget, here […]

The rising popularity of sectional title ownership

Sectional titles have become a staple in the real estate industry over the past decades. And with all the benefits that come with it, it makes sense. Heightened security, lower insurance costs on buildings and outdoor areas, shared maintenance costs with other owners, becoming part of a community, no cleaning the pool on Saturday mornings — it sounds like any […]