Understanding Homeowners Associations (HOAs)
If you are considering buying a property in a housing development, it’s essential to understand what a Homeowners Association (HOA) is and how it operates. HOAs are legal entities responsible for managing and regulating housing development schemes. Although homeowners own their individual properties, the HOA maintains and oversees communal infrastructure, such as roads, security systems, […]
Responsibility to maintain and repair foundations and boundary walls in a sectional title scheme
This article will briefly consider the definitions of common property vis-à-vis sections in terms of the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act 8 of 2011 in order to establish who must maintain what in sectional title scheme developments. Many residential developments in South Africa are established in terms of South Africa’s sectional title scheme legislation. Residents […]
Will-stipulated purchase option: Are there transfer duty impacts?
Any person drawing up a last will and testament, and who intends to include an option to purchase any of their properties, should be aware of the transfer duty implications such provision might bring forth. This article intends on discussing the beforementioned implications at the hands of the case of Secretary for Inland Revenue v Estate […]
Exercise of rights and obligations under a praedial servitude
A servitude is a limited real right which entitles its holder either to the use and enjoyment of another person’s property or to insist that such other person shall refrain from exercising certain entitlements following from his or her right of ownership over and in respect of his or her property which he or she […]
Exercise of rights and obligations under a praedial servitude
A servitude is a limited real right which entitles its holder either to the use and enjoyment of another person’s property or to insist that such other person shall refrain from exercising certain entitlements following from his or her right of ownership over and in respect of his or her property which he or she […]
Rate hikes: Are buyers over-reacting?
Historically, interest rate hikes have had a dampening effect on the South African residential property market, with homeowners reassessing their affordability in anticipation of higher monthly loan repayments. The resultant reduction in home loan applications immediately following an interest rate hike is a reaction from buyers who are hesitant to make a long-term commitment until […]
Softening the rate hike blow
Ways to reduce your monthly home loan repayments and other costs Cost-cutting is on many people’s minds, as prices rise, and affordability becomes stretched. While potential homeowners continue to benefit from attractive interest rates due to heightened competition between the banks, what are the cost-saving options available to existing homeowners? The reality is that the […]
What happens to your deposit if the home sale falls through?
It depends on which party is responsible. It’s every home buyer’s worst nightmare. You find your dream home; your offer is accepted; and you pay a deposit—only for the sale to fall through before the property is transferred into your name. The question now is, where does this leave your hard-earned deposit? The answer depends […]
Rate hikes: Are buyers over-reacting?
Historically, interest rate hikes have had a dampening effect on the South African residential property market, with homeowners reassessing their affordability in anticipation of higher monthly loan repayments. The resultant reduction in home loan applications immediately following an interest rate hike is a reaction from buyers who are hesitant to make a long-term commitment until […]
5 questions to get your homeowner relationship right
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 […]