Dream holiday or nightmare! An overview of the property time-sharing control act and the vacational ownership
Part 1 This article broadly looks at property time-share and the legislation regulating it. The problems and complaints by consumers trapped in the empty and misleading promises advertised to them by the time-share industry are also addressed. In part one, the article gives a broad outline of what the Property Time-Sharing Control Act entails and […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The importance of property practitioners in the times to come
Many industries are piecing things back together again this year, as they try to recover from the effects of the pandemic or recreate themselves to remain relevant in a changing world. One industry that has been left unaffected to a great extent, and yet has had to re-create itself almost entirely in the same breath, […]
Buying or renting: Has the question finally been answered?
The question of whether renting or buying is the best is almost always in circulation in the real estate industry. While one is affordable in the short term, the other holds more benefits in the long run. In 2020, however, things took a turn, and the answer to the question may be a bit clearer than usual. Historically low […]
Selling your property? There might be some costs you are not aware of
If you are selling property in South Africa, check what costs you have to pay, and if they’re applicable to you. Bond costs Cancellation Costs: This is charged when you cancel your bond after selling your property. They total up to R3 000 or more. Early Settlement Penalty: If your home was recently purchased and […]
Sectional titles: What is the role of the body corporate?
When it comes to sectional title schemes, there is still widespread misunderstanding of even the basics, starting with the body corporate and how it is established, as well as what its functions and powers are. This misunderstanding often gives rise to many problems and disputes in sectional title schemes which could quite easily have been […]
VAT increase and the effect on property transfers and the registration of transfers before and after 1 April 2018.
The increase was announced in the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech on 21 February 2018. The standard rate of VAT will change from 14% to 15% on 1 April 2018 (the effective date). How will this VAT increase affect property transactions, property registrations and estate agent commissions? Question 1: How will the rate increase work […]
Me, my neighbour and that tree
The house was just perfect – the right neighbourhood, well-established garden, beautiful trees waving in the breeze with just the right amount of shade next to your swimming pool. And as the trees belong to your neighbour, no need for pruning, said the estate agent. You and your family loved the new home. Autumn arrived. […]