Blog posts filed under Property Advice

Even though there was growth within the property market, it has relatively slowed down and this factor has contributed the affordability of property across the income spectrum.

Western Cape, playground for the rich, has seen much attention from international and local investors alike.

The gap between building and buying was 19.4% for the first quarter 2013. The gap is narrowing but this is a gradual as the growth in property currently.

Property value is governed by a few fixed factors. Here are some of the factors which influence the value of your property investment.

Property maintenance is good investment practice as it enhances the attractiveness of the property and increases interest when the property goes on sale.

It is always wise to be clear about what kind of investment you need or what the property will be used for. Will it be a holiday destination or purely an investment property?

With interest rates low, the affordability of property has improved. Within the current climate both selling and buying is acceptable.

Pretoria east is fast becoming a shoppers- and investors haven. With the advent of the major development being undertaken with Nedbank as funding partners for this monumental project, the east of Pretoria could experience an upsurge in property value.

Investing in a Retirement property, in my view, makes sound financial sense. When you retire you do not have the convenience of an annual increase in salary. The cost of living is guaranteed to increase and a safe way to counter this inflation is by investing in retirement property.

Your lifestyle and pocket are indeed determining factors when you are wanting to invest in property. Here are 10 Tips to consider in finding the correct property to match YOU.

Buying property to rent is not an investment prospect that should be entered into blindly. There are many risks and pitfalls. Here are 10 facts to consider before you entertain this idea as an investment opportunity.

When you are in the process of buying property it is advisable to know exactly what you need in the property.

There are more benefits to owning a property rather than renting a property.

Banks in South Africa ensure that the interest rates on home loans are as competitive as possible – while there is a limit to how low they can ‘discount’ interest rate offerings. For home buyers ‘shopping’ around for the best available home loan product it does pay to remember this when considering where to apply for financing for your home.

Sellers need to consider the impact the prevailing economic climate will have on the sale of their property. It is, however, a general rule of thumb in real estate is that the right property at the right price will sell at any time. As a seller you may be able to help the process along by listing your house in the summer months. This is because the real estate market tends to see a higher level of interest and activity from buyers from October and on towards the end of the year. The last part of the year is for many people often accompanied by salary hikes, annual bonuses and the decision to upscale or downscale their lifestyles for the upcoming New Year.

The process of transferring property can be both onerous and costly, and many sellers – and buyers – are ill-prepared for this vast amount of paperwork. It is thus vitally important that before you sign that sales agreement you are aware of how the transfer process works as well as the implications this will have on your budget.

In part one we dealt with the first 14 ‘need-to-know’ terms in the world of property purchase or sales from ‘amortising loan’ to ‘gearing’. It can be daunting if one doesn’t understand the processes and terminology involved in real estate transactions, so we’ve tried to explain some of the most common terms as simply as possible.

In the world of real estate there are often words and terms that come up in the process of buying or selling property that may seem unintelligible to the average person. Here is a list of common terminology you will come across as well as the simplest explanations and definitions.

As one of the southern suburbs of Cape Town, Rondebosch is bordered by the suburbs of Rosebank, Rondebosch East, Claremont, Newlands and the breath-taking slopes of Devil’s Peak. Predominantly a residential suburb, Rondebosch also offers residents a shopping zone and small business district. The suburb is best known as an entertainment hub and for its vibrancy and bustling vibe due to the University of Cape Town’s proximity.

Yesterday we looked at the first two steps that are involved in the purchase of a property, namely the signing of the Offer to Purchase contract and the role that the bond originator plays in obtaining finance for the mortgage. Following that the next five steps are involved in buying and registering a property.

Generally, most people’s biggest long-term debt will be their home loan. And while property prices may fluctuate randomly, you do have control over which home loan you choose to finance the purchase of your house. It is imperative that you select the loan with the options and benefits that suit your needs and your pocket the best.

It’s easy to get confused and overwhelmed when confronted with the myriad of financial terms that get thrown around when talking about property as investment or the property market in general. To make things a little easier for you, here is a glossary of expressions explained as simply as possible. It is important to educate oneself so you can make wise, sensible and informed decisions about the long-term investment of property.

When taking out bond financing on your home, you are essentially paying off two loans – not just one. The first loan pays off the capital amount borrowed and the second pays off the interest on that capital amount. Thus, a massive chunk of your monthly bond repayment goes towards paying off the interest, and more often than not the amount you pay back at the end of the loan period may equal or exceed the initial cost of the property. This is because the interest on your home loan accumulates interest of its own – the principle known as compound interest.

When tenants find themselves at the end of their lease period, they often expect to get their full deposit back when they leave. This is especially the case when the tenant has left the property clean, neat and free of any impairment. But, landlords will often retain their deposits because they feel that repairs need to be made to the property.

Before you start looking at online or newspaper ads for a flat or a house to rent, it is important that you first think about a few things! Keep in mind that in today’s economic climate the demand for rental property vastly outweighs the supply. It may be difficult to find suitable accommodation that meets all of your requirements as a tenant, so make sure to go into the process as prepared and informed as possible.

Within the last five years it is clear that the residential developments in The Orchards – an area in the north of Pretoria – have grown exponentially as demand increases. Developers and investors are joining the throngs of first-time buyers in snapping up the affordable land and houses available in The Orchard’s suburb.