South African homeowners are probably very well aware that changes to interest rates can have a significant impact on a home loan and, of course, one’s overall financial wellbeing. While a challenging economy and recent interest rate hikes may have some homeowners feeling a little worried, there are measures that can be taken to reduce the impact of these increases on your wallet....
It is impossible to time the property market with total accuracy but, for those who know what to look out for, there are a few key indicators that can point to a potential change in market conditions....
With the raising of the transfer duty exemption threshold to R1.1 million with effect from the 1st March, there are plenty of reasons for first-time buyers to get into property this year, says Samuel Seeff....
“The Sheconomy is gaining momentum as women increasingly take charge of their financial independence. Although women still earn disproportionately less than men, the salary gap is narrowing, and women have more buying power than before,” says Carl Coetzee....
With the escalation of the Eskom energy crisis and concerns about the economic impact on the already higher interest rate and cost of living concerns, the question arises as to whether it is still a good time to purchase a property....
Smaller South African towns, known as second tier cities, have seen exponential growth over the past 3-5 years. Many have realised that not only is it possible to work remotely in outlying nodes in so many industries, but that these smaller cities also offer other phenomenal opportunities. Most notably, these include more affordable living, and better quality working environments, away from major urban...
The recently announced solar panel incentive programme by Enoch Godongwana, Minister of Finance, will allow tax-paying South Africans to claim rebates on their solar panels in the coming financial year. We take a look at what you need to know. The rebate is 25% of the cost of new and unused solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, up to a maximum of R15 000 per individual....
South Africa's National Budget has been welcomed by property experts, who say it will offer a range of benefits for homeowners and those looking to enter the market. From a residential property perspective, the announcement that the brackets of the transfer duty table will be increased by 10 percent, allowing properties below R1.1 million to avoid any transfer duty payments, is welcome news for aspirant...
Despite the lack of significant changes in the industry for almost five decades, the real estate sector has undergone remarkable and unprecedented transformations in the past ten years, marked by both fluctuating peaks and valleys....
Unsurprisingly, weight loss, improved self-care, doing more exercise, and saving money are among the most common new year’s resolutions people make. And while there’s certainly nothing wrong with any of those, how about including resolutions for your property? “Property is a significant investment and one that bears looking after and setting ‘goals’ for how you manage and look after that...