For years, South African homeowners watched one number to understand affordability: the interest rate. When the repo rate moved, buyers rushed to act, sellers adjusted prices, and homeowners recalculated their monthly repayments. Property decisions largely revolved around what the bank would charge you to borrow money. But increasingly, that isn’t the number catching new homeowners off guard....
South African households are bracing for the above-inflation increase in key municipal services as the new financial year begins on 1 July 2025. This includes increases in electricity, water, sanitation, refuse removal, and property rates....
As winter settles across South Africa, the crisp morning air and shorter days make one thing crystal clear: it’s time to get your home ready for the cold. But winter-proofing doesn’t need to mean expensive renovations or complicated projects. With a few practical adjustments and a bit of forward thinking, you can transform your space into a warm, energy-efficient retreat that keeps you and your family...
Buying your first home is an exciting journey, but it’s important to prepare for more than just the bond repayment. Many first-time home buyers in South Africa overlook the hidden costs of homeownership, which can significantly impact monthly budgets. From utility bills and municipal rates to homeowner’s insurance and maintenance expenses, these additional costs can add up quickly....
Are home inspections really worth it? Imagine finding your dream home, only to find out later that it has a plethora of issues that is going to cost you an arm and a leg to fix, or maybe you are a seller than needs to make a quick sale on your property only to have it dragged out because of issues you weren't aware of when you listed. A home inspection can help both buyers and sellers avoid these costly...
After one of the wettest and coldest winters South Africa has experienced, the hot summer months are now well on their way. To help homeowners survive the coming heat waves, there are a few home alterations that can be undertaken to prepare for the coming summer months....
In South Africa, compliance certificates are essential documents that property sellers and landlords must obtain to ensure that their properties meet certain legal and safety standards. These certificates help protect both buyers and tenants by verifying that the property is safe and in compliance with relevant regulations....
As ongoing loadshedding starts to bite deeper and electricity tariffs rise inexorably, interest among home buyers in properties with energy-saving features is picking up considerably. This is according to a survey (with 384 respondents) recently conducted among its agents by national real estate agency, Pam Golding Properties....
Due to load-shedding as well as the soaring cost of electricity, thousands of South Africans are investigating their options with regard to solar power. Understandably, they have a lot of questions. Solar energy experts Versofy SOLAR received more than 5 000 enquiries around home subscriptions since January, and they keep coming....
As load shedding persists, an increasing amount of home buyers are searching for properties that can avoid the effects of the rolling blackouts. This is likely to become even more prevalent now that the budget speech has made allowance for South Africans to receive up R15,000 in tax rebates for installing solar panels, effective from 1 March 2023....