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...
The answer to the question of whether it is ‘cheaper’ to buy or build a residential property is "it depends”. “Taking on a residential property building project is a serious undertaking, but one that can be very rewarding. Our best advice is to consult a quantity surveyor to help you plan and manage the cost of building,” says Jan le Roux. Professional quantity surveyor Guillaume Cillié,...
How much house can you afford to buy? It is a complicated question, but it is one that you absolutely have to answer to ensure it helps rather than hurts your financial fitness. To fully answer the question on how much you can afford to buy, you will need to know the answer to two other vital questions: how much you can put down as a deposit and how much can you spend once you actually live in the...
For first-time buyers, the home loan application process can feel quite overwhelming but if you are prepared for all the financial questions ahead you will be in a much better position to have your bond approved. If you are getting ready to apply for a home loan, you need to assess your financial well-being and you should know the answers to the following questions:...
One of the best ways to know what you can afford is to set up a budget - which has the added benefit of allowing you to save money in the long run. Here are our 3 tips to set up your budget:...
If you are planning to buy your first home this year, put yourself in the best position to do so by sticking to these ten financial fitness tips....
Purchasing a home for the first time is an exciting yet expensive endeavour. This leads to plenty of great gifting opportunities for those aspiring homeowners among their friends and family. If you’re struggling to think of gift ideas for the coming festive season, here are a few tips for first-time buyers in your social circles....
Selling a home can be a complicated process, especially for those who have never done so before. While real estate professionals are there to guide sellers through every step of the way, having a basic understanding of the process can help homeowners prepare themselves for what lies ahead....
It has been yet another record-breaking year for the local real estate market, with high sales volumes being recorded for almost every month this year. Following this period of hyper-activity within the housing market, most experts predict that we will be heading into leaner times in the year to follow....