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...
Moving to a new home can be incredibly exciting, but it can also be overwhelming to adjust to all the new routines. To make the transition easier, homeowners should take the time to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings and should be intentional about turning the house into a home....
Although the quintessential notion of off-grid living typically involves a simpler rural lifestyle, there are numerous methods to achieve greater self-sufficiency even within an urban setting. Although it might not be possible for everyone to be completely self-sustainable, there are multiple reasons to attempt to adopt this lifestyle as far as possible. To start, the environmental benefits that...
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....
So you have decided that it is time to sell your home - you have enlisted the help of a knowledgeable neighbourhood real estate expert that will help you ease through the process. While every agent will have a few tips and tricks up their sleeves to get your home to sell as quickly as possible, there are a few things you can also do to help sell your home....
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,...
It doesn't matter what the market conditions are like when you start your home buying journey. Favourable market conditions don’t mitigate the potential pitfalls and, unfortunately, buyer’s remorse is not uncommon amongst first-time buyers, usually as a result of neglecting to do their homework and ensure they are thoroughly prepared....
In the real estate world, there is a substantial difference between an investor and a home buyer. The criteria by which the property will be judged will differ vastly depending on how the buyer intends to use the property. Adrian Goslett, says that it is important for buyers to establish their intentions for the home upfront before they start the house hunting process....