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....
Being a good neighbour can add value to your life, security, and your property and neighbourhood. People want to live and invest in neighbourhoods which are orderly and well maintained. This says Samuel Seeff, chairman of the group, has been well-illustrated by the influx of buyers and tenants to cities, towns and neighbourhoods which are safe and well maintained and managed....
The excitement of becoming a home owner and the immense task of moving into your new home and settling in can sometimes overshadow home buyer's remorse - which does happen and is not spoken about enough in real estate....
It’s easy for property investors, particularly those new to the industry, to be swayed by the rental amount the property is likely to generate on a monthly basis. And while the monthly rental is certainly an important factor, the seasoned investor tends to look beyond the rental yield and rather takes a more long-term approach by focusing on the property’s potential capital growth over a set period of...
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:...
The increase in loadshedding stages for longer periods has caused many buyers to add ‘load-shedding friendly’ to their property wish list. Adrian Goslett says that upgrading some features in the home could minimise frustrations and add resale value to the property....