While banks in SA are still keen to lend to home buyers, they are also applying their credit granting criteria more strictly now in the light of rising inflation and rising interest rates, so it is vital for prospective borrowers to make sure their finances and credit records are all in order before they apply for a loan – and long before they start looking for properties to buy....

With many people in KZN having suffered extensive damage to their properties as a result of severe flooding, it is imperative to first distinguish whether the property has been damaged to a point that it is no longer safe to reside in, or if the property is damaged but is still deemed to be safe to reside in....

With memories of the most recent bout of Stage 4 load shedding still fresh, Eskom is forecasting as many as 100 days of load shedding between April and August. Needless to say, that’s about as welcome as sour milk in your cereal and will have many South Africans trying to figure out how they can free themselves from Eskom's clutches....

Property transactions are lengthy and convoluted processes with many potential pitfalls and, in a strong sellers’ market, one or two small mistakes are unlikely to be an issue, however, more serious omissions or errors can really put a spanner in the works and, in a tougher market, even small errors can prove costly....

The cold is setting in around many parts of the country. Winter is knocking at the door and for many of us that means we’re getting ready for our rainy season. We understand that for some areas in South Africa, winter doesn’t necessarily mean rain. But the tips below on how to prepare your house for winter can benefit all homeowners ahead of any wet and rainy weather....

There has been such a surge in home buying since the second half of 2020 that there is now actually a shortage of homes for sale in many of the most sought-after areas, and well-priced properties that do come on to the market are often selling within just a few days – without even being advertised online or in print....

Every agent wants to sign an Exclusive Sole Mandate (ESM), but often sellers opt to sign an open mandate with many agents. This is because sellers often believe that by having many agents on board, their property will sell quickly. But this is not always the case. In fact, it often works out a lot better to sign an Exclusive Sole Mandate....

Buying a house with the intent to generate rental income from it can be a great passive investment move, but it is also more complex than many may think. Before taking on the decision to become a landlord, there are several factors buyers need to consider....

“Faced with mounting energy costs, many homeowners think that going entirely off-grid is the only solution. Unfortunately, this is often too expensive. It’s, therefore, more feasible to make adjustments to your home’s energy consumption so that you can introduce solar energy solutions with a hybrid battery system that will augment Eskom or your municipality’s supply - rather than replacing it...

For trustees that want to create a harmonious environment in their Sectional Title schemes, the most important thing to do is ensure that they have a set of Conduct Rules that are modern, clear, and specific....