Most Recent Buying Articles
HOMEOWNING BUDGETING BASICS
The initial costs of owning a home can be a bitter pill to swallow but with careful financial discipline and planning, the dread of the pending debit orders will lessen over time. To make things more manageable, start by organising your finances into a real-time budget by recording your current expenses for the month. After this, you can work out realistic goals of how much you can afford to put a
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SELL IN FIVE SIMPLE STEPS
Selling your home but have no idea where to start? Below is a step-by-step advice for first-time sellers… Step 1: Pick your price You can’t sell without a price. A realtor can provide an assessment for you that will provide a realistic selling value on your home. Find an agent who knows your area well and can tell you what properties in your area have sold for – not just wha
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6 STEPS TO SAVING FOR A DEPOSIT IN 5 YEARS
According to data recently released by FNB, the average age of a South African home buyer has increased from 38 to 44 this year. That’s largely because, if you take a realistic look at the property market, you will discover that you will need a minimum of R100,000 to use as a deposit and to cover the various other expenses on an entry-level property. Even if you take out a 100% access bond,
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HAS AIRBNB AFFECTED THE RENTAL MARKET?
Most were sceptical of the concept when Airbnb first launched in the US in 2008. But, after the company announced that it had generated R2.4 billion in economic activity in South Africa in 2016, sentiment quickly swayed in Airbnb’s favour, transforming it into a widely used platform for those looking to make some extra cash. With the large crowd of users it has drawn, the question on ever
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A TEE-OFF FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTORS
It is no secret that golf estates hold prime value for real estate investors. According to Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, the trick is deciding which golf estate will bring you the best return on investment. “Owing to their picturesque locations, their large residential plots, and their onsite amenities, golf courses have always had an enticing cha
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ECO ESTATES: THE NEW TREND IN REAL ESTATE
The trending school of thought for this age is striking the ideal balance between work and play – with the scales tipping in favour of leisure activities over fixed business hours. Modern technology has created the opportunity for remote working hours, which is enabling more and more people to work from scenic places of their choosing rather than in a fixed office. Enter the concept of the E
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HOW TO PULL OFF A SELF-MOVE
Moving into a new home comes with such a long list of expenses that hiring a professional moving company is one of the first expenses that many buyers tend to try and work around. While using a professional moving company will reduce the risks of damage to your furniture and injury to yourself, smaller moves can be done effectively by yourself if you plan carefully and take all the necessary preca
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NEIGHBOURHOOD REPORT: ROSEBANK, JHB
The suburb where you want to work, play and sleep in, Rosebank is becoming one of the most sought after areas in Johannesburg. The area has recently become one of the top business nodes in the country, rivalling Sandton for cranes and new developments, but thankfully not rivalling it for traffic. Young working professionals relocating to Johannesburg really ought to consider the compact and trendy
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CAN YOU AFFORD A 100% BOND?
I’m sure you have heard the advice before, and if you’ve yet to hear it, you can be guaranteed that the words “The sooner you can get into the property market, the better” will echo through your eardrums before you reach the age of 35. But, is it wise to take out a 100% bond just to enter the property market sooner rather than later? For the year ending 31 March 2018, 42
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RE/MAX BY THE NUMBERS 2017
Looking for reasons to choose RE/MAX? Not only did we clench the title of Region the of the Year within the Middle East and Africa category at the 45th RE/MAX annual R4 Convention in Las Vegas, but we also sold more homes in South Africa than any other real estate brand last year. Below are just a few of the reasons why we are able to call ourselves the #1 brand in real estate… Our Local
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RE/MAX NATIONAL HOUSING REPORT Q1 2018
Slow start for the first quarter In the first quarter of 2018, Lightstone data revealed that 31,875 new bonds were registered at the Deeds Office, totaling an amount of R33,666,534. This is down by 5,058 registered bonds since the last quarter of 2017. Data from all the major banks reveal that the average bond amount granted during this period was R1,056 million which is up ever so slightly from
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Q4 2017 HOUSING REPORT
In the last quarter of 2017, 36 943 bonds were registered at the Deeds Office, totalling an amount of R38 819 406. Data from all the major banks reveal that the average bond amount granted during this period was around R1.051 million, which is down from the R1.11 million seen between July and September 2017. During the last quarter of the year, around 38 630 bonds were cancelled. Of the 52 011 hom
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