Most Recent Living Articles
Estate Agents’ Commission Ins and Outs
Selling your home is an important financial – and often emotional – decision. Property transactions also involve complex legal processes associated with the contract to sell and register the property into the new owner’s name, not to mention marketing the property so that you get the optimum price. A real estate agent works with property sellers to market the property and once
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A Beginner’s Guide To Flipping Houses
Property is a great long-term investment strategy. And, although riskier, house flipping can also be a great short-term investment strategy. However, like all investments, one needs to know how to do it in a way that maximises your return and minimises the potential risk for loss. What is house flipping? When the motivation for a house purchase is with the specific goal of fixing it up and r
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Another month without any interest rate cuts
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced at their latest meeting that interest rates will remain unchanged at 8.25% (repo rate) and the prime lending rate at 11.75%. According to Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, growth within the property market will remain muted until the rate cuts materialise, which many economists predict might occur in September o
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GETTING TO GRIPS WITH THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY
Apart from being your home, property is also an investment. For a range of reasons, you may want to ascertain the value of your asset from time to time. In this article, we’ll look at the reasons why regular updates about the value of your property can be useful, how the resale value is determined, and how to go about finding out the current value of your home or property. What is the dif
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INTEREST RATES TO REMAIN AT RECORD HIGHS
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced yet another disappointing outcome at their latest meeting, with interest rates remaining stable at 8.25% (repo rate) and the prime lending rate at 11.75%. Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, says that this announcement will be a bitter pill to swallow for most South Africans. “Although it has been predicted
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Can landscaping influence the value of your property?
First impressions count. When it comes to house hunting, that first impression begins with curb appeal: the moment a buyer turns into your road and steps into your garden. In this article, we’ll look at how landscaping can influence the value of your property. What is landscaping? Landscaping can be a big, intimidating word. All it really means is the process of organising and shaping
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How to make a new city feel like home
Moving house is among the top five life stressors and even more so when the move is not just from one house to another, but to a new city or country. In another article, we discussed how the 80:20 principle plays an important role in choosing a new city and preparing for the move. In this article we’ll give you some useful tips and the odd life hack for putting that preparation – the 8
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The Impact of the Repo Rate on Your Home Loan
If you hold any kind of debt, it is important to keep a close eye on interest rates: as interest rates go up, so do your monthly repayments. The interest rate that your bank charges is based on the repo rate which is set by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). To help you stay on top of this, we’ll explain what the repo rate is, how it is set, and, critically, its impact on your home loan.
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How to choose fencing that’ll increase property value
Should I choose fences or walls when setting up a perimeter around my home? And which of these options will add value to my property? The answer depends on personal taste and preference as well as budget. Other factors that come into play can be security and the area in which you live. Let’s dive into some of the pros and cons of each option and what the potential implications are for your p
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INTEREST RATES TO HOLD STEADY FOR NOW
Although not quite the cut most homeowners were hoping for, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced today that interest rates will remain stable at 8.25% (repo rate), leaving the prime lending rate at 11.75%. While a cut would have created more welcomed relief, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, says that this announcement will at least avoid placing f
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RE/MAX NATIONAL HOUSING REPORT Q4 2023
Another Quarter of Muted Growth The ramifications of high interest rates are still being felt in the fourth quarter of 2023, with fewer transactions occurring and leaving room for only marginal house price appreciation. According to Lightstone Property data, as at 10 January 2024, the number of transfers (both bonded and unbonded) recorded at the Deeds Office for the period Octo
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Choosing a New Hometown: Relocation 101
There are a myriad of reasons why people move to new towns or cities, ranging from retirement and lifestyle choices, to transfers and employment opportunities. Whatever the reason, the key to making it work for you is in your homework. Like so much in life, the 80:20 principle applies. In this case, the 80% is your research (homework) and the other 20% is the actual relocation. In this article
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