Most Recent Buying Articles
WHY IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO BUY IN HOUT BAY
While there has been a general cooling down in prices in the Cape Town market, there are still certain pockets that continue to do well despite the current economic climate. The suburb of Hout Bay is one of them. The suburb continues to grow in terms of value largely because it offers so many appealing features for permanent residence. Here are just some of the reasons the area remains so popul
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THE UPS TO DOWNSIZING
It can be difficult to adjust to a smaller home. But, if it’s any consolation, most South Africans who have bought new properties are living in much smaller homes than the ones they grew up in. According to data from FNB, the average size of a full title stand in 2017 measured just 552 square metres. That is almost half the average size of homes built in the early-70s (1,063 square metres).
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BEST SPOTS TO GET OFF-THE-GRID IN SA
There are various reasons why people choose to get “off-the-grid” – a term coined to describe a household that does not receive public utility services from their city. Some do it to assert their independence and to escape the monthly service fees, others attempt it as an environmentally responsible endeavour to live a more sustainable lifestyle. “Whatever your reasons,
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THE RISE OF THE INDEPENDENT WOMAN
According to Lightstone data, single women who owned property in 2017 far outnumbered their single male property-owning counterparts. In fact, this group even managed to trump the number of married couples who owned property. But, before you celebrate this victory, you need to factor in that single women only outnumber their male counterparts in the lowest price band of properties valued at under
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HOW TO BECOME A TOP GLOBAL EARNER
Want to know the secret to success? Don’t we all. Sadly, there is no single recipe for reaching that point in life where you can kick back and say: I’ve made it. What we can do, however, is listen to the advice of those who have. Annually, RE/MAX LLC compiles a list of the top 100 global individual and team earners. This year, RE/MAX of Southern Africa claimed 27 of the 100 spots in
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KNOWING WHICH REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO AVOID
Choosing the wrong real estate professional is like wearing an incredibly expensive pair of uncomfortable shoes. Unless you swap them out for a better fit, you’re going to have blisters to deal with at the end of the day. If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t force it. The easiest way to tell that you have the wrong agent is if they make you feel doubtful or uncomfortable in any way.
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DIPLOMATIC GUIDE TO NEIGHBOUR DISPUTES
You’re immersed in a dream in which you are about to be handed a cheque for R100 million. As the tips of your fingers are about to connect with the fantasy cheque, the shrill sound of a power tool drills into your subconscious and hurtles you back into reality. It’s your neighbour doing yet another DIY project at 2am, and you cannot bare it a moment longer. But, what is there to be don
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HOW TO SHOP IN A BUYER’S MARKET
August 2018 In most regions across South Africa buyers are currently spoilt for choice in the property market – even in the burgeoning Cape Town market. One mistake buyers simply cannot afford to make in this current market is to allow the overwhelming amount of stock put them off the task of sifting through the mountain of listings available and delay them in putting down an offer. &l
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A LOOK AT THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY PRICES
Emigration-driven sales is on the rise, accounting for roughly 14% of sales in Q1 2019. By far the most popular destination for South African expats is the United Kingdom, with a total of 210,000 living here in 2017. This was closely followed by 190,000 South African expats living in Australia and further 100,000 living in American states. If you had it in mind to follow their example and say y
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RE/MAX NATIONAL HOUSING REPORT Q2 2018
Second Quarter Yields Promise “After a slow first quarter, the 2018 property market is beginning to show promising improvements,” says Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa. Over the period of April - June 2018, Lightstone Property recorded a total of 38,055 bond registrations at the Deeds Office, totalling an amount of R40,790,027,000. This is an 19
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HOW TO OPEN A BUSINESS FROM HOME
As more and more employers choose to allow their staff to work remotely, the home business model has grown in popularity, with many new entrepreneurs choosing to start their business from home rather than in a business district. But, what are the legal implications of operating a business in a residential area? Getting in the Zone Zoning laws prohibit most businesses from operating in a reside
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AVOID BUYER’S REGRET IN 5 QUESTIONS
Finding a seemingly perfect property can be an incredibly exciting experience, so much so that it can often lead you into forgetting to ask some of the most important questions before you sign along the dotted line. But, before you allow excitement to cloud your judgement, make sure that you ask these questions to ensure that the property is as perfect as it seems… 1) Has there been a de
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