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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4 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR APARTMENT’S SECURITY GUARD
The gates are closed and there is a security guard onsite – I should be safe, right? The unfortunate reality is that this is most often untrue. Many buyer’s take for granted that the security or concierge at the front desk is well-trained and familiar with policies and procedures for access control. The fact is, this is often simply not the case. If you want to make sure your apartm
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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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HOW TO SAVE FOR YOUR DREAM FURNITURE
Purchasing a property is only the first step in the journey. Finding furniture to match your new home – and your budget – is the next step in creating the home you have always hoped to have. The key to achieving this is to have a plan and the patience to stick to it. Like all good things in life, your ideal furniture is not going to arrive overnight – unless you are willing to
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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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