First-time homebuyers defy financial pressure, put down deposits of more than R120,000
They are also buying properties that are slightly more expensive.
Less than half of SA workers have returned to the office
And it turns out that hybrid work is surprisingly sticky amongst South African mid- to top-end earners.
2024 property market: It is not only about interest rates
A number of other significant factors are on the horizon for South Africa’s property market this year.
Grocery shopping: 9 foods with the biggest price hikes
A basket of eight items, including fruit, vegetables, eggs, and hot beverages, cost R72. 62 more than it did a year ago.
‘Repo rate should have been cut, SA cannot be grateful it was unchanged’ – property experts
Being thankful it was not increased is like getting beaten up in a mugging and, instead of being outraged, you are cheerful because you’re not dead.
The tortoise and the hare: Why an unchanged repo rate is better than we think
The cutting of rates is not about whether inflation has come down, but about the sustainability of its decline.
Durban service delivery: It’s all going down the drain
Business confidence in Durban has dropped for several reasons, including deteriorating infrastructure, the poor state of beaches, and low levels of service delivery.
Interest rates: Could a cut be on the cards tomorrow after all?
Lower inflation has lifted hopes that the repo rate could be cut tomorrow, or at least sooner than expected.
SA inflation drops but some food prices still going up
The main contributors to rising prices are food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, goods and services, and transport.
Career choices: Should you follow the money or your heart?
Choosing a career based on either love or money can be risky as, while there are positives, there are just as many negatives.
High interest rates, living costs force more homeowners to sell
Financial pressure-induced sales remain elevated at 25 percent of total volumes.
Emigration: The easiest countries in Europe to gain citizenship
Research also reveals the European countries that are the most difficult to attain citizenship for non-EU passport holders.
SA’s economic outlook: Big challenges facing businesses in 2024
Crises create environments that can help kick-start profound change, but organisations need to put purpose at the heart of their risk and overall strategies.
7 things no-one tells you about owning a home
Being a homeowner can be scary and stressful so you need to know what to expect after you have taken the plunge.
Estate agents: The right – and wrong, ways to deal with them
The only time that your relationship with any agent becomes exclusive is after signing the offer to purchase or lease agreement.
Interest rates ‘to remain unchanged’
“The bad news is that the prime lending rate is probably only going to ease slightly at the end of the first quarter, or in the second quarter of the year. ”
Homeowners must hang on tight as SA reaches top of interest rate rollercoaster
Now is a good time for property buyers to take the plunge as rates are expected to remain steady and then come down.
These are the biggest threats to SA businesses in 2024
South Africa's business community must remain vigilant in the face of critical infrastructure blackouts.
Interest rates: Good news, bad news as first MPC meeting looms
Consumers’ belts are as tight as they can get and people simply can’t afford to get onto the property ladder.
Don’t fix your home loan interest rate just because the repo rate is high
Fixed rates should not be used as a tool to try and beat the market.
Home loans: These things could derail your chances of being approved
You would expect that having high, but unused, credit available on retail accounts and credit cards would count in your favour, but the opposite is true.
Retirement property: All you need to know about life rights
There are many benefits to buying the life right to a retirement property, but there are also factors that you may not be aware of, or keen on.
Divorce: You may have to pay maintenance to your ex, even if you have no children
In marriage, there is a reciprocal duty of support between spouses, and this duty can extend beyond the marital relationship into divorce.
Home loans: 9 ways to lower your monthly instalment and free up extra cash
Existing homeowners have a few ways to reduce their monthly home loan instalments.
SA’s property market expected to suffer a challenging 2024
Joint home buying is expected to grow this year as the rising cost of living eats into prospective buyers’ affordability.