| MARKET TRENDS |
Brighter outlook for economy may be short-lived - Business
Day, 20 June 2013
The outlook for South Africa’s economy brightened
slightly after better-than-expected inflation and current account data on
Wednesday, but analysts warn that the good news could be short-lived.
SA's current account narrows surprisingly - Moneyweb, 19 June
2013
South Africa's current account deficit unexpectedly narrowed to
5.8% of gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2013 from 6.5% in the
final quarter of last year, the Reserve Bank said on Wednesday.
Gordhan warns on revenue, currency - Moneyweb, 19 June
2013
The revenue outlook could dim even more if markets react adversely
to an awaited announcement by the US Federal Reserve, Finance Minister Pravin
Gordhan warned on Tuesday.
Fitch reaffirms SA’s borrowing credentials in global markets -
Business Day, 19 June 2013
South Africa will not have major difficulties
with its plans to borrow $1.5bn on global markets in the 2013-14 fiscal year
despite the increase in bond yields sparked by recent turmoil in financial
markets, Fitch Ratings said on Wednesday.
Consumer inflation slows more than expected - Business Day, 19
June 2013
South African consumer inflation slowed in May but economists
warned that a lower fuel price was the main reason, and a weak rand meant the
trend was unlikely to continue. |
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| GENERAL PROPERTY
NEWS |
SA building confidence index rises to 41 from 37 - eProp, 19
June 2013
Building confidence index increases to 41 index points in the
second quarter of 2013‚ from 37 index points in the first quarter‚ according to
a survey by FNB and BER.
Using new land claims to promote expropriation - Business Day,
19 June 2013
By the government’s own admission, 50%-90% of land-reform
projects have failed, yet the state now plans to embark on an open-ended process
of land restitution in which earlier cut-off dates will be jettisoned, opening
the way to thousands more claims.
Property construction statistics - Property24, 18 June
2013
According to data from Stats SA, there is positive improvement in
building completions, with the continuation of smaller houses being built.
SA hotel room revenue to grow at 9.2% next five years - eProp,
14 June 2013
Auditing firm PwC on Thursday projected total room revenue
in SA to grow at a compound annual rate of 9.2% to 2017 after overall spending
on rooms in all categories rose by 13.4% in 2012 to R15.2bn‚ reflecting an
increase in stay unit nights and a 5.3% rise in the average room rate.
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| RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Can I subdivide and what will it cost? - Property24, 20 June
2013
A Property24 reader says she owns a block of flats and a house on
one property and wants to sell. Can she subdivide and what are her options?
Holidaymakers prefer coastal locations - Property24, 20 June
2013
Coastal locations remain a destination of choice for many
holidaymakers seeking to rent leisure property. This is according to Greta
Daniel, national sales and operations manager for Pam Golding Franchise
Services, who says the demand for coastal property to rent is from all provinces
– particularly Gauteng, as well as from overseas visitors.
SA property is doing fine - Iafrica.com, 19 June 2013
In 2012 property economist Erwin Roode made a few waves with his statement
that property prices were overvalued by at least 25 percent.
Diamonds in the rough, top performers - Property24, 19 June
2013
During the past 5 years global residential real estate prices have
declined by over 10 percent (in US$ terms), with most major countries
experiencing significant down side revaluations.
Home loan 'cover clause' explained - Property24, 19 June
2013
When an applicant is awarded a mortgage bond, the bank
automatically registers it with, on average, an additional 20 percent ‘cover
clause’ over and above the original loan amount granted.
Does your tenant pay rent on time? - Property24, 19 June
2013
Nationally, Q1 2013 saw 84 percent of tenants in good standing,
which includes sub-categories of 71 percent of tenants who Paid on Time, plus 3
percent paid in the Grace Period and 10 percent, Paid Late, 8 percent of tenants
were in the Did not Pay category while 8 percent made a Partial Payment,
according to TPN data.
Top suburbs to buy into in Cape Town - Property24, 19 June
2013
Johannesburg may be home to over 23 000 millionaires, but Cape Town
with just over 9 000 millionaires continues to attract a high number of local,
African and international luxury home
buyers. |
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| COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Cape Town International Convention Centre revamp hits snag -
eProp, 19 June 2013
Much-talked-about multimillion-rand Cape Town
International Convention Centre expansion looks set to be delayed as the City of
Cape Town investigates the centre’s procurement processes relating to the
contract for the project design.
Office property still a tenant driven market - eProp, 19 June
2013
Tenants are taking advantage of perennially high office vacancies
to negotiate favourable long-term leases at low and in some cases, zero
escalating rates on rentals.
Growthpoint’s ‘green’ office block in Midrand ready for
occupation - Business Day, 19 June 2013
Growthpoint Properties’
state-of-the-art “green” office development in Midrand, 44 on Grand Central, has
been completed on time and on budget after a 12-month construction schedule, the
company said on Wednesday.
R450m new office development for Century City - eProp, 16 June
2013
Growthpoint Properties and the Rabie Property Group are to jointly
develop a 18 700 square metre office project in Century City to meet the
burgeoning demand for offices in the precinct.
Work cut out for SAPOA president - eProp, 14 June 2013
Moving SA’s multibillion rand commercial property industry out of the
jurisdiction of the troublesome public works department to trade and industry
will be one of Estienne de Klerk’s top priorities.
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| LISTED PROPERTY
NEWS |
Acucap and Sycom merger make commercial sense - eProp, 19 June
2013
The potential merger of Acucap Properties and Sycom Property Fund,
the portfolio of which is managed by Acucap, "makes commercial sense".
Tower Property Fund to list on JSE under REIT structure -
eProp, 19 June 2013
A new and exciting property fund, Tower Property
Fund, is aiming to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange under the brand-new
REIT structure, in July 2013.
JSE clears Redefine in R10bn portfolio battle - eProp, 18 June
2013
Redefine Properties said on Friday it had received confirmation
from the JSE that the bourse had found no breaches of its listing requirements
in relation to the battle for Fountainhead Property Trust’s
portfolio. |
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| ESTATE AGENT
NEWS |
Engel & Völkers' growth in sales - Property24, 18 June
2013
The growth in the property market has been flat over the past few
years, only showing signs of an increase in the last couple of months.
Commercial property investment course - Property24, 16 June
2013
The Institute of Estate Agents is hosting a course facilitated by
Johan Meyer, a Seeff Properties franchisee with 20 years’ experience in
property, which is aimed at estate agents wanting to brush up on their knowledge
of commercial property and investing in commercial property.
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| SPECIFIC AREAS |
The Pearls of Umhlanga, life's best! - Property24, 19 June
2013
We all expect destinations like Dubai to wow us with architectural
feats, with lavishness and fine living, but we don’t always realise we have some
of the same calibre magic on our own doorstep.
Buying a home in KZN Midlands - Property24, 18 June 2013
Renowned for its scenery with rolling fields of green, farms and quaint
villages, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and Pietermaritzburg areas have high appeal
for home buyers of all ages.
Western Cape small farms auction - Property24, 14 June
2013
Rawson Auctions is finding that they are increasingly called on to
source farms in the Western Cape’s Boland and Overberg regions that are
relatively small but productive and therefore suited to someone about to retire
or for people looking for a non-urban but still active lifestyle.
Buying property in Hoedspruit - Property24, 14 June 2013
Situated at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg mountains, Hoedspruit in the
Limpopo Province has seen remarkable growth and has become a premier destination
for eco-tourists from around the world.
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| INTERNATIONAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
US stocks tumble after Fed signals bond tapering - Moneyweb,
20 June 2013
US stocks Wednesday fell sharply after Federal Reserve
Chairman Ben Bernanke said the Fed expects to taper bond-buying purchases later
this year. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sank 205.50
(1.34 percent) to 15,112.73.
SA buyers snapping homes in Mauritius - Property24, 18 June
2013
Mention Mauritius and words like crystal clear beaches and long
days lounging around drinking cocktails come to mind.
Why SA property investors love London - Property24, 14 June
2013
According to Knight Frank, average rents across the UK rose by 0.2
percent in April and are up 3.9 percent year-on-year (y/y) as demand continues
to outstrip supply in many areas.
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