| MARKET TRENDS | Slow credit growth likely due to lacklustre corporate demand - Business Day, 28 February 2013
Growth in credit demand by South Africa’s private sector slowed to 8.64% year on year in January, compared with a 10.09% rise in December, Reserve Bank data showed on Thursday.
Impact of SA's Rand depreciation - Property24, 27 February 2013
The suggestion of devaluing the Rand, potentially to R15 or even R20 to the US dollar to gain demand for South Africa’s exports, must raise the question of whether a weakening currency would really be good for SA.
State of the Nation Address highlights - Property24, 26 February 2013
In his State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma stated five priorities namely education, health, the fight against crime, creating decent work as well as rural development and land reform.
Events handicapping SA growth - Moneyweb, 25 February 2013
It would be nice to report all systems go for faster GDP growth and formal job gains again approaching 250 000 with a further 100 000 retiree displacement annually, with supply constraints lifting, and demand gearing up, with plentiful resource slack accommodative of a strong and long growth spurt.
Downside bias in SA interest rates - eProp, 22 February 2013
Though binding supply constraints (electricity, credit access, public sector manpower) and poor export dynamics explain much of South Africa’s 2.5% subpar growth performance during 2012-2013, there is enough of a business confidence restraint to also keep demand back.
Commercial and residential rental monitor Q4 2012 - eProp, 22 February 2013
Rental payment performance by commercial tenants during Quarter 4 of 2012 remained surprisingly steady, despite obvious and frequently documented pressures on the general economy. |
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| GENERAL PROPERTY NEWS | Gateway to Africa reforms extended to BRICS nations - 28 February 2013
Foreign companies that are based in South Africa and that are keen on investing in countries outside of Africa – including in Bric (Brazil, Russia, India and China) members, will be able to benefit from relaxed cross-border financial regulations and tax requirements, the Minister of Finance announced.
Tips for women in property & business - Property24, 27 February 2013
There is no doubt that while women now have more opportunities than they previously had, they are still discriminated against.
The limit to foreign land ownership - Property24, 26 February 2013
The proposal to limit foreign land ownership in South Africa to a leasehold of a minimum of 30 years is not a sign of antagonism to foreign investment, says the Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform, Gugile Nkwinti.
Five pillars for land tenure system - Property24, 25 February 2013
Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti says government will introduce five pillars as part of the new land tenure system.
Govt housing fraud: 1 000 officials convicted - Moneyweb, 21 February 2013
Over 1000 officials have been convicted of fraud related to sub-standard government housing, the department of human settlements said on Thursday. |
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| RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY NEWS | How budget impacts on property - Iafrica.com, 28 February 2013
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's 2013 Budget will have no impact on the residential market, Jawitz Properties CEO Herschel Jawitz said on Wednesday.
Up your chances of home loan approval - Property24, 27 February 2013
Despite the buyer’s market in the property industry at the moment, in the wake of the global economic downturn, banks are still wary of granting 100% home loans. In light of this, if you’re considering buying a home, it’s a good idea to start saving up for a decent deposit.
Black middleclass catching up - Iafrica.com, 27 February 2013
The emerging African middle class is catching up to the white middle class in terms of home ownership, the SA Institute of Race Relations reported on Tuesday.
Cape Town homes fetch good rentals - Property24, 27 February 2013
The demand for rental properties in the Cape Town metropolitan region continues unabated, with an unflagging appetite for rental homes across all areas of the city and all price ranges.
3.4% sell homes in order to emigrate - Property24, 26 February 2013
The FNB report on emigration and foreign buying reveals that the propensity to emigrate among skilled South Africans is traditionally high, and this impact on the property market thus has the potential to be significant.
Home sellers now turn to auctions - Property24, 25 February 2013
A major change in the residential property sector is taking place without many people being aware of it, say Andre Piguet and Ursula Otto, franchisees of the Rawson Properties Mossel Bay franchise – and their newly acquired Rawson Auctions Garden Route franchise.
2012 saw low level of residential building activity - eProp, 22 February 2013
Building activity in the South African market for new housing remained subdued in 2012 compared with the period of 2005 to 2008. |
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| COMMERCIAL PROPERTY NEWS | Nedbank corporate property finance maintains dominance of commercial property finance business - eProp, 28 February 2013
Nedbank Corporate Property Finance (NCPF) has attributed a strong 13.9% growth in headline earnings in the year to December 2012, compared to the year before, to its selective growth strategy.
Commercial property trouble spots - Property24, 26 February 2013
Commercial property this year will see continued pressure on commercial property owners and occupants from administered prices and municipal charges, according to Izak Petersen, chief executive officer of Dipula Income Fund.
Capitalisation rates under pressure - Property24, 22 February 2013
According to the 2013 commercial property prospects, landlords are going to have to accept minimal rental increases and in many cases, rentals will remain pegged at 2012 levels. |
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| LISTED PROPERTY NEWS | Returns on listed property likely to start slowing down - eProp, 28 February 2013
Although listed property was the best performing asset class in the South African market, giving investors 36% in total returns, the cooling off in returns is inevitable.
Hyprop distribution growth continues - eProp, 28 February 2013
Leading JSE shopping centre fund, Hyprop, reported distributions up 6,8% to 409 cents a unit for the year to December 2012.
Growthpoint outperforms forecast to deliver 7.2% half-year distribution growth - eProp, 27 February 2013
Growthpoint Properties Limited today announced a 7.2% growth in distributions, to 72,7 cents per linked unit, for the six-month interim period to 31 December 2012. The distribution growth is significantly ahead of original market guidance of 6.1%.
Vunani Property Investment fund continues to outperform office sector - eProp, 25 February 2013
Vunani Property Investment Fund, the only JSE listed property fund to offer investors significant exposure to commercial offices, reported excellent interim financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2012. |
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| ESTATE AGENT NEWS | Service to help buyers with home loans - Property24, 25 February 2013
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or you’ve been through the process before, waiting to see if your bond application will be approved can be one of the most stressful aspects of buying a new home.
Knowledge is key to agent success - Property24, 22 February 2013
Estate agencies will be successful if their agents learn how to build trust and to establish a completely open and honest relationship with their clients. |
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| SPECIFIC AREAS | Real property value in Estcourt - Property24, 22 February 2013
In 1976, one could buy a basic three bedroom house in Estcourt for R14 000 and an upmarket home in the best suburb for R28 000.
Rosebank: a thriving business hub - Moneyweb, 21 February 2013
Over the past year Rosebank has seen a number of office developments such as the Rose office complex, the refurbishment the Growthpoint properties on Jan Smuts, the expansion of retail space at the Rosebank mall as well as the construction of the Taariq Crescent on Jellicoe Avenue. |
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| INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY NEWS | Dow soars to highest level in more than 5 years - Moneyweb, 28 February 2013
Strong reports on the US housing market and durable goods orders propelled stocks higher Wednesday, with the much-watched Dow index reaching its highest level in more than five years.
Confidence in eurozone beats forecasts - Business Day, 28 February 2013
Economic confidence in the eurozone increased more than economists forecast this month, adding to signs that the 17-nation currency bloc may be emerging from recession. |
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