| Weekly E-News |
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| MARKET TRENDS |
Debt crippling many consumers - Moneyweb, 25 July 2013
Most consumers who approach the National Debt Mediation Association (NDMA)
have debt exceeding their income by over 30 percent, the organisation said on
Wednesday.
Useful do's and don'ts of saving money - Property24, 25 July
2013
In the midst of savings month it is probably a good idea to get
your head around some useful savings tips to save towards any goals you may want
to realise.
June inflation undershoots expectations - Moneyweb, 24 July
2013
South Africa's headline consumer inflation undershot market
expectations in June, slowing to 5.5 % year-on-year from 5.6 % in May, data
showed on Wednesday.
Property rights and the public interest - eProp, 20 July
2013
With a new Expropriation Bill in the pipeline, the courts will have
to be strict in order to protect property owners and hold the government and
third parties accountable, writes Bradley Slade.
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| GENERAL PROPERTY
NEWS |
Greek island for sale - Moneyweb, 25 July 2013
An
uninhabited private island off the coast of Greece will go on auction at a
starting price of 10 million euros ($13.2 million) in September, the company
organising the sale announced Wednesday.
Joburg to spend R30bn on infrastructure and service delivery –
eProp, 23 July 2013
The City of Johannesburg is to spend about R30
billion on infrastructure developments and service delivery in the next three
years, says Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau.
Colluding construction companies face further sanctions and
disqualification - eProp, 23 July 2013
Construction companies hit
with a collective R1.46bn fine for bid-rigging and collusion have been warned
they face the prospect of further sanctions, including possible disqualification
from state tenders.
Malema's Polokwane house sells for R1.4m - Moneyweb, 23 July
2013
The Polokwane house of Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius
Malema was bought by town planner Tshimangadzo Makhokha on Tuesday.
Fancy owning a game farm? - Property24, 23 July 2013
Game farming and game farm land is coming of age, and proving to be a
increasingly important factor in the farming sector in general in South Africa.
Acid mine damage at critical levels - Property24, 23 July
2013
Acid mine water, now so prevalent in Gauteng, has until recently
generally been regarded as the industrialists’ and mine owners’ problem.
Realistic property prices reflected on auction platform -
eProp, 20 July 2013
High Street Auctions announced that its next
multi-property aution will be held on Thursday 25 July, at 12pm, at Summer Place
in Hyde Park. 14 properties will be showcased and pre-registration has opened.
Cities should be innovation sites - Property24, 19 July
2013
Cities should become sites of innovation for addressing challenges
such as youth unemployment, spatial and income inequalities and economic
exclusion, says Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.
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| RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Watch out for dodgy landlords - Property24, 25 July 2013
Tips on avoiding dodgy tenants are plentiful, but what about avoiding dodgy
landlords? Unfortunately, there are just as many landlords who neglect their
responsibilities towards their properties as there are tenants who do the same.
Suburbs: more black buyers - Iafrica.com, 24 July 2013
This year could mark the first year in which the estimated percentage of
white buyers in South Africa's suburban markets drops below 50 percent of total
buyers.
Joburg rental property in short supply - Property24, 24 July
2013
There is less than a one percent chance of finding a decent flat to
rent in the Johannesburg inner city, as vacancies hit a historic low and pave
the way for a new surge of investor interest in the precinct.
Surburban home buyers by race in SA - Property24, 24 July
2013
Since the beginning of 2013 to date, the FNB Estate Agent Surveys
on Home Buying by Race Groups report shows further progress in the racial
transformation of South Africa’s “Suburban” housing markets.
Smart home selling strategies - Property24, 23 July 2013
With South African residential property showing signs of becoming a
preferred asset class once again, multiple offers on homes are now increasingly
common.
Oldies driving residential selling - Property24, 22 July
2013
The FNB Property Barometer Reasons for Selling Survey Q2 2013
reveals that South Africa’s ageing homeowner population is the largest driver of
residential selling.
Tax break for employers to provide Low-income Housing - eProp,
22 July 2013
Tax Laws Amendment Bill allows employers to provide
low-income housing worth up to R350000 to employees earning less than
R200000/year. |
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| COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Province said to be wasting office space - eProp, 25 July
2013
Study by the Western Cape provincial government shows that the
province's office properties make inefficient use of space and have higher costs
per employee compared to the private sector.
Polokwane illegal land uses resolved - Property24, 24 July
2013
Thanks to the persistence of the South African Property Owners
Association (Sapoa) and its legal department, the commercial and industrial
property sector has won a key battle against illegal land uses in the Northern
Province city of Polokwane.
Premier office vacancies remain low despite high spec development
levels - eProp, 23 July 2013
Vacancies in SA’s stock of
premier-grade office space remain exceptionally low, despite high levels of
speculative development activity, reports the latest edition of the SAPOA Office
Vacancy Survey.
Banking on commercial property in SA - Property24, 23 July
2013
Nedbank Commercial Property Finance (CPF) remains committed to
funding sound property deals and developments in South Africa and the bank says
Gauteng has the biggest book, undoubtedly because of the size of the region.
JHI Properties focuses on positive growth potential in commercial
property market - eProp, 22 July 2013
Trading conditions in the
commercial property market remain challenging, though there are a number of
factors which are having a positive impact on activity and future potential in
the market. |
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| LISTED PROPERTY
NEWS |
Hotel industry well on road to recovery - eProp, 25 July
2013
JSE-listed Hospitality Property Fund (HPA,HPB), which invests in
hotel and leisure properties, is optimistic about the outlook for the hotel
industry after a challenging period in the sector, according to CEO Andrew
Rogers.
REITs and tax implications - Property24, 25 July 2013
The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) regime is set to usher in a new era
for the listed property sector by affording certain tax advantages to qualifying
entities and providing certainty in respect of the tax treatment of property
loan stock companies.
Selective value in listed property sector - eProp, 23 July
2013
South Africa’s listed property sector continued to recover, with it
gaining 3.1% during the week ended 19 July 2013.
What can ordinary investors expect from listed property? -
Moneyweb, 22 July 2013
Since total returns on listed property have never
been negative, the shortcomings of cash earnings are emphasised, in particular
over the long term. |
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| ESTATE AGENT
NEWS |
Rode property conferences in August - Property24, 24 July
2013
The annual property Rode & Associates’ one day events will take
place on 20 August in Cape Town at the Spier Estate, near Stellenbosch, 23
August at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park Gauteng, 22 August at the Protea Hotel
Marine in Port Elizabeth, 28 August at Ilanga Estate in Bloemfontein and 30
August at The Oyster Box in Umhlanga, Durban.
Over 60s agent exemption workshop - Property24, 23 July
2013
The Institute of Estate Agents, Western Cape, is running a workshop
for those who are over 60 and need help with compiling their Portfolios of
Evidence in order to apply for exemption from doing their NQF4 and NQF5
qualifications or their PDEs. |
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| SPECIFIC AREAS |
Shortage of Pinelands homes for sale - Property24, 25 July
2013
Pinelands is located on the edge of the southern suburbs of Cape
Town and is known for its abundance of trees and easy access to the city centre,
beaches and the airport.
Meyersdal estate home for R39.5m - Property24, 25 July
2013
Meyersdal, bordering Glenvista, Bassonia, Oakdene and Alberton, is
an upper class, affluent residential suburb of Johannesburg and home to a number
of entertainment facilities and shopping malls.
New developments in Pretoria East - Property24, 24 July
2013
A tentative resurgence in property confidence that became evident
at the end of last year in Pretoria East has gained velocity this year in the
commercial and residential sectors.
Secure country living in Paarl - Property24, 23 July 2013
Boschenmeer Golf and Country Estate, located on the outskirts of Paarl, is
almost fully developed, with just 11 vacant stands remaining out of a total of
485 properties.
PE's Walmer property offers good value - Property24, 22 July
2013
The affluent suburb of Walmer in Port Elizabeth is regarded as
something of an establishment with some of the city’s oldest families calling
the area home. |
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| INTERNATIONAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Obama defends economic vision as battles loom - Business Day,
25 July 2013
US President Barack Obama launched a ground campaign for an
economic plan to revitalise the American middle class on Wednesday, challenging
a hostile Congress to work with him.
Actis $250m Garden City development breaks ground - eProp, 25
July 2013
Garden City, Nairobi’s flagship retail, residential and
commercial property development, broke ground today at a celebration ceremony in
the presence of over 100 distinguished guests, including the Governor of
Nairobi, Dr. Evans Kidero.
Will Fed tapering lead to a 1994-style sell-off? - Moneyweb,
23 July 2013
The improvement in the US economy, comments about the
tapering of quantitative easing and increases in interest rates, have spiked
fears that a repeat of the 1994 bond sell-off might be on the cards.
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