| MARKET TRENDS |
Credit plan criticised as poll ploy - Business Day, 14 August
2013
The Banking Association of South Africa suspects "political
reasons" lie behind the government’s rush to introduce a credit amnesty, which
is likely to be a vote-drawing populist measure in elections next year.
Households can expect to do it tough for next two years -
Business Day, 13 August 2013
South African households are likely to
continue facing tough times for the rest of 2013, with their spending - which
has driven economic activity in the past few years - only picking up over the
next two years, Investec said in an outlook report of the sector on Tuesday.
Reserve Bank’s Mminele warns of SA growth dipping below 2% -
Business Day, 13 August 2013
Economic growth in South Africa runs the
risk of falling below the forecast 2% if wage talks deadlock and result in
strikes, and confidence levels fail to pick up over the coming months, Reserve
Bank deputy governor Daniel Mminele warned on Monday night.
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| GENERAL PROPERTY
NEWS |
Regeneration of CT's Northern Suburbs - Property24, 14 August
2013
World Design Capital 2014 (WDC 2014) has announced that the Future
Tyger project in Cape Town has been accepted into the World Design Capital 2014
programme.
Top 10 cities for African millionaires - Property24, 13 August
2013
New World Wealth, an Oxford based wealth consultancy has conducted
an in-depth analysis of the African high net worth community. The new research
ranks the top African cities and countries for African millionaires.
SA renegotiates double tax agreement with Mauritius - eProp,
13 August 2013
South Africa has renegotiated its double tax agreement
with Mauritius following earlier concerns by the South African Revenue Service
(SARS) and the Treasury that South African multinational were abusing the
current treaty negotiated in 1996.
A Cape storm is brewing - Moneyweb, 13 August 2013
Rapid population growth in the Western Cape as tens of thousands of
unemployed migrants enter the city from the Eastern Cape and neighbouring
countries is exacerbating shortages of land for development in the city.
Cities stung in collusion scandal ‘should benefit from fines’
- Business Day, 13 August 2013
Cities affected by the collusion scandal
involving the construction of World Cup stadiums, should stand together and
demand the Competition Commission return the money it collected in fines "to the
victims of collusion, the rightful owners of the money", the Cape Chamber of
Commerce said on Tuesday.
The risks of unapproved building plans - Property24, 12 August
2013
Estate agents and home buyers should be aware of the perils of
buying a property where alterations and additions have not been approved by the
local municipality.
Nearly 3m SA households in agriculture - Property24, 09 August
2013
Nearly three million households in South Africa are engaged in
agricultural activities, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) says. The data,
which shows that 2.9 million households were involved in agriculture in 2011,
stems from the Agricultural Households Release which was released by Stats SA
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| RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
House price growth in South Africa - Property24, 14 August
2013
Price growth in the South African housing market slowed down
further in July, according to the Absa House Price Index report, which shows
that middle-segment house price growth recorded nominal growth of 9.8 percent
year-on-year (y/y) in July from 10.8 percent y/y in June.
Low credit and mortgage balances - Property24, 14 August
2013
Year-on-year (y/y) growth in outstanding credit balances in the
South African private sector (households and the corporate sector) was 8.9
percent at the end of June 2013 from 9.1 percent in May.
Sectional title homes the best - Iafrica.com, 14 August
2013
The value for money and the standard of design in most new
sectional title property developments that have come on stream in the last year
have, countrywide, improved out of all recognition - and this has come about as
a result of the recession and the huge slow-down in new unit delivery, which
caused some two-thirds of South Africa’s developers to put their schemes on ice.
Value property buys at Aug auctions - Property24, 13 August
2013
In South Africa, the property sector is holding its own in a less
than favourable economic environment, proving that property is a sound
investment that rides out the economic highs and lows relatively smoothly,
according to High Street Auctions joint managing director, James Dall.
Tips for buying the home you want - Property24, 13 August
2013
The property market has certainly seen remarkable improvement over
the last six months. This is according to Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of
Southern Africa, who says it was not that long ago that a desirable home in a
good location may have sat on the market for months.
What’s going on with house prices? - Moneyweb, 12 August
2013
If you’re interested in house price changes, trying to decipher the
various indices that are out there could prove challenging.
10 pointers before you house hunt - Property24, 15 August
2013
When you decide to start looking for a property, you may feel
overwhelmed by the different property types, locations, prices and conditions.
So it's best to do a little homework before you start the process and make your
journey to homeownership a whole lot easier.
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| LISTED PROPERTY
NEWS |
Listed property companies simplify capital structure - eProp,
14 August 2013
Other listed property companies are expected to follow
sector heavyweight Growthpoint Properties’ lead in converting its historically
complicated capital structure to one of ordinary shares.
Spar opens first forecourt store - eProp, 14 August 2013
Listed retailer Spar Group has joined the foray into the forecourt stores
business with the opening of its first Spar Express store in Germiston on
Wednesday.
Fortress beats own expectations on offshore investments, SA
portfolio - Business Day, 14 August 2013
JSE-listed Fortress Income
Fund reported on Wednesday that its total distributions for the year ended June
had increased by 11.72% to 140.7c, buoyed by its offshore investments and local
retail portfolio.
Listed Property newcomers feeling the squeeze - eProp, 13
August 2013
Demand for first-time capital market funding among the JSE’s
newer property listings has largely been put on hold since market conditions
changed in May and June.
Resilient Property Income Fund offshore investments boost share
price - eProp, 13 August 2013
Shares in Resilient Property Income
Fund climbed 1.69% last week to close at R54 after the retail-focused property
company reported a 12.83% rise in distributions to 136.23c per linked unit for
the six months ended June.
Delta to sell three-year debt, into headwind - Moneyweb, 12
August 2013
Delta Property Fund (JSE:DLT) which rents office space to
the South African government, is facing higher borrowing costs as it readies the
sale of its first bond, according to Grindrod (JSE:GND) Asset Management.
How the market can change in three months - Moneyweb, 08
August 2013
Less than three months ago market rumbles suggested that
anywhere between ten and 22 companies were due to list on the JSE’s property
sector this year. |
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| ESTATE AGENT
NEWS |
IEA to hold PDE preparatory workshops - Property24, 15 August
2013
Estate agents who have registered to write their level four or five
PDE in September might need some help preparing for the exam.
Commission award for Rawson franchisee - Property24, 12 August
2013
To the surprise of many franchisees, Schalk van der Merwe of
Somerset West won the Rawson Property Group’s prize for the highest commission
fees earned in the Western Cape in November 2012 to April
2013. |
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| SPECIFIC AREAS |
Edenvale property still well-priced - Property24, 15 August
2013
Edenvale, which is located east of the Johannesburg CBD, is one of
few major Johannesburg precincts where, after recording house price rises in the
2002 to 2006 era, the subsequent performance has been “more than satisfactory”.
New Century City Silvertree apartments - Property24, 14 August
2013
A block of 31 apartments called Silvertree is being launched by
Rabie Property Group at Century City, the growing mixed-use development in Cape
Town.
Cape Agulhas property priced over R10m - Property24, 13 August
2013
The Overberg town of Cape Agulhas has just 4 000 inhabitants and is
situated 35km from Bredasdorp, with a little-known development which, has
“everything going for it”.
Good rental returns in Mossel Bay - Property24, 12 August
2013
Lower-priced residential units in Mossel Bay on the Garden Route
are now being targeted by investors anticipating excellent rental returns.
Family living in Somerset West - Property24, 12 August
2013
The suburb of Nature’s Valley is one of the most exclusive in
Somerset West, located close to historic wine estates such as Vergelegen, Fleur
du Cap and Lourensford. |
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| INTERNATIONAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Eurozone boosts SA prospects - Business Day, 15 August
2013
The eurozone on Wednesday posted economic growth figures that were
stronger than expected, breathing life into prospects for the local economy.
Merkel challenger Steinbrueck aims to clean European Union
‘mess’ - Business Day, 14 August 2013
German Social Democratic
chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrueck said on Tuesday he was going to have to
clean up the mess created in Europe by Angela Merkel’s "one-sided" solution to
almost four years of crisis in the
eurozone.
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