| MARKET TRENDS |
How to spring clean your finances - Property24, 26 September
2013
Spring is a time of renewal and taking stock. Just as you clean out
your garage, turn your house upside-down by scrubbing walls and washing floors
in preparation for spring, why not use this time to take a look at your personal
finances to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.
Household confidence plunges to 10-year low - Business Day, 26
September 2013
South African households’ confidence has slumped to the
lowest level in 10 years, signalling a slowdown in spending.
Stress-testing SA’s economic prospects - Moneyweb, 23
September 2013
Just what are the assumptions underlying our SA economic
prospects and what do we get when we stress-test them? Realistically, the mood
is not a happy one. We seem to be trapped in a 2% GDP growth groove. Inflation
is 6.4%. |
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| GENERAL PROPERTY
NEWS |
482 new houses for KZN Cornubia - Property24, 26 September
2013
The inter-governmental, multibillion rand Cornubia Development,
situated north of Durban, has become a reality, as 482 housing units are ready
for occupation, says eThekwini mayor James Nxumalo.
Total income for tourist accommodation up 10.3% y/y in July -
eProp, 25 September 2013
Total income for the tourist accommodation
industry increases by 10.3% in nominal terms in July 2013 compared with a year
earlier‚ says Statistics SA.
Joburg CBD: Africa's tallest building - Property24, 25
September 2013
As the elevator took off from the upper ground level of
Africa’s tallest building, the security officer looked at me and said: “It only
takes 45 seconds for this lift to reach the top floor.” What a thrill - I was
inside the Carlton Centre or “The roof of Africa” as it is popularly known.
Public interest: key to conserving urban heritage - Moneyweb,
24 September 2013
Gone are the days when museums and monuments were the
most common representation of cultural and historic significance, say architects
and teaching academics. |
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| RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Consent levels for ST decisions - Property24, 26 September
2013
In sectional title schemes there is often confusion about what
level of body corporate consensus is required for certain decisions. Is a simple
majority enough or do we need a special or unanimous resolution? When is the
written consent of all owners required?
Inside SA's economic hub: Gauteng - Property24, 23 September
2013
Since coming off the boom of the mid-2000s, housing market activity
appears to have settled into a “new normal”, according to the Standard Bank
Residential Property Viewpoint report.
Recovery in first-time buyer interest - Property24, 23
September 2013
Sentiment in the residential property market continues to
improve and drive up the demand for homeownership, even in the face of rising
living expenses and slow economic growth that is keeping the lid on salary and
wage increases.
Not such good news for buy-to-let investors - Moneyweb, 22
September 2013
After slow house price growth from 2008 to late-2011 had
allowed rentals to play some mild catchup with residential property values, a
period of improved house price growth performance through 2012 and the 1st half
of 2013 translated into a resumption of yield compression (decline), thereby
arguably diminishing the attractiveness of residential property as an investment
purchase mildly. |
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| COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
R85m office property in Century City - Property24, 26
September 2013
The Business Centre’s first serviced offices in Cape Town
will open in Century City on 1 October. The Century City Business Centre will
offer 115 purpose built offices with 370 workstations, meeting rooms, video
conferencing facilities and an on-site cafe.
Gains in the office sector will be driven by economic
improvements - eProp, 25 September 2013
Weak economic growth has
seen the office market muddling along, with overall vacancies still high,
particularly for older stock and secondary areas, with rental growth stagnating
in large cities.
Green buildings can deliver unexpected savings - eProp, 25
September 2013
Apart from the obvious environmental benefits, the
advantages of sustainable building design, construction and operation are
becoming increasingly evident in all areas of business, most notably the bottom
line.
Six of the best property developers unpack green trends -
eProp, 25 September 2013
More and more property developers are opting
for sustainability, not only as an alternative building initiative, but as a
unique selling point to discerning buyers.
Controversy builds around Soweto mall - eProp, 25 September
2013
Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane snubbed an invitation to the
unveiling of a multimillion-rand mall in Meadowlands, Soweto, on Monday.
Newly formed Galetti Knight Frank - Property24, 25 September
2013
Galetti, one of South Africa’s foremost commercial property
consultancies, has secured a formal relationship with the world’s leading
independent property group – and also the African continent’s biggest player –
Knight Frank.
Sharemax director warns against Fais Ombud complaints –
Moneyweb, 24 September 2013
Investors in Nova Group Investments have
been cautioned against pursuing complaints with Fais Ombud Noluntu Bam.
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| ESTATE AGENT
NEWS |
Fourways SA Home Loans offer help - Property24, 26 September
2013
Warm hearted business owners, their staff and school children in
Fourways, Johannesburg, have joined forces to offer a helping hand to the Jes
Foord Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports sexual assault
survivors.
REBOSA looking to transform industry - Property24, 25
September 2013
Real estate business organisation REBOSA says it is ready
to start tackling some of the challenges facing the sector.
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| SPECIFIC AREAS |
Buying property in Newlands Cape Town - Property24, 26
September 2013
The suburb of Newlands in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs
continues to attract broad demand from a variety of buyers.
New Vista Park homes in Bloemfontein - Property24, 25
September 2013
About 4 km from the city centre in Bloemfontein, is Vista
Park, not your typical traditional township – it does not have shacks or
shanties that are a norm in some of South Africa’s major cities.
Vaal Dam’s leisure property resurgence - Property24, 25
September 2013
The Vaal Dam property market has seen a revival in
interest from buyers looking for leisure property, particularly vacant stands.
Hot property: Cape Winelands escapes - Property24, 24
September 2013
While just over 45 minutes’ drive out of the Cape
metropolis, the Cape Winelands region, made up of the towns of Franschhoek,
Tulbagh, Worcester, Paarl, Wellington, Ceres and Stellenbosch, offer a real
respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Value for money property in Bellville - Property24, 23
September 2013
Located in the popular northern suburbs of Cape Town,
Bellville is experiencing a high demand for residential property, even resulting
in stock shortages. |
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