| MARKET TRENDS |
Positive surprise in retail sales leaves economists cold -
Business Day, 17 October 2013
Retail trade sales rose much more than
expected in August, confounding experts’ predictions of a rise of just more than
1% but doing little to lift the gloom over a key sector of the
economy. |
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| GENERAL PROPERTY
NEWS |
New funders needed for SA infrastructure programme - eProp, 16
October 2013
Banks’ limited ability to finance long-term projects opens
up opportunities for other types of funders to make returns and help SA
implement its R3.4-trillion infrastructure programme.
Special rating areas boost values and security - Moneyweb, 11
October 2013
Members of taxpayer and resident associations are
increasingly driving the establishment of Special Rated Areas (SRA’s).
Previously known as City Improvement Districts, SRAs are specific geographic
areas within which property owners agree to pay for supplementary
services. |
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| RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Home loans for different age groups - Property24, 17 October
2013
People of different ages have different housing requirements but
they also face different challenges when trying to obtain a home loan. Retired
or almost retired borrowers, may well have low debt, significant assets and high
home equity, but may also be on a fixed income.
First-timers active in the home market - Property24, 17
October 2013
With the cost of living continually increasing, young
households often choose to rent instead of buy, and as such, the level of
first-time buying and younger generation home buying in general, is more
“pro-cyclical” than that of older generations of home buyers who are more of the
repeat buyer type.
Home buying activity and affordability - Property24, 16
October 2013
Estate agents point to residential supply stock as a
concern in the Home Buying Survey Q3 2013. According to the report, more estate
agents cite stock constraints than those claiming oversupplies, and the
percentage citing stock constraints remains relatively high of late compared to
prior years.
All about the interest - Iafrica.com, 15 October 2013
When applying for a home loan, one of your most important considerations
should be securing the lowest interest rate possible. And when the home loan is
granted, you should do everything you can to reduce the term and the interest
that you pay. These will save you a great deal of money in the long term.
Tough measures pay off for residential landlords - Moneyweb,
15 October 2013
Despite high consumer debt levels amid a tough economy,
rental books show that the majority of residential tenants are in good standing
– perhaps an indication that tough vetting measures adopted by landlords are
paying off.
To sell or not to sell... - Iafrica.com, 14 October 2013
Imagine being in a predicament where you would like to buy a new property,
but could miss out on the opportunity due to receiving a less-than-desired offer
on your existing property?
Stubborn sellers forced to drop prices - Property24, 11
October 2013
Despite slow growth in house prices, buying and selling
activity still exists in the South African residential market. However, some
properties still take longer to sell and some sellers are still holding on for
unrealistic prices in the market.
Nearby private schools: a sought-after commodity - Moneyweb,
10 October 2013
Although demand for property within close proximity of
good schools is no new phenomenon, its less likely now that excellent state
schools are found close to home. |
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| COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
Excellerate Property Services targets public sector - eProp,
17 October 2013
In a move to capitalise on business opportunities in
both the private and public sector, Excellerate Property Services (EPS) has
appointed Fundiswa ‘Fundi’ Mazibuko director of customer relationship management
and business development.
Successful businesses need to embrace the sustainability
revolution - eProp, 17 October 2013
Globally boardrooms are being
held to account for their sustainability, ethics and social contribution," says
Jason Drew, an entrepreneur, passionate environmentalist and visionary who
advocates for the sustainability revolution.
How to prevent commercial burglaries - Property24, 16 October
2013
The security and safety of commercial properties and tenants is
often threatened by burglaries.
In fact the recent crime statistics noted
that commercial property break-ins were definitely on the increase.
Consumer trends and retail property - Property24, 15 October
2013
Some interesting trends have emerged in South Africa’s retail
sector, reports Johan Engelbrecht, director, retail properties for JHI
Properties, which currently manages approximately 2.7 million square metres of
retail space in Southern Africa, comprising some 240 shopping centres.
City Lodge begins construction of lavish Waterfall City hotel
- eProp, 11 October 2013
JSE-listed City Lodge Hotels said on Tuesday
the development of its 150-room City Lodge Waterfall City had begun, with the
hotel scheduled to open toward the end of
2014. |
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| ESTATE AGENT
NEWS |
EAAB appoints new CEO - Property24, 17 October 2013
After the conclusion of a comprehensive and rigorous selection process,
Bryan Chaplog has been appointed as the chief executive officer of the Estate
Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) with effect from 1 October 2013.
RE/MAX the top real estate franchise - Property24, 16 October
2013
For the fifth consecutive year, RE/MAX, LLC ranked as the leading
real estate franchise organisation in the Franchise Times Top 200. The survey is
based upon annual worldwide sales. |
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| SPECIFIC AREAS |
Noordhoek's homes & quality lifestyle - Property24, 17
October 2013
Noordhoek with its rural atmosphere, proximity to the
beach, large stands and equestrian properties has an abiding attraction for
property buyers, and more than a third of its residents have owned their
properties for a decade or longer.
Ottery home records R800k price growth - Property24, 16
October 2013
A residential property in Ottery, located on the eastern
fringe of Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs was recently sold for R2.5 million
setting a new price record from R1.7 million in 2011, and achieving price growth
of R800 000.
Johannesburg: A property buyers' den - Property24, 16 October
2013
There is something very intriguing about the City of Johannesburg
CBD despite some of its failings. Over the last five or so years, property
prices in the Johannesburg CBD have increased in value tremendously thanks to
big business which includes listed property funds, banks and other institutions
who started buying up property to protect and enhance their investments.
New Midrand Estates homes selling fast - Property24, 16
October 2013
Demand for units in the sprawling Midrand Estates complex
is strong and new extensions to be launched in the near future are already
attracting enquiries from prospective buyers.
New developments in Cape from R455k - Property24, 15 October
2013
Construction has begun on Stanford Bridge, a new small gated
residential development located in the picturesque village of Stanford in the
Cape Overberg.
Buying property in KZN's Howick - Property24, 14 October
2013
Howick is located in the uMgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal,
around 88km from Durban. It is home to the Howick Falls, which is a 100m
waterfall on the Umgeni River originally known as kwaNogqaza by the original
Zulu inhabitants, which means ‘The place of the tall
one’. |
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| INTERNATIONAL
PROPERTY NEWS |
NEWS ANALYSIS: Biggest US economic risk is Washington -
Business Day, 17 October 2013
Consensus may be hard to find in
Washington these days but many corporate executives and economists seem to agree
on one point: the biggest risk to the world’s largest economy may be its own
elected representatives.
US Congress ends default threat, Obama signs debt bill -
Moneyweb, 16 October 2013
The U.S. Congress on Wednesday approved an
11th-hour deal to end a partial government shutdown and pull the world's biggest
economy back from the brink of a historic debt default that could have
threatened financial calamity.
Investing in Jakarta property market - Property24, 14 October
2013
Jakarta has been the stand out global property performer over the
past five years.
According to the latest Knight Frank Wealth report, Jakarta
prime property prices have risen by 136 percent since the end of 2007. Notably,
they rose by 38 percent in 2012 alone and by another 11 percent in the first 6
months of 2013.
Dubai property bounces but stirs fears of new bubble - eProp,
11 October 2013
Dubai's property sector is making a strong comeback five
years after prices in the emirate nosedived, but a surge in demand and bouncing
prices have triggered calls to remember the crisis.
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