Africa
Get Close to Property Transfer Cost in South Africa continued
Friday, February 20th, 2009For example: A property costs R70 000 and you have paid a deposit of 10 percent. The seller will expect occupational interest on the outstanding R63 000 at about the same rate as the mortgage bond rate applicable to this amount, unless otherwise specified, which currently stands at 16,25 percent but which is subject to [...]
How Swimming Pool affect the value of Property part 3
Thursday, November 13th, 2008Doing it yourself
All pool company quotes, except those for installing vinyl-lined pools, include the cost of ground excavations even though these may be sub-contracted. However, you may choose to have the excavations done yourself.
This is not always financially viable unless you have access to earth moving equipment and, should there be boulders to crush, pneumatic [...]
How Swimming Pool affect the value of Property part 2
Thursday, November 13th, 2008Swimming pools Price
The swimming pool industry in South Africa has had its fair share of knocks, largely because of disreputable companies springing up to take advantage of the economic upswings and offering ‘cheap’ pools to money-conscious clients. Most people will consider price before they consider anything else. This is a natural reaction of any [...]
Mortgage and Property Buying, Make a Smart Move
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008Buying a house — especially your first one — is always a big step. It brings about a huge financial responsibility and much consideration is necessary before you decide to buy a house. There are however, many good reasons for buying your own home. These are a few:
Investment
Buying a home is much more than just [...]
What an Real Estate Agent can help?
Thursday, September 25th, 2008Many people are discouraged by the perceived hassle and red-tape which is part and parcel of buying a home. Fortunately, this perception is not true. With the services of an accomplished estate agent, the prospective home owner will find that making that all important investment is easy and rewarding.
How an estate agent can help you [...]
Real Estate Basic Buying Process Guide
Saturday, September 13th, 2008Once you have decided on the property you want to buy, you should proceed by making the seller an offer in a document called the Offer to Purchase. This document is also called an Agreement of Sale or Purchase Agreement. It states the terms and conditions under which you agree to buy the property.
It is [...]
Estate Agent place in the community continue…
Thursday, April 10th, 2008Gathering data, however, is only one side of the coin. To be a successful estate agent you must also make yourself personally known to the homeowners who live in your territory. This is best done by what South African politicians call huisbesoek—the home visit. Set yourself a realistic daily target for visiting a predetermined number [...]
Estate Agent place in the community
Thursday, April 10th, 2008A professional estate agent is a valued member of any modern South African community and is as important to its general wellbeing as the local doctor, dentist, veterinary surgeon, accountant or bank manager. An estate agent’s domain is, after all, the provision of shelter which, together with food, are two of life’s most basic necessities.
Because [...]
The Benefit of a CRS Designation
Monday, April 7th, 2008Of the courses offered to residential sales agents the CRS (SA) is far and away the most prized and sought after. It is the Crown Jewel of the Institute of Estate Agents Educational Programme. Presented annually since 1985 by American instructors it has retained its exciting format and delivered results exceeding all expectations. The course [...]
New Housing Subsidy System part 3
Thursday, March 27th, 2008The White Paper emphasizes that the present budgetary allocation to housing is entirely inadequate to support the housing programme envisaged in the RDP and that it will be essential for
Government to adjust its priorities in this regard, if it is serious about achieving its target of one million houses in five years. It also emphasizes [...]
New Housing Subsidy System Part 2
Tuesday, March 25th, 2008Following on from this 8 joint technical committees have been established between the Department of Housing and the National Housing Forum. Their job is to develop policy in these priority areas:
Overall housing strategy;
Housing subsidies;
Retail lending initiatives and the provision of housing credit;
Institutional arrangements, fund mobilization and the National Housing Budget;
Land planning;
Hostels;
Sector efficiency and effectiveness; [...]
Banks and Mortgage Finance (Lending criteria)
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008Lending criteria
Residential mortgage lending criteria accordingly concentrate on two areas:
1. The applicant
This investigation involves establishing whether the applicant can and will repay the loan. By examining the size of the applicant’s income compared to other expenses so as to ensure that the instalment is affordable. Ascertain that the income is reliable, based on the [...]
Exchange control
Monday, March 17th, 2008The Financial Rand is a non-resident investment currency derived from:
The local sale proceeds of South African assets owned by persons resident outside the Republic, and
Funds so designated by the Treasury or a person authorized by the Treasury. Financial Rand may only be traded in by a non-resident of the Republic.
Commercial Rand is legal tender used [...]
