There is one thing that we’re used to in South Africa – space. From the vast open areas of the Karoo and Northern Cape, to the expanse of the Drakensberg Mountains and, further north, the territories towards our neighboring countries. We’ve taken that love affair with open spaces into our homes. It’s commonplace for properties… Read More Spoilt For Space
It may have come as a surprise to many economists, but the recent interest rate increase a wise move – at least I think so. The market has enjoyed nearly 2 years of steady recovery, and sometimes it’s easy to lose touch with reality. The reality is that many world economies are still in a… Read More What Effect Will Interest Rates Have on the Property Market?
The Helderberg area is a high demand property area. That’s good news. It means purchasers see the benefits of the lifestyle offered here, and want to move here with their families. This increased demand means there is positive upwards pressure on property values, and a market for new properties to be constructed. I remember the… Read More Are Developments Good or Bad for your Property Value?
The newspapers are full of accounts of how residents banded together to assist those affected by the floods in the Helderberg last week. The Somerset West Facebook page was “flooded” with offers to assist those in need. Calls went out to evacuate Vergelegen Medi-Clinic, and many responded. Early on Saturday morning I drove through Bizweni… Read More When a Crisis Unites the Community
Every seller wants to find a buyer for his property. But the key to achieving the best price is finding the best buyer, not just any buyer. So how does one achieve this? The first reality to accept is that there is only one pool of buyers. There is no such thing as a Harcourts… Read More How to Find Buyers For Your Property
Often a property seller asks an agent roughly how long it will take to sell their property. The answer may have a bearing on when they decide to list their home, and the timing of their move. The two issues that cannot be controlled by an agent are how much a property will sell for,… Read More How Long Will It Take to Sell My Property
When selling there are 5 critical issues to consider, of which one is how much commission you will pay. The other 4 are: What is the market value of my property, what marketing will I receive, what is the service I will get, and which agent will I select. The amount of commission you pay… Read More Estate Agents and the Fees You Pay
The new development of Pine Mews is being launched through Harcourts Platinum. Situated in the fastest growing suburb of Somerset West, just beyond Fernwood Estate, and a stone’s throw from a new shopping center that is soon to be developed, this secure estate offers exceptional value for money. Jason Hutton, who is marketing the development,… Read More Pine Mews is Launched by Harcourts Platinum
In the “good old days” the banks were falling over themselves to give buyers home loan finance. A buyer could obtain a “pre-approval” from their bank, which guaranteed finance for the purchaser up to a certain value. When the economy crashed in 2009 / 2010 these pre-approvals quickly disappeared and home finance became hard to… Read More Buyers – Strengthen Your Offer by Getting Pre-Qualified
Sometimes we hear sellers say that agents price properties low and drive prices down. That raises an interesting question: Are agents responsible for affecting the market values of property? The reality of pricing is that it’s the market that determines market value. The market is made up of the buyers. What the agent thinks a… Read More Are Agents Responsible for the Market Value?
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