Property Advice Articles in South Africa

Struggling with your bond repayments? Here is what you can do

Being in the position where you can no longer afford the monthly repayments on your bond is a terrible fate. Nobody wants to default on their bond but sometimes it happens that people simply can’t afford to keep up the payments.

8 security tips for your garage and garage door openers

Automatic garage door openers are a great convenience, but they can also serve as a weak link in your garage security. Here are some ideas you might want to try for increasing garage security.

Thinking of downsizing your home? Consider these pros and cons

If you’re lucky enough to own a property that has appreciated in value, downsizing means you’ll be able to enjoy the many benefits of the equity freed up from the sale of your home

Here’s how homeowners' associations can cut costs and boost income

Most community housing schemes are in a constant battle to contain operational costs and keep monthly levies low – and that includes gated estates that are run by a Homeowners’ Association.

What tenants should consider if they want to stand out as the best choice for landlords

After the shocks of Covid-19 and dealing with many months of no payment from tenants who lost their jobs and businesses or faced severe reductions in their salaries and wages, many landlords are still extremely cautious when considering new...

To furnish or not to furnish - the landlord's dilemma

Landlords need to consider the area in which they are investing as well as their target market when deciding whether or not to furnish a rental property, if they do, they should stick to as neutral a style and colour palate as possible in order...

Can we as the purchasers pull out of the deal and look for another house due to a delay in sale?

A Property24 Reader wants to know if they can pull out of a deal and look for another house due to the sale taking a long time to close.

Property remains a good way to earn a passive income

By purchasing a residential property with the intention of renting it out to a tenant, you can grow wealth through your asset while someone else pays your mortgage.

Sectional Title trustees cannot award themselves contracts

Any owner in a Sectional Title scheme who is in good standing can become a trustee, and they can even nominate and vote for themselves should they wish.

I signed a lease agreement, it's been 3 days, and the landlord has not yet signed, may I cancel?

A Property24 Reader wants to know what grounds they have to cancel a lease agreement.

Understanding conditional clauses when buying or selling property

Buying a property is a lengthy process that involves reams of documentation and jargon that most people never use on a daily basis and it’s therefore imperative that they understand exactly what they are signing.

Spring, warmer weather, and the change of season – is your security system ready?

The change in season brings changing weather patterns to all parts of the country. All of this has serious implications for any home security system, and need to be considered when doing system maintenance.

Turning a freehold into a sectional title

Both sectional title and freehold ownership comes with their own sets of pros and cons.

Development challenges in meeting the growing housing demand of an ageing population

With the number of people aged over 60 expected to double over the next 30 years and retirement property options already in short supply, there are a number of significant challenges that developers face to meet this growing demand.

Buyers, double check those compliance certificates

While a Defects Disclosure Document will provide the buyer with a good overview of the property being purchased, it is essential that the purchaser conducts their own inspections.