7 deadly sins of property investment - Moneyweb, 02 February 2012
Purchasing an investment property can be an intimidating and often risky business, but it is also a way to have a future free of financial worry for those who can master it, says Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

Goslett says that while seasoned property investors will generally have a vast understanding of the property market, many first-time buyers or those relatively new to the property game will often make the wrong and sometimes very costly decisions. Although lucrative opportunities can be found in the current market, it is important for buyers to avoid certain pitfalls that can impact on their return on investment.

Goslett provides the seven deadly sins that property investors should avoid at all costs when purchasing property:

1. Have patience, don’t be in a hurry – Goslett notes that the first step to property investment is taking the time to do the necessary research. “Rushing into a property deal without having spent the time to complete the appropriate research could cost the buyer dearly in the long run,” he says. “As the mantra goes - knowledge is power. If a buyer has done the research they will have a greater understanding of the market and will be able to recognise an opportunity when it arises.” Don’t take the first deal on the market, but shop around.

Take time to compare similar properties in an area and then see what other options are available on the market. Look at the price of the property and compare this to the value. Get an estate agent to provide a comparative market analysis of the area. Read more...

Outlook for SA economy is subdued - eProp, 02 February 2012
Forecasts for the economy's performance this year range from pessimistic to moderately optimistic as global economic uncertainty remains this year's big risk factor.

Mortgages not viable - SAIRR - Iafrica.com, 02 February 2012
About 83 percent of the nearly 14-million households in the country do not earn enough to qualify for bank housing loans, according to the latest SA Survey, published by the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) last week.

Eurozone yoyo analysis paralysis - eProp, 31 January 2012
In South African investor circles a close and often anxious watch is being kept on economic developments in the Eurozone. This according to Rob Lawrence, National Manager of the Rawson Property Group’s bond origination subsidiary, Rawson Finance.

Add your wish list to the budget – Property24, 30 January 2012
With the South African economy expected to grow by less than 3 percent in 2012, all eyes will be on what the annual budget reveals on 22 February.

Future of Landlord and Tenant is no PIE in the sky - eProp, 01 February 2012
“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” Carl Sagan. Up until now, and some hope it continues, PIE was all you needed in dealing with an unscrupulous landlord...

What to ask when buying sect. title? – Property24, 01 February 2012
Those contemplating a purchase in a sectional title scheme often do not take sufficient trouble to investigate just how efficiently - or inefficiently - the scheme’s management is operating. However the quality of the scheme is almost invariably linked very closely to the quality of its management.

No crisis in Tshwane says mayor – Property24, 01 February 2012
The Tshwane metro has denied that municipal departments have been placed under administration due to poor performance and corruption.

Rode hits back at critics - Moneyweb, 31 January 2012
Property economist Erwin Rode has hit out at his critics who have questioned his latest quarterly report saying house prices are overvalued by at least 25% and will take at about five years to recover.

Prices to fall more - Absa - Iafrica.com, 02 February 2012
House prices, in real terms, i.e. after adjustment for the effect of inflation, are set to deflate further in 2012, based on expected low nominal price growth and headline consumer price inflation to remain above the 6 percent level according to Absa Home Loans.

Real house prices to fall more - Iafrica.com, 01 February 2012
Despite mild improvement in year-on-year growth for January, FNB still expects further real house price decline.

Home market growth will be subdued – Property24, 01 February 2012
Mortgage advances growth in the South African mortgage market was very low in 2011 due to macro-economic trends and household finances.

Is the housing market 25% overvalued? - Moneyweb, 01 February 2012
Is the housing market 25% over-valued? We don’t think it is possible to say, but nevertheless do expect some further real house price decline.

Auctions vs conventional selling - Moneyweb, 01 February 2012
One of the main topics currently being discussed in the property market is, "is it better to buy at auctions or through estate agents?"

Distressed properties will remain a reality during 2012 - Moneyweb, 01 February 2012
Economic conditions around the globe have remained depressed, and as such, consumers the world over are still battling to control their levels of debt and adjust to the financial demands of the increased cost of living.

Beware extra costs of buying property – Property24, 31 January 2012
Quite frequently inexperienced homebuyers are ignorant about the total costs involved in a property transaction or, if they are aware of them, they may not realise when such payments become due.

Foreign buyers eyeing Cape Town homes – Property24, 30 January 2012
Cape Town has been voted one of the 10 best places in the world to live in according to the UK Telegraph and Sotheby’s International Realty survey.

Diepkloof mall to open in Oct 2012 – Property24, 02 February 2012
Diepkloof Square community shopping centre in Soweto is set to transform convenient shopping for local residents when it opens in October 2012.

R366m Centurion Boulevard deal closed – Property24, 31 January 2012
Fountainhead Property Trust (FPT) has concluded an agreement for the acquisition of Centurion Boulevard from Sanlam Life Insurance.

R35m upgrade for Tokai shopping centre – Property24, 31 January 2012
A R35 million upgrade and redevelopment of the Tokai on Main Shopping Centre in Main Road, Tokai which includes a new, state-of-the-art 3500 square metre Food Lovers Market, is nearing completion.

SA’s 12 green buildings - Moneyweb, 30 January 2012
The Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) says only 12 buildings , most of them corporate office structures, currently have Green Star SA certification.

Vunani approves acquisition from Redefine - Moneyweb, 01 February 2012
Vunani Property Investment Fund Limited (VPF) on Wednesday approved the acquisition of the Foretrust Building in Cape Town as a going concern from Redefine Properties Limited for an amount of R249.5 million.

Local listed property not so lekker - Financial Mail, 27 January 2012
SA listed property may well have pipped general equities, bonds and cash to the post in 2011 but a total return just shy of 9% is nothing to rave about.

Agent acquires RealNet franchise – Property24, 02 February 2012
Top performing estate agent Antoinette Hoeksema has acquired the RealNet franchise for the Moot East area of Pretoria.

Chas Everitt signs another franchise – Property24, 01 February 2012
Southern suburbs real estate master Jacques Bronkhorst has decided to convert his top-performing agency to the Chas Everitt International brand.

Top estate agents disagree with the Rode Report - Moneyweb, 31 January 2012
Realtors Tony Clarke of Rawson Properties and Lew Geffen of Sothebys International Realty SA have questioned the latest Rode Report that says house prices are overvalued by at least 25% and will take at least five years to recover.

PTA land invasion application continues - Moneyweb, 02 February 2012
An urgent application by the government to evict people who illegally invaded land in Wallmansthal, north of Pretoria, will be heard in the city's high court on Thursday.

Bergvliet homes good value for money – Property24, 01 February 2012
Bergvliet property is reportedly in demand with reasonably priced homes offering good value for money close to schools and other conveniences.

Why buy homes in KZN and Eastern Cape? – Property24, 30 January 2012
House price growth recorded better than average figures in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape when compared to other provinces in 2011.

UK house prices slide as job fears scare off buyers – Telegraph, 01 February 2012
UK house prices fell 0.2pc in January and the market is likely to remain subdued as economic uncertainty persists, Nationwide said.

Luxury house prices are falling fastest in Asia - Moneyweb, 31 January 2012
The value of prime property in the world’s key cities rose by only 0.2% in the final quarter of 2011. Kate Everett-Allen examines the figures and looks at whether prime property is still the safe haven investors and the super-rich consider it to be.