Continued slow growth in property prices... South African property owners have been anticipating a rate cut for the last 2 or 3 quarters but the Reserve bank has kept rates steady for some time now. Lets put this into perspective, rates are at their lowest level in over 36 years, we in South Africa last saw rates at these levels in 1974 and it is the after effects of the economic crisis that has left many home owners wondering if the house they bought was in fact...

Selling a house privately... Selling a house privately has both positives and negatives and in order to determine whether or not your home is best sold privately or through an estate agent you need to consider very carefully the possible pitfalls. Option 1 Selling your home privately through an existing private sale channel like privateproperty.co.za is an option for those who are prepared to spend about R3000 on advertising but in return get assistance...

Styling your home for showday, tips and tricks... Showing your property is not simply moving out for a few hours and hoping the estate agent is going to make magic, you need to prepare for it. You want to sell your home, show it in the best light possible without spending a lot of money. Her are a few really handy things to do that will make those entering your home feel more enclined to make an offer. Place a bowl of fresh green apples in a bowl near the entrance...

Property Insurance... As a property owner you are obliged to take out property insurance to cover the banks in the event of a disaster that may effect the structure. Some of the eventualities that need to be covered under your property insurance policy would be. Fire, earthquakes or explosions acts of nature like sever wind storms, high seas etc. Protection against burst pipes and geysers Accidental damage kitchen and bathroom appliances...

5 things you should know before applying for a hom... Banks are competing vigorously for bonds in a market where their lending has been restricted by recessionary fears and now being opened up. The banks have a lot of cash available to lend right now and are seeking to lend to individuals or campanies that are in good standing credit wise. The better your credit rating the better interest rate you will receive. 1. Your own bank will seldom give you the best home loan deal. This...

30 year home loan interest rate chart... The home loan rate has changed dramatically over the last 30 years from a high of 22.75% in 1999 to it’s current low of 10%. Since the banks cracked down on their lending criteria last year, the mood has changed and the banks are again offering 100% home loans to qualifying applicants. The change is essentially in the percentage of the purchase price they are prepared to accept risk on while the qualifying criteria...