Private Property

Article insights A home loan can be a powerful wealth-building tool, helping homeowners reduce interest costs, build equity and access more affordable finance than unsecured credit. Paying extra into your home loan can save thousands, with additional repayments reducing the outstanding balance, lowering interest charges and shortening the loan term.

Solar is an attractive offering to any home, but buyers need more than a list of panels and batteries before taking ownership. Solar PV systems have become an increasingly attractive feature of South African homes, particularly as households seek greater energy security and protection against rising electricity costs. But, for a buyer, a solar installation should be treated as more than a desirable extra.

After multiple interest rate drops, and another expected in the first half of the year, those who put their homeownership dreams on hold five years ago may now find this year presents as a very agreeable market to rekindle that dream and turn it into reality. This is an exceptionally good time as well for first-time buyers, with a number of cost-saving advantages on the table: All residential property under R1.21 million are exempt from paying transfer duties.

In 2026, water has been front-page news in two of South Africa's biggest property markets – for almost opposite reasons. Cape Town watched its dams swing from a drought scare to comfortably full on the back of an unusually heavy spell of May rain. Johannesburg, meanwhile, spent the start of the year battling supply outages that had very little to do with rainfall at all.

Article insights More women are building wealth through property in South Africa, with BetterBond recording more than 43,000 home loan applications involving women in 2024 and 2025, driven largely by first-time homebuyers. Women are using property to build long-term wealth and financial independence, supported by greater earning power, improved access to home finance and increasing household responsibility.

Article insights: Escrow accounts are secure third-party accounts that hold funds until all property sale conditions have been met, protecting both buyers and sellers. In South Africa, escrow accounts are rarely used for residential property transactions. Instead, conveyancing attorneys manage funds through regulated trust accounts. Attorney trust accounts provide similar benefits to escrow accounts, including fraud protection, secure handling of funds and a smoother property transfer process.

The era of the solo female homeowner is on the rise. No longer are they waiting for Prince Charming and marriage before entering the property market, prioritising instead their financial independence. Bradd Bendall, National Head of Sales at BetterBond Home Loans, says the numbers point to a clear shift in buying behaviour. Nearly 40 000 women applied for home loans through BetterBond during 2024 and 2025. Around 27 000 were the primary bond applicants.

Article insights: Understand the difference between a home loan pre-qualification and pre-approval to make informed decisions and start your homebuying journey with confidence. A home loan pre-approval provides a verified assessment of your affordability, giving you a clearer understanding of your buying power than a basic pre-qualification. Getting pre-approved before house hunting helps you stay within your budget, make stronger offers and improve your chances of securing a home loan.

Property Advice Private Property South Africa | The property industry reacts to July 2026’s interest rate hold. The announcement today by South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago of a hold in the repo rate at 7% and the prime lending rate at 10.5% has taken many by surprise given elevated oil prices due to geopolitical tensions.

The Property Show by Private Property, at Decorex Joburg from 30 July to 2 August 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, helps you to make informed property decisions. Whether dreaming of owning your first home, preparing to buy or sell, growing a property portfolio, renting, or renovating an existing home, the biggest mistake you can make is not fully understanding the property market.