South Africa Guide: Property
Buying a house is time-consuming, difficult and very expensive - especially if something goes wrong! Get your house search off to a good start with our property guide. Make sure you find out about the property market and understand how the system of buying a home works as it might be very different from your home country.-
Introduction An introduction to buying property in South Africa
South Africa is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world, with far more than its fair share of ravishing landscapes. more » -
Advantages & Disadvantages What to take into account
There are both advantages and disadvantages to buying a home in South Africa, although for most people the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. more » -
Buying for investment What you should know
In recent years, South African property has been an excellent investment, particularly in the most sought-after coastal regions, where prices have risen fastest. more » -
Land & Title What the law says
The right to property is enshrined under section 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act, 1996. It states (somewhat evasively) that nobody may be deprived of property except in terms of law of general application, and no law may permit arbitrary deprivation of property. more » -
Legal Advice Why you need a lawyer
It cannot be emphasised too strongly that anyone planning to buy property in South Africa must take expert, independent legal advice. more » -
Cost of Property Can you afford to buy property in South Africa?
One of the major considerations for anyone contemplating buying a home in South Africa is whether they can afford to buy there and, if so, what kind of home can they afford and where? more » -
House Hunting How to find your dream home in South Africa
There are many ways of finding homes for sale in South Africa, including the following: more » -
Estate Agents All you need to know to deal with estate agents
There are around 36,000 registered estate agents in South Africa – no doubt attracted by the average commission of around 7.5 per cent – ranging from huge national and international chains to small, local operations. more » -
Garages & Parking Bays What you need to know
The cost of parking is an important consideration when buying in a town or resort in South Africa, particularly if you have a number of cars. more » -
Community Properties All you need to know about Community Properties
In South Africa, apartments and townhouses are sometimes part of what are known as sectional title schemes or sectional title development schemes, in accordance with the Sectional Titles Act No 95 of 1986. more » -
Fees Extra costs when buying property in South Africa
A variety of fees (also called closing or completion costs) are payable when you buy a property in South Africa, including those detailed below. more » -
Negotiating The Price How to get the best price possible
When buying a property in South Africa it pays to haggle over the price, even if you think it’s a bargain. more » -
Renovation & Restoration All you need to know to restore an old house
There are some older properties purchased by foreigners in South Africa that are in need of restoration, renovation and modernisation. more » -
Inspections & Surveys What you need to know
When you have found a property that you like, you should make a close inspection of its condition. more » -
Legal Check What to look out for
Before buying a property, you or your lawyer should do the following: more » -
Agreement of Sale What it should include
Once you’ve agreed a price with the vendor, you must make an ‘agreement of sale’, which is normally done through an estate agent. more » -
Conveyance What is it and what does it entail
Conveyancing (or conveyance) is the legal term for the process whereby a person, company, close corporation or trust becomes the registered and legal owner of immovable property and ensures that this ownership cannot be challenged. It also covers the process of the registration of mortgages. more » -
Final Checks The final step
Property is sold subject to the condition that it’s accepted in the state it is in (‘voetstoots’) at the time of completion, so you should be aware of anything that occurs between signing the agreement of sale and the transfer of ownership. more » -
Letting your property What you need to know
If you let a property in South Africa, you’re required by law to pay tax on your rental income in South Africa and not in the country where the income is received. more » -
Letting Rates Rental rates in South Africa
Letting rates vary considerably with the time of year, area and size and quality of a property but are generally low compared with those in countries such as France and Spain. more » -
Using an agent All you need to know about letting agents
Agents can provide help with advertising, maintenance, etc. Make sure to know what is included in their service. more » -
Doing your own letting All you need to know to do it yourself
Some owners prefer to let a property to family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances, which allows them more control – and with luck the property will also be better looked after. more » -
Information Packs What they should contain
After accepting a booking, you should provide guests with information packs containing helpful information about the house and the area they will be visiting. more »