Finding and buying your dream home

09 Jul 2010 Every potential buyer dreams of purchasing their dream home in an area which appeals to their tastes and fulfils their needs. But how do you find it and what if, when you found it, you realise that the seller’s price tag is too hefty for your pocket? [...]

Solar heating: Be picky

09 Jul 2010 A consumer that wants to invest in a home solar water heating system should be careful to choose a system that is able to withstand the weather conditions in the area where he or she lives. This is according to Graham Mundy, founder and managing director at [...]

The Daily Reckoning Australia: Shouldn’t Do It; Couldn’t Do It Anyway

Paul Krugman, Martin Wolf and the other big spenders are remarkably resilient. And cunning. On their advice, the world’s governments put up as much as 4 years’ worth of the entire planet’s savings to bring about a ‘recovery.’ On the evidence of the last couple of weeks, it didn’t work. In the world’s leading economy, [...]

Higher rate payments affect purchases

09 Jul 2010 The City of Cape Town has announced that it has increased its charges for rates clearance certificates from 1 July. If the application is done manually, the cost rises from R162 to R172. If it is done electronically, the cost rises from R54 to R57. [...]

NEWS.com.au – Property: Young give up on dream of suburbia

MELBOURNE is leading an affordability-driven apartment surge as young buyers give up on the dream of owning traditional homes in most capital city inner suburbs. As the Sydney apartment market cranked up after off-the-plan stamp duty concessions began this month, Melbourne buyers priced out of inner-city housing markets but not willing to live in outer [...]

Gautrain boosting commercial demand

09 Jul 2010 The development and operational sides of the Gautrain development are gaining momentum, and so is the demand for commercial space in the near vicinity of the Gautrain stations. A trend already clearly evident in close proximity to the Sandton and Rosebank stations, says Lia Pauley, leasing [...]

Australian Property News: Over 50s should consider strategy

Over 50s should consider strategy Posted on Saturday, July 10 2010 at 12:00 AM Over 50s can lose money both now and later if they use the incorrect strategy for their investment properties, according to property investing expert, educator and mentor Jennie Brown. She says there’s confusion among mature [...]

Varied buyers and sales in Strand

08 Jul 2010 The buyer profile in the Strand near Cape Town is just as varied as the price ranges of the properties being sold. Alten Vermaak, agent for Seeff, says “anything between R300k and R3m” is selling right now. “The sales are really occurring across the board to [...]

Business Spectator PROPERTY: US 30-yr mortgage rate falls to new record low

By Julie Haviv of Reuters NEW YORK – US 30-year mortgage rates dropped to a new record low in the past week, according to a survey released by Freddie Mac, as concerns mounted about the economic recovery. Attractive mortgage rates have raised demand for home refinancing loans in recent weeks. They have failed to increase [...]

Agents must protect buyers and sellers

06 Jul 2010 Estate agents have a moral and legal duty to protect the interests of property buyers as well as sellers. “Sellers expect estate agents to protect their rights as a matter of course, but they should keep in mind that agents are honour-bound to also make sure that [...]