Sellers urged to face market realities

CAPE TOWN (May 02) – Sellers, not legislation, not rising interest rates or estate agents, was cited, as an unnecessary major contributor to the residential property market’s slowdown. While it was an undisputable fact that the South African economy had become entangled in the global credit crunch its effect on the market along with rising interest rates was, in Jeanne van Jaarsveldt’s view, “being largely overstated.’ “Undeniably, the biggest sheet anchor on the movement of residential property right now is overpricing and this can be substantiated by the number of sales being concluded after negotiation on price.” According to the FNB property barometer for the first quarter released earlier this week the percentage of properties sold at less than asking price was 83 percent and 82 percent in the last quarter of 2007. Van Jaarsveldt, marketing and finance director of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, insists that it is important that sellers realise the slowdown in the South African property market was a direct result of financial fundamentals of a global nature and not part of a national conspiracy engineered by the Reserve Bank, the commercial banks or estate agents. To blame the Reserve Bank was unfortunate as it was only exercising its appointed role of controlling inflation through the traditional tool of interest rate adjustments.It was also unfair to fault other market influences, such as the state, banks and estate agents. The reality was that South Africa, just as other international economies had been snared into the global credit crunch, which was creating uncertainty and grinding down market confidence. “In New Zealand we have seen residential sales plummet by more than half in the past month over March of last year while Britain’s annual rate of house price growth in the first quarter of 2008 was 2,2%, down from 6,9% at the end of 2007. House prices slowed even more sharply in Northern Ireland where the annual rate of appreciation fell from 24,2% to –3,4%. Peter Gilmour Regional Director of RE/MAX SA and Senior Vice President of RE/MAX International reports that real estate sales have reduced by 30%-40% in many markets in the USA and little improvement is expected in 2008. Also in Australia that country’s national estate agent body heaved a sigh of relief almost audible enough to be heard in South Africa after its Reserve Bank held rates steady in April after hikes in both February and March which reportedly left home owners reeling from the accumulative effects of the increases."Van Jaarsveldt urges both sellers and buyers to maintain perspective of the market and particularly it’s strengths as opposed to exaggerating its weaknesses, which had become overly fashionable. Of importance, and this only applied to the South African market, was the continued emergence of the black buyer.“Some commentators believe this source as an effect on the market could run for 20 years before burn out, but the importance of this force is to understand that its former momentum has only been briefly stalled and will resume once affordability begins to improve among state employees.” Also pertinent, even in the current slowdown, house price growth was still increasing admittedly of a slower nature. Sales in the lower end of the market were also still active, but to van Jaarsveldt, the biggest indicator underpinning a recovery was the lack of new building taking place. The pace of new residential developments had slowed markedly with many developers at their wits end trying to successfully mix the cost of new building land and materials with affordability. Further shrinkage in new unit supply was inevitable and this, perhaps more than any single feature, would fuel second hand stock prices unrealistically when the market turned.

Posted on: 6 May 2008 | 1:20 pm

Growth, Rental Return or Quick Buck?

In more than 6 years advising property investors in the blaauwberg, Cape Town area on buying property I worked with many different investment theories!Some property investors are extremely conservative and are looking for a very safe no risk buy! They are looking for good growth and good rental return over a long period of time.Other investors are looking for quick returns, buy cheap, renovate and sell.I have favoured over time investing in properties that give a little of both.In our area of Blouberg our beachfront properties give a lower rental return but have given better than average growth return.In our slightly less expensive areas you can pick up a unit that has a very good rental return but might not grow as much as the beachfront area.You can see the dilemma.I would advise my clients that if they have got the cash to buy more expensive apartments on the beach.You might not get good rental, but who cares if they are no hassle to rent out and are doubling up in price every few years.If my client is bonding the property with a bank and my client does not have great cash flow then I would recommend buying a property with a high rental return and demand for rental as this can put 60 to 70 % of the finance towards the bond.The smart way to buy is to really shop around and to try buy below market value.If you renovate and sell for a quick buck then make sure you have other properties you can flip.Remember once you have sold that property you will not be able to buy that same property at that price again.So to conclude!Buy properties below market value and hold onto them as long as possible.Rental return and growth will almost always equal each other out.Don’t buy brand new properties to rent out as often the damage that tenants can do will destroy that good feel a new place has.Try to buy a property that is in good nick but can do with a coat of paint at a later stage.If you decide to sell then you should do your renovation work to make the unit achieve a higher price.Check out this report at Do not pay too much for your property.You might find our Buyer's Toolkit very interesting before you go ahead and purchase that property.The Husband and Wife Team have won the coveted platinum award three years in a row. 2005, 2006, 2007.Membership of the RE/MAX platinum club is one of the highest single year commission honours that Re/max bestows upon a sales associate.Ashley and Izelle are well known estate agents that service the blaauwberg area.There area includes, Milnerton, Melkbos, Sunset Beach, Big Bay, Parklands, Bloubergstrand and Table View.

Posted on: 17 April 2008 | 8:12 am

Five steps home sellers need to know to sell in a buyers market!

As a real estate agent that has been in the business for many years I have learnt a few tricks to getting your home sold in a tough market.I work in Blaauwberg, a suburb in Cape Town, South Africa.We like the rest of the world are in the throes of a slowdown in the property market.What are sellers to do?Obviously the number one mistake sellers make is they come on to the market at an unrealistic price. In a tough market you need to be realistically priced from get go, otherwise you waste precious time and as the market gets tougher you end up getting into a desperate to sell situation.Choosing a good estate agent is the first step a seller can make in getting there home sold. A good agent needs to know the market, have a strong web presence and have good selling and networking skills.These few simple ideas will in my opinion make a huge impression on getting your home sold and will cost very little for the seller.Step 1: Make sure your home is de cluttered! When a prospective client walks through the door they should be seeing the home not the stuff lying about. Pack stuff away and allow buyers to view your property without clutter.Step 2: Get your home to smell good. Microwaving vanilla essence or brewing fresh coffee really get clients to feel good about your property. People use all there senses when buying a property and I have sold properties where the buyers motivation was that the home smelled good. Trust me this really works!!!Step 3: Splurge a little money on a fresh coat of paint. Keep the colours neutral. Try paint your home just before going on market. If you cannot afford an outside paint job hire a high pressure spray gun and clean the paintwork of any dust. If your carpets are in a bad way replace them or alternatively have them professionally cleaned.Step 4: Make sure your garden is cleaned up and the lawn freshly cut. Keep clutter at a minimum. If you have animals that make a noise then take them for a walk when clients are viewing your property Dog doodooz are a big no no and need to be cleaned up. Make sure your pool is sparkling and leaves are raked up.Step 5: Open up your home for a viewing and make sure there is lots of light shining into your home. A dark house is a big turn off for many buyers. If your home smells great, looks good and has a sunny feel you are already 90% on the way of greatly improving the sale of your home.Interested in some great reports on selling your home? Take a look at these reports on RE/MAX selling reports for sellersSeller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a professional estate agent to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKITbefore selling your house.Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get AVOID BUYING ERRORS before heading out on the journey to find your new house.To view our listings go to OUR LISTINGSThe Husband and Wife Team have won the coveted platinum award three years in a row. 2005, 2006, 2007.Membership of the RE/MAX platinum club is one of the highest single year commission honours that Re/max bestows upon a sales associate.Ashley and Izelle are well known estate agents that service the blaauwberg area.There area includes, Milnerton, Melkbos, Sunset Beach, Big Bay, Parklands, Bloubergstrand and Table View.You can check out there website at husbandandwifeteamand there blog atOur Blog!

Posted on: 15 April 2008 | 11:28 am

Interest Rates Reaction!

Date:11 April 2008JOHANNESBURG (April 10) - With CPIX inflation near 10%, and today’s 50 basis points rate hike signalling the seriousness with which the SARB takes its inflation targeting job, John Loos, FNB Home Loans Property Strategist, warns that the economy is definitely not out of the “danger zone” yet with regards to risks of further rate hikes. As such, he advises the market to proceed with caution when involved in home purchasing and to buy in a price range well within one’s means. “Scenario planning to allow for the possibility of further interest rate hiking would be a good practice.” Loos says today’s news is negative from a residential property market performance point of view. “Whereas we had expected rates to move sideways for the entire 2008, a scenario which I believe would have led to a gradual recovery in residential demand as from mid-year, such a recovery has in all probability been delayed considerably, and it will take substantially longer for household confidence to start recovering.” Loos believes that today’s development begins to raise the possibility of a small period of national house price deflation, which under a sideways rates scenario he says would have been narrowly avoided. When splitting up the market by price category, Loos believes that the combination of rate hiking and high food price inflation will bring the superior performance of the lower priced end to a close. Lower income groups face the “double-whammy” of rising interest rates as well as high food price inflation. Food price inflation, he points out, affects lower income households worse because it consumes a higher portion of their total income. Strongly holiday property-driven areas are probably also in for a more torrid time until such time as the interest rate cycle clearly turns. Loos says the overall impact on home loan repayments since the start of rate hiking in June 2006 is now becoming more than significant. On a R1million house the cumulative impact of 450 basis points worth of hikes is an increase in the monthly repayment value by R3,184.Every event brings good news, in his view, and the good news in this case is for the rental market and existing landlords. “FNB’s rental property barometer has already been pointing towards a recovering rental market, and I believe that in the current environment of uncertainty and negativity the resumption of rate hiking will be an additional boost for rental demand.”“Many potential first time buyers would probably want to delay buying, continuing to be tenants for a little longer, while buy-tolet-buying will probably deteriorate further on the news, constraining the supply of new rental stock. The combination of constrained supply and strengthening rental demand is a great recipe for rental market recovery, and I believe that 2008 will see a considerable widening in net income yields on letting property stock.”

Posted on: 14 April 2008 | 2:46 am

World Cup soccer 2010, Should you be buying Property?

With the 2010 World Cup soccer being held in South Africa in 2010 property investors, speculators and property owners are keen to see what will be happening to property prices in the run up to the cup.All over SA, we are seeing the upgrading of various infrastructure.So far the tournament is the single biggest catalyst that is triggering major infrastructure investments in South Africa. Major projects are underway with the multi million rand Gautrain project, the Green Point Stadium, the Coega aluminium smelter and the billions allocated to the construction of the new King Shaka International Airport at La Mercy in KwaZulu-Natal. Well how will this benefit property prices and when?The first major benefit to the property industry will be demand for accomodation for corporate lettings linked to 2010 infrastructure projects. The global slow down has recently put pressure on property prices in South Africa which had seen phenomal growth up to mid 2007.Analysts are predicting an upswing towards the end of 2008 begining 2009.Property agent, Ashley Den Breeijen of Re/max advises clients that are thinking of selling to hold onto there properties for at least another year.The market is also at present ripe for the picking and investors on the lookout can snap up great deals in this current buyers market.If you have the money buy now, according to Ashley who has years of experince in the property arena.Post World cup will see properties still benefiting as South Africa hopefully reaps the benefits of this massive marketing coup for our country.Ashley Den Breeijen heads up a real estate team called the Husband and Wife Team in the Blaauwberg, Cape Town areas.You can visit his website at www.husbandandwifeteam.com

Posted on: 7 April 2008 | 10:15 am

Tax and home ownership in South Africa

Tax and home ownership in South Africa ashley DTAX AND HOME OWNERSHIP from www.husbandandwifeteam.comCape Town, February 2006:These days it is seldom advantageous (from a tax point of view anyway) to register ownership of a private home in the name of a trust, close corporation or company. This has been a popular practice in the past but SARS have moved to close down the tax advantages that this practice once offered. According to RE/MAX of Southern Africa Regional Director, Bruce Swain, the advantage of the current position is that people are encouraged to simplify their affairs, so that actual control and use match legal ownership much more closely. According to RE/MAX Elite Broker/Owner and Conveyancing attorney, Grant Gunston, when one buys a property in the name of a trust, close corporation or company, one pays additional tax both when purchasing and when selling. From 1 March 2006, these entities pay a flat 8% transfer duty when purchasing (whereas private individuals pay transfer duty in accordance with a sliding scale of 0, 5 and 8%). On selling, these entities do not enjoy the exemption from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) which applies to private individuals who sell their primary residence (currently R1.5 million of the "profit"). The rate at which CGT is paid is also higher for legal entities than that which applies to private individuals, and there is the added problem of secondary tax on companies should one want to take the profits out of a company or close corporation, for use by the individual/s behind the entity. Gunston states that people were willing to pay the higher transfer duty in the past on the basis that they would make the difference back when they sell. (The theory was that by selling the company or close corporation that owned the property, they would be able to realise a higher price given that no transfer duty would be payable).“Whether one actually achieved a higher price in practice is debateable, but in any event, the definition of "property" in the Transfer Duty Act has now been amended so that sales of legal entities that own residential property now also attract transfer duty - thus doing away with the transfer duty loophole” says Gunston. Having painted the above negative picture regarding home ownership in legal entities, it should be said that there are still valid reasons to use these entities for home ownership. A trust is appropriate for example, both as a way of protecting assets from future creditors, and also as an estate planning tool. People often have questions about how CGT applies where one claims the use of a home office as a tax expense against income, or where a portion of a home (e.g. a granny flat) is let out to tenants. This does not mean one looses the entire R1.5 million CGT exemption, but the income generating portion of the property will be liable for CGT - pro rata. Whether one qualifies for the CGT exemption is not about whether the property in question is the only property you own - it is about whether you actually live there. So it is possible for example to live in a rented flat as one's primary residence while owning a luxury home at the seaside, which one uses most weekends. The seaside home would not enjoy the CGT exemption. Occasionally income tax may be payable on the profits from the sale of a residential home - if SARS deems you to be a speculator or developer. If one buys and sells as a business, one may also be required to register as a VAT vendor and pay 14% of the selling price to SARS as VAT. Ashley D from husbandandwifeteam at remax advises to invest in specialised tax advice if this could apply to you.About the AuthorHusband and Wife team selling property in Blaauwberg, Cape Town, South Africa for remax property associates. Check out property in blaauwberg, Cape Town at our site www. husbandandwifeteam.com

Posted on: 27 February 2006 | 9:44 am

property for sale in parklands, Blaauwberg, blouberg. Cape Town.

Bargain in Blaauwberg,Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, Parklands.Bargain in Blaauwberg, ParklandsCheck photos at www.husbandandwifeteam.comPrice R699 000DetailsType: Residential Style: Duplex "freestanding modern" Bedrooms: 4 "3 bedrooms + study" Bathrooms: 3 "guest loo downstairs" Garage: Double "remote access" Size: 114 m² "loads of space" Lot Type: Rectangular Lot Size: 200 m²DescriptionExtremely neat freestanding duplex in blaauwberg, Parklands.Home consisits of 4 rooms, a lounge diningroom, double garage, 3 bathrooms, outside braai area, and in a security complex.Neat garden and with views of table mountainHighlights▪ freestanding and exceptionally neat!▪ Open plan kitchen , seperate lounge and diningroom.▪ Double garage and neat garden and braai room!▪ In cental position in Parklands, blaauwberg, Cape Town.▪ Low maintenance and ideal lock up and go.Very spaciousFeaturesInterior Features▪ Carpeted FloorsLot Features▪ Fenced Yard▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Patio▪ Trees / ShrubsView▪ City Lights▪ Hills▪ Mountain ViewExtra Features▪ Controlled Access▪ Garage Door Opener▪ Pets Allowed

Posted on: 24 February 2006 | 6:05 am

Well priced home for sale in Parklands, Blaauwberg, Cape Town

View pics at www.husbandandwifeteam.comPrice R959 000DetailsType: Recreational Style: Single Story "modern home!" Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 "italian finishes" Garage: Double "remote controled" Size: 122 m² Lot Type: RectangularDescriptionWant a home with excellent finishes!This home has 3 bedroomns two bathrooms, all with italian taps and fixtures, open plan kitchen with granite tops seperate scullery also with granite tops and italian taps.Gas undercover stove completes the kitchen.Bedrooms are tastefully laminated and main bedroom has aircon.Down lighters in entertainment room and lounge plus aircon plus indoor braai complete the picture!The plot is large and there is loads of space if you wanted to expand your home.This home will sell fast, call now!Highlights▪ Aircon in lounge and main bedroom.▪ granite tops and italian gas stove and exspensive finishes in kitchen!▪ bedrooms all with bics and laminate floors.FeaturesInterior Features▪ Carpeted Floors▪ FireplaceLot Features▪ Fenced Yard▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ LawnView▪ Hills▪ ParkExtra Features▪ Garage Door Opener▪ Pets AllowedCooling▪ Window / Wall Unit

Posted on: 20 February 2006 | 4:34 am

Property in blaauwberg, Parklands, Cape Town

Check more photos at husbandandwifeteamPrice R1 149 000DetailsType: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 2 "both full, with skylight!" Garage: Double "remote" Size: 168 m² "loads of entertainment areas" Lot Type: Rectangular Lot Size: 516 m²DescriptionThis house shows a decorator's touch! This home offers 3 spacious bedrooms with built in cupboards and is tiled neatly right through. Enjoy the inviting open plan kitchen with modern white finishes and scullery. There are 2 bathrooms of which both have corner baths and showers and skylights bringing in ample light. There are 3 receptions rooms with excellent flows. The open plan kitchen flows into a dining area and then into a formal lounge. This opens into a braai room entertainment area and from there french doors lead into the pool area. The pool is an attractive dark gunite solar panel heated pool. Eat your heart out!Highlights▪ Table mountain views!▪ Entertainment area in wind free area!▪ Braai room, leading onto pool!FeaturesInterior Features▪ Carpeted Floors▪ Fireplace▪ SkylightsLot Features▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Patio▪ Swimming Pool▪ Trees / ShrubsView▪ City Lights▪ Mountain View▪ Park

Posted on: 20 February 2006 | 4:11 am

Blaauwberg, Parklands home for sale. R1099 000

DetailsType: ResidentialStyle: Single Story "European styled"Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Garage: Double, Attached "remote"Size: 160 m² "loads of space"Lot Type: Rectangular Lot Size: 550 m²DescriptionPrivate paradise! immaculate modern home 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms Spacious living area with fireplace Dining area with sliding door to patio wind free patio with pool Stunning water feature in garden. Borehole water and landscaped garden which is immaculate!Highlights▪ Bar built into pool, serve drinks and sit around pool at bar1▪ lanscaped garden with stunning water featuresFeaturesExterior Finish▪ Aluminum-SteelExtra Features▪ Garage Door OpenerLot Features▪ Fenced▪ Fenced Yard▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Patio▪ Swimming Pool▪ Trees / Shrubs

Posted on: 24 November 2005 | 7:03 am

Parklands, Blauuwberg R699 000

DetailsType: ResidentialStyle: Triplex "Loft In Roof!" Bedrooms: 3 "With ensuite!"Bathrooms: 3Garage: SingleSize: 115 m² "Lots Of space!"Lot Type: RectangularDescriptionStunning Triplex with views of table mountain.Situated in a secure village with remote access.Excellent finishes throughout, stainless steel oven and hob, stainless steel plugs, etc.Lounge leads onto small garden with water feature and garden lights.Upstairs is a large loft which can be used as study or bedroom.Main bed room has ensuite.Highlights▪ Excellent mountain views!▪ Water feature in magical garden!▪ In security complex and freestanding, no levies!▪ immaculate finishes throughout!FeaturesInterior Features▪ Alarm System▪ SkylightsLot Features▪ Fenced▪ Fenced Yard▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Patio▪ Trees / ShrubsRoof▪ Spanish / Clay TileExtra Features▪ Pets Allowed▪ Satellite DishView▪ City Lights▪ Mountain View▪ Panoramic

Posted on: 24 November 2005 | 6:50 am

blaauwberg bachelor flats: From R480 000

DetailsType: Condo Style: ApartmentBedrooms: 1Bathrooms: 1Garage: Single, DetachedSize: 28 m²Lot Type: Rectangular Descriptionneat sea facing bachelor flat! Walk to the beach garge included in price!Highlights▪ sea views and table mountain views!▪ In the heart of Baauwberg, one road from beach▪ ideal for investor!FeaturesView▪ Mountain View▪ Ocean View

Posted on: 15 November 2005 | 3:30 am

Parklands, blaauwberg R949 000

DetailsType: ResidentialStyle: Single StoryBedrooms: 3 "all with bics"Bathrooms: 2 "full bathrooms"Garage: Double "remote" Size: 160 m² Lot Type: Rectangular Lot Size: 550 m² Taxes: R300.00 DescriptionModern 3 bed room home,close proximity to shops. Garden has sprinkler system and very neat. Open plan kitchen, with seperate sculley and has lots of space. Double garage has direct access and both doors are remotely opened. home is completly walled,and all windows are aluminium. Iounge leads onto indoor braai and entertainment area.Highlights▪ Close to shops and walking distance to gym!!▪ Modern street appeal with large garden.▪ Open plan kitchen, with seperate sculley and has lots of space.▪ large enclosed entertainment area and braai area, ideal for entertaining.FeaturesInterior Features▪ Alarm SystemLot Features▪ Fenced▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Trees / ShrubsRoof▪ MetalExtra Features▪ Garage Door Opener▪ Satellite Dish▪ Underground Sprinklers

Posted on: 15 November 2005 | 3:24 am

Youngsters snap up properties in Parklands,blaauwberg

Cape Town - National property sales data shows buyers are seeking "value" homes, with Parklands in the Western Cape cranking up the most sales for September. According to latest stats of the South Africa Property Transfer Guide (SAPTG), the highest volume of sales for the month of September in the country was in Parklands where 145 sales cranked up values totaling R77m. Weltevreden Park, just north west of Johannesburg, experienced the second highest amount of sales in the country, coming in with a total of 53 in September. The SAPTG refers to those driving the property market in these areas as the "Terracotta Terraces" set. He decribes these buyers as typically young, techno savvy, with 7 out of 10 of these youngsters owning the homes they live in. "Their homes are small but have generally been built in the last decade. This is the single, technikon-educated sector who has the highest percentage of employed people with relatively high incomes, despite their age." Geffen says both Parklands and Weltevreden Park are situated a 20 to 25 minutes from the metropole areas which means that there is still plenty of space for development and new, affordable cluster homes are mushrooming. In Weltevreden Park, a well-maintained, leafy suburb, properties in the R550 000 range have been snapped up because of their "amazing value", says Sotheby's Lyn Petzer. "One can typically get a small but comfortable sectional title with garden for this price, which is unheard of in places like Sandton where one will typically pay R1.3m for the same unit," she says. "Older, free standing homes also offer incredible value. A three bedroomed home on a 1000m² stand will typically sell for around R1m." Sotheby's Susan van Aswegen says Parklands is a vibrant, developing area which offers great affordability. "You can buy a three bedroom cluster with a small garden for R600 000. A 57m² for R460 000. "The most expensive free standing home in Parklands will cost around R1.8m." Van Aswegen says middle-income buyers can no longer afford prices closer to town. "If you buy a house for R2m in the City Bowl, bond repayments generally cost around R20 000 a month, whereas a R1.3m house in Parklands will cost you around R13 000 a month, which leaves young buyers with cash to spend on themselves and their property. "Affordability is going to drive the property market over the next few years." The Parklands area started being developed in 1998 and since then has grown tremendously. A Woolworths is opening in Parklands next March after the success of the Woolworths food store at West Coast Village shopping area that opened a year ago in Sunningdale and we have a Medi Clinic and NetCare clinic as well as several good schools

Posted on: 3 November 2005 | 8:08 am

blaauwberg property investing

An update on property in south africa.South Africa has recently experienced unbeleivable growth in the property market in the past 3 years.The last 6 months has seen a stabilisation of prices as affordability has made it difficult for investors and first time home buyers to enter the market, however interest rates are at an all time low and recent inflation data has been very positive even with oil prices having there influence. In a long term synopsis i beleive prices will rally, as Cape Town and south africa head for the world cup soccer, and that prices are not exspensive compared to the rest of the world. ie an average 2 bedroom flat near the beach costs approx 75000 usd.and a beachfront apartment approx 100 000 usd.I personally own 4 properties and work in cape town in the property market for remax.If you are interested about property in south africa and need info, then contact mehttp://www.husbandandwifeteam.com

Posted on: 31 October 2005 | 10:42 am

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Posted on: 17 October 2005 | 3:45 pm

a book you must read!

This is an excellent book to read, i would recommend this book to anyone who wants to make money out of investing, especially property

Posted on: 9 October 2005 | 8:06 am

Property in Parklands,Cape Town,South Africa

Price: R1595 000DetailsType: Residential Style: Single Story "double volume tuscan" Bedrooms: 4 "large master" Bathrooms: 2 "both full" Garage: Double "automated" Size: 250 m² Lot Type: Rectangular Lot Size: 800 m²DescriptionTuscan style!! Stunning 4 bed room home in Quiet close in Parklands, Cape Town. Loads of entertainment areas with kitchen ideally situated in open plan enviroment. Double automated garage has direct access into main home. Kitchen has granite tops and seperate scullery. Large chlorinated pool in garden and jacuzzi. Braai area is undercover,ideal for entertaining!Highlights▪ Large plot!! loads of space!▪ Awsome entertainment area, all undercover.▪ Double volume ceilings at entrance and lounge.▪ Granite tops in large kitchen with seperate scullery.FeaturesInterior Features▪ Alarm System▪ Hot Tub / SpaLot Features▪ Fenced▪ Fenced Yard▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Patio▪ Shed▪ Swimming Pool▪ Trees / ShrubsRoof▪ Spanish / Clay TileExtra Features▪ Garage Door Opener

Posted on: 5 October 2005 | 3:04 am

property in flamingo vlei, Table View, Cape Town

Price R2350 000DetailsType: Residential Style: 2 Story Bedrooms: 4 "plus study" Bathrooms: 3 Garage: Triple "56 m2 extra large" Size: 324 m² Lot Type: Rectangular Lot Size: 850 m² Year Built: 2005 "new"DescriptionTUSCANY STYLE HOME WITH VIEWS TABLE MOUNTAIN & VLEI 3 Bedrooms, main bedroom with en-suite, 2 bathrooms, Separate Entrance Teen Pad with ensuite 5 Reception rooms TV room wired for projector screen and surround sound Upstairs 36m2 Entertainment room with stunning views of the Bird Sanctuary and the Vlei. Gourmet Kitchen with Stainless steel and Cherry wood finishes, Double Eye level oven with Hob and Extractor Fan & Granite tops, Huge Scullery with space for all your appliances Double Door Fridge, Chest Freezer Top loader washing machine, Tumble Dryer and a must the Dishwasher. Easy to maintain garden with stone & paving slabs grass around the pool with stunning rose garden, water Feature in back garden and front entrance very Tranquil Tiled roof, Pool, Borehole pump for irrigationHighlights▪ Kitchen Defy Double Eye Level Oven, 600 hob (Defy) PC allowance @ R6 000 Floor area to be tiled @ R80p/m2 Wall Tiles @ R80pm2▪ Scullery Floor Tiles same as Kitchen @ R80p/m2 Walls skimmed and sealedFeaturesInterior Features▪ Fireplace▪ Wine StorageView▪ City Lights▪ Mountain View▪ PanoramicRoof▪ Spanish / Clay TileLot Features▪ Fenced▪ Fenced Yard▪ Front Porch▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Patio▪ Swimming Pool▪ Trees / Shrubs

Posted on: 5 October 2005 | 2:57 am

Home for sale parklands cape town

Click on photo!Details Price R999 000Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 3 "all with bics, neat large" Bathrooms: 2 "full" Garage: Double "remote" Size: 160 m² Lot Size: 550 m² Has Suite: Yes Taxes: R300.00DescriptionVery neat 3 bedroomed home in parklands This home has neat flows and large bedrooms Large entertainment area with braai room, Safe area and very close to ll amenitiesFeaturesLot Features▪ Fenced Yard▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Patio▪ Swimming Pool▪ Trees / Shrubs

Posted on: 28 September 2005 | 8:32 am

just registered with blogstreet

Check this out

Posted on: 25 September 2005 | 10:38 am

visit to ostrich farm at cape town

Our blogs listed atWe recently visited the westcoast ostrich farm near blauuwberg.It is 10 mins from Tableview on the n7 malmesbury.Its a great place to go for a sunday breakfast and close to Cape Town.Check out these photos I took of ostriches and peacocks.

Posted on: 22 September 2005 | 8:49 am

modern home in parklands for sale

Modern home in ParklandsType: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 3 "all with bics" Bathrooms: 2 "full bathrooms" Garage: Double "remote" Size: 160 m² Lot Type: Rectangular Lot Size: 550 m² Taxes: R300.00DescriptionModern 3 bed room home,close proximity to shops. Garden has sprinkler system and very neat. Open plan kitchen, with seperate sculley and has lots of space. Double garage has direct access and both doors are remotely opened. home is completly walled,and all windows are aluminium. Iounge leads onto indoor braai and entertainment area.Highlights▪ Close to shops and walking distance to gym!!▪ Modern street appeal with large garden.▪ Open plan kitchen, with seperate sculley and has lots of space.▪ large enclosed entertainment area and braai area, ideal for entertaining.FeaturesInterior Features▪ Alarm SystemLot Features▪ Fenced▪ Garden Area▪ Landscaped▪ Lawn▪ Trees / ShrubsRoof▪ MetalExtra Features▪ Garage Door Opener▪ Satellite Dish▪ Underground Sprinklers

Posted on: 21 September 2005 | 6:23 am

property market is not about to collapse

Property market is not about to collapse - RodeSeptember 17, 2005By Charlene ClaytonThe residential property market in South Africa is not about to collapse, despite the fact that property prices have shot through the roof since 2002, Erwin Rode, a property economist, says.Rode was speaking at the annual conference of Rode & Associates held in Johannesburg and Cape Town recently.The price of residential property is at an historic peak, Rode says, describing house prices as "very expensive" compared with those during the previous property booms of 1984 and 1970. Another factor indicating that property prices are at "dangerously" high levels is that it costs significantly more to buy an existing house than to build the same house, Rode says.A comparison of the prices of old houses with those of new houses indicates that, after making adjustments for the age of existing houses, old houses are about 20 percent above their replacement cost, he says.The growth in house prices has significantly outstripped the growth in the consumers' income, and, as long as the banks limit lending (by restricting you to a loan on which the repayments do not exceed 30 percent of your income), the inability of consumers to afford property will place a ceiling on house prices, Rode says.House prices cannot continue to grow at the rates that have been experienced over the past three years, he says, and there is already evidence that the growth in house prices is slowing (see below "Going down").So, you should be careful if you are considering investing in the residential market. If you are intent on investing in this market segment, bear in mind that prices in the lower-priced suburbs have not run as hard as in the higher-priced suburbs, Rode says.Another speaker at the conference, Cees Bruggemans, the chief economist at First National Bank, says he expects interest rates to ease another two to four percentage points in the coming decade, and this should boost house prices. As long as interest rates do not rise dramatically, he says house prices should rise by about 10 to 12 percent a year.Although the levels of affordability (household debt relative to income) have deteriorated over the past few years, he says, affordability has not yet been pushed to unsustainable levels.Commercial alternativesRode says there are currently better investment options than residential property. There is plenty of growth to come from the commercial property market, which is segmented into the retail and industrial markets and office space.In the case of office space, Rode says, both vacancy levels and rentals have been decreasing over the past three years. When there are few or no vacant offices left to rent, Rode says, rentals will increase substantially as the demand overtakes the supply.Rode says for developers to make a 20 percent return on their capital from a new office building, they require a gross rental of R105 a square metre a month. This implies that office rentals will have to increase by 40 percent from their current levels.top.The boom in the industrial property market has already started, and this market continues to offer promising returns, Rode says.The best-performing property type in South Africa over the past 30 years has been the shopping centre, he says. Retail sales are still growing at about five percent a year, and South Africans are big spenders - factors which will continue to support the retail property market.He says individual investors who want exposure to the commercial property market can invest in property unit trusts (PUTs), which are collective investment schemes listed on the JSE. Rode says PUTs are poised to deliver attractive returns in future, because there is potential for their cash flow (from rentals) to grow significantly and for this market to be re-rated further.He says if you invest in a R1 million house - now regarded as the price of a house in the middle market - you can expect an annual yield (in other words, the rental return as a percentage of your investment) of about four percent. By contrast, Rode says, listed property (which focuses on commercial and industrial property rather than residential property) will give you an annual yield of about eight to 10 percent before income tax.Support for the marketBruggemans says the factors that will support the demand for housing, and hence the property market, include:South Africans' income is likely to increase by, on average, at least nine percent a year for the foreseeable future. With an expected inflation rate of about four percent a year, an annual growth of nine percent indicates a real growth in income of about five percent a year.At least another eight to 10 million people will drift to the country's cities over the coming generation. Also, it is likely that more people will immigrate to South Africa than emigrate from this country.The scarcity of serviced land, due to the inability of municipalities to provide re-zoned land for residential use fast enough.Social trends, such as rising divorce rates, the increasing tendency for adults to live on their own, and the popularity among higher- and even middle-income earners of owning second homes.The demand for property investments.Going downAccording to the latest research from Absa Group Economic Research, house prices increased in real terms by 23 percent year-on-year during the first six months of 2005.Jacques du Toit, a senior economist at Absa, says although the growth in house prices was still relatively strong during January to June this year, prices have been declining (in real and nominal terms) since the third quarter of 2004.-->

Posted on: 18 September 2005 | 3:41 am

blogosphere is here

The 'blogosphere' is hereSeptember 16, 2005 A new Google specialty search engine sifts through the internet's millions of frequently updated personal journals, a long-anticipated development expected to help propel "blogging" into the cultural mainstream.The new tool, unveiled at blogsearch.google.com, focuses exclusively on the material contained in the journals known as web logs, or "blogs".Mountain View-based Google, the internet's general search engine leader, first set its sights on blogs with its 2003 acquisition of a small startup called Blogger that makes software to publish and manage the journals.Since that deal, Google had been expected to build a blogging-focused search engine - a mission finally accomplished by a group of developers in the company's New York office."There really has been a need for a world-class search product to expose this dynamic content to a worldwide audience," said Jason Goldman, who came to Google in the Blogger deal and is now the company's product manager for blogging search.Over the past two years, blogs have become an increasingly popular vehicle for sharing opinions and information, sometimes breaking news and more often prodding the mainstream media into reconsidering how it has handled some big stories.The first word of Google's new searching tool was, in fact, disseminated by a blog.A few people have been able to make a living largely off their blogs, or parlay them into book deals. Blogs also have been a source of embarrassment and angst, resulting in the firings of several workers, including a Google product manager, who angered their employers with revelations posted on their sites.No one knows for certain just how big the so-called "blogo-sphere" has become. Technorati, the niche's top search engine so far, says it indexes 17.1 million sites spanning about 1.5 billion links.Goldman declined to disclose the size of Google's blogging index.Despite blogging's steady growth, its appeal has remained narrow, skewing primarily to younger audiences and technological trendsetters.Google said the tool would allow searches not just for blogs written in English but also in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese and other languages.By focusing exclusively on blog feeds, Google theoretically will be able to deliver fresher and more relevant results.In Wednesday posting on his blog, Technorati founder David Sifry welcomed Google's competition, describing it as "a validation moment for the blogosphere" and promising to counter with "some tricks up our sleeves". - Sapa

Posted on: 18 September 2005 | 3:38 am