A R4.25m Warning to Choose Your Conveyancer With Care

May 27, 2025 | Property

“Trust me, I’m a lawyer.” (Popular T-shirt slogan) South African property buyers and sellers will have been cheered by news that we are now officially the most affordable country in the world in which to buy a home. We’re only a nose ahead of the USA and Bahrain in...

How to Avoid Fighting Over the House – A Guide for Life Partners

May 27, 2025 | Family Law, Property, Wills and Estate Planning

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of bandages and adhesive tape.” (Groucho Marx) It’s a perennial topic of dispute in our courts. A couple lives together, sharing the same roof and everything else in perfect happiness and harmony.  Until it all goes south....

When Does a Property Defect Justify Cancellation? A Costly Case of Buyer’s Remorse

Apr 23, 2025 | Property

“Look before you leap.” (Wise old proverb) Imagine sealing the deal on your dream property, only to wake up at 3 a.m. beset by sudden doubts. Thoughts like “Can we really afford it?” or “How on earth could we have fallen in love with that old dump?” haunt you. You may...

Can a Body Corporate Cut the Power? It’s Complicated

Apr 23, 2025 | Property

“A body corporate’s lot is not an easy one.” (With apologies to Gilbert and Sullivan) One of a body corporate’s core functions is to collect current and outstanding levies. When a section owner becomes uncooperative, recovery can turn into a difficult, costly and...

Why You Should Check That Your Estate Agent is Registered With the PPRA

Mar 26, 2025 | Property

“All that glisters is not gold” (William Shakespeare in Merchant of Venice) Buying or selling a home could be one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make. It’s an exciting time – but don’t lose sight of the need to tread with care. A key player in...

Budget 2.0: A Mixed Bag, With Good News for Property

Mar 26, 2025 | Personal Finance, Property, Tax

“Good in parts” (Like the curate’s egg) Transfer duty threshold increased by 10% You pay no transfer duty if the property you are buying sells for less than the set threshold. The threshold wasn’t increased last year, so this year’s proposed 10% increase from...