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...

Mortgage Bond Arrears: Can You Challenge a Certificate of Balance?

Feb 25, 2025 | Property

“O, I do not like that paying back.” (Falstaff, in Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I) A standard clause in loan agreements, suretyships and the like is the “certificate of balance” or “COB” clause.  Typically, it will read something like this (but normally with a lot more...

A Complex Issue: Beware Late Building Penalties

Jan 28, 2025 | Property

“Home wasn’t built in a day.” (Jane Ace, radio comedian) You find the perfect plot on which to build your dream home in a security estate. Your offer is accepted and transfer proceeds – happy days!So, imagine your distress when, having proudly taken ownership,...

How Can I Buy Property in South Africa as a Foreigner?

Jan 7, 2025 | Property

“I never knew of a morning in Africa when I woke up that I was not happy.” (Ernest Hemingway)  Are you a visitor dreaming of waking up with giraffes on your lawn and wondering how to make it happen? Or a local being asked by overseas friends and relatives: “This...

Who Appoints the Conveyancer? Your House, Your Choice

Nov 26, 2024 | Property

“A man’s home is his castle.” (Sir Edward Coke, English common law ruling, 1604) Of course, what we all want to hear at the end of our house-selling journey is something like this: “Congratulations! You sold for a good price, the buyer’s taken transfer and you’ve been...