Fabian Esteves Curto

Selling a property in South Africa can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor, whether you're aiming to capitalize on your investment or seeking to finance the purchase of a new home. However, understanding the legal steps involved is crucial to ensure everything runs smoothly. Failing to comply with the necessary legalities can lead to costly delays, disputes, and complications. 

When homeowners decide to sell their property, one important question arises: should you buy a new home before selling your current one, or sell first and then buy? This decision depends on various factors, such as whether you’re moving locally or to another province or country, whether you have children in school, and the need for a deposit.

First-time homeownership remains a challenging goal for many South Africans, particularly the youth. Despite a brief period in 2020/21 when interest rates were cut to record lows, participation by young buyers, defined as those under 35 years old, has continued to decline steadily since 2010. This is according to insights from the latest FNB Estate Agents Survey that looks at understanding how first-time buyers are navigating a tight monetary policy environment.