Tiaan Petersen

Rental growth in South Africa surged in Q2 2024, reaching its highest post-pandemic levels. The PayProp Rental Index shows year-on-year growth peaked at 5.2% in June, outpacing inflation for the first time in five years. While tenants face rising debt burdens, landlords and rental agents are seeing real-terms returns improve, signaling a potential recovery for the sector. Provinces like the Western Cape are leading the way, with rental growth hitting 11.7% – the fastest since 2017.

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.

When sellers sign an Offer to Purchase (OTP), they often believe that the sale is secure. However, the reality is that numerous factors can cause a sale to fall through even after the OTP has been signed. Understanding these pitfalls can help sellers navigate the process more effectively and ensure a successful transaction.