Buying a House in South Africa

Can a South African buy property overseas?

Yes, as a South African citizen, you are allowed to purchase property in South Africa from overseas. There are no restrictions on South African citizens owning property in South Africa, regardless of where they are currently located. However, purchasing property from overseas can be more complex than buying property in person, as there are additional …

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Rent to buy model for buying a house in South Africa

Rent-to-own is a popular option in South Africa for people who want to buy a home but don’t have enough money for a traditional mortgage or don’t qualify for a traditional mortgage for other reasons. In a rent-to-own deal, the buyer agrees to rent the property for a certain amount of time. During that time, …

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Using an escrow account to buy a house in South Africa

Because purchasing a home is such a significant investment, it is critical to make sure that the transaction is both protected and open to public scrutiny. When purchasing a home in South Africa, one method of accomplishing this goal is to make use of escrow services. A financial arrangement known as escrow is one in …

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Do levies include water and electricity?

No, your levy pays for building insurance as well as security, cleaning, repairs, and maintenance of all common spaces. Levies are only intended to maintain the common areas of a sectional title development. What do Levies cover? Property owners in a sectional title institution, such as a townhouse complex or a cluster development, are responsible …

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Can transfer fees be included in your bond?

Yes, but there is a catch. There is the option aimed at first-time buyers of a 105% bond, in which the extra 5% covers additional costs, including the transfer and bond registration costs. This means that, although you won’t have to pay a deposit or transfer and bond registration costs upfront, these costs will be …

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Will a deposit get me a better rate on a home loan/bond?

When it comes to buying a house in South Africa, the basic principle is to put away as much of a deposit as you possibly can. Your monthly loan payment will be lower if you make a larger initial deposit. The loan-to-value ratio of a home loan is used to classify different types of home …

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