Property Newsletter
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All the latest property news at your fingertips with the monthly Lightstone newsletter. Stay ahead of market trends, property buying news and data-led insights.
Freehold leads sales volumes, but value is in Estates
April 2022
Property inflation in all three property types increased exponentially from 2019 to mid-2021 after four years of decline, and then Freehold and Sectional Title inflation began drifting downwards while Estate properties held steady.
Mixed fortunes for property
March 2022
Residential property sales have made up ground lost during Covid and transfer volumes could be on track to break the 300 000 level last seen in 2008. In our lead story 2021 residential property sales recover from Covid we report that the total value of transfers in 2021 reached an all time high of R326 billion.
Building on positive gains
February 2022
The residential market is showing signs of rejuvenation after two years of Covid-19 stress, and while property transfers overall are still trending negatively, the upper middle and luxury bands have proved more resilient. In Residential market bouncing back after Covid blues, we look at transfer numbers nationally and in the big provinces, and then assesses transfers across the different property bands.
House price inflation set to follow 2021 trend
January 2022
Despite the uncertainties and challenges facing South Africa’s residential property market, Lightstone’s scenarios for house price inflation (HPI) in 2022 are similar to what was anticipated for 2021, and what actually played out. Last year’s HPI was 4.35%, just above the mid HPI scenario of the 4% forecasted. We have settled on 4.2% as our mid HPI scenario for 2022 and this could nudge higher if reformist government policies take precedence over the friction within the ruling party. Time will tell!
2021: review and trendspotting
December 2021
It has been another year of challenge, change and opportunity for South Africa’s property market. Covid-19 is lingering on although vaccinations are lifting defenses against the virus – and the mood generally. The low interest rates certainty helped the property market, although the unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng caused significant damage and rattled confidence. So what has changed and who were the winners and losers in 2021?
Changing residential preferences mirror new priorities
November 2021
Our lead story this month, Western Cape is the first choice for semigrants, highlights a residential property trend which has accelerated in the Covid-19 era – middle class homeowners are opting to semigrate to coastal and country areas, mostly in the Western Cape.
Change and transformation drive opportunities in property and business
October 2021
Despite poor economic conditions and socio-political uncertainty, A buyers’ market looks at how low interest rates have been a boost for the property market – and semigration, buying up and safe living are providing areas of opportunity although first-time buyers appear to have lost some of their appetite.
Market steady, opportunities with new developments
September 2021
South Africa's property market is recovering from a 16% drop in transfers in 2020, primarily the result of Covid-19, and returning to pre-2020 numbers.
