Property buyers are being cautioned against waiting for further rate cuts, as global inflation risks may delay easing. Samuel Seeff says current conditions, including low interest rates and competitive bank lending, present a strong buying opportunity. With flat prices in key metros like Gauteng, buyers can secure value now, while delays may result in increased competition and higher property prices.

Rising property market activity and digital transactions are fuelling increasingly sophisticated scams, warns Only Realty CEO Grant Smee. From title deed fraud and hijackings to email interception and fake listings, criminals are exploiting gaps in verification and urgency in transactions. Buyers and sellers are urged to verify all parties, secure properties, and double-check payment details to avoid significant financial loss.

South Africa’s growing water crisis is increasingly impacting homeowners, with ageing infrastructure, outages, and pressure fluctuations causing property damage and rising repair costs. Beyond service delivery concerns, unstable water systems are reshaping household risk, requiring greater vigilance, maintenance, and insurance awareness. As municipal failures persist, homeowners must adapt to a more complex environment where external infrastructure challenges directly affect property value and long-term resilience.

The property sector is urging the South African Reserve Bank to keep interest rates unchanged, warning that a hike could undermine fragile economic and housing market recovery. With inflation contained and the rand relatively stable, industry leaders argue that current pressures, including oil price volatility, are temporary. Holding rates steady would support consumer confidence, stabilise debt costs and provide much-needed momentum for property transactions and broader economic growth.

Rising costs and limited housing supply are pushing young professionals out of Cape Town, with many relocating to Johannesburg in search of greater affordability and career opportunities. Developments like Saxon Square in Rosebank are capitalising on this “reverse semigration” trend, offering lifestyle-focused, mixed-use living at significantly lower price points. Strong early sales reflect growing demand for urban environments that combine convenience, community and access to economic opportunity.

A growing body of behavioural research suggests that the biggest barrier to entrepreneurial success is not strategy, but identity. Known as “identity friction”, this internal resistance shapes decision-making, consistency and performance. As business strategist Grant Sherwood explains, aligning self-worth and identity with ambition reduces burnout, improves execution and unlocks growth, signalling a shift from tactical thinking to identity-driven performance as the true driver of sustainable success.

South Africa’s informal economy is a powerful yet under-recognised force, supporting millions through township and urban trade. In Bellville, innovative co-designed trading infrastructure is demonstrating how cities can integrate informal traders into formal economic systems. By improving safety, compliance and dignity, this model highlights how targeted investment in informal trade can drive urban renewal, strengthen food security and unlock inclusive, sustainable economic growth.

Smaller towns are emerging as compelling investment and career destinations as remote work reshapes South Africa’s property landscape. The Empangeni–Richards Bay node stands out, combining industrial strength, growing infrastructure and lifestyle appeal. Rising buyer demand, strong rental activity and new developments highlight its momentum, positioning the region as a strategic alternative to major metros with solid long-term growth prospects and improving value fundamentals.

South Africa’s proposed National Property Company could unlock significant value from the state’s vast real estate portfolio by introducing professional asset management and commercial discipline. While meaningful change may take years, the initiative has potential to improve building performance, reduce leasing costs and stimulate urban regeneration. If executed effectively, it could reposition public property as a strategic, revenue-generating asset supporting long-term economic growth.

South Africa’s affordable housing sector is evolving as cities rethink densification, mixed-use integration and spatial planning to promote urban inclusion. TUHF Client Coverage Executive Velda Derrocks says effective densification typically occurs in mid-rise developments of three to six storeys that balance affordability, sustainability and walkability. Supported by policy reforms and public-private partnerships, inclusive development can expand housing supply while ensuring commercial viability for landlords and long-term urban resilience.