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Some sound advice about buying your 'dream' retirement home at the coast
Property sales are often based on hyperbole that sometimes stretches to the irresponsible. But there are many estate agents who do tell it like it is.
[Full Story...]
Listed property 'will continue to perform well' for the rest of this year
Listed property has been the top-performing asset class over the past 12 months to June this year, and most property analysts are positive that the sector will continue to perform well in the year ahead, although one investment company remains cautious (see "Taking a different point of view", right).
[Full Story...]
Pooled and regulated products are your safer options
Property historically has been the next best-performing asset class after equity markets, so it makes sense to include property in a balanced investment portfolio.
[Full Story...]
How to take a realistic view of risk and return on your investments
One of the most important judgments you must make on any investment is the risk of the investment relative to the returns you want. Generally, as is oft repeated, the greater the return you require, the greater the risk that you could lose part or all of your money.
[Full Story...]
Dynamic Wealth property investors given tough choice
Embattled Pretoria-based financial services company Dynamic Wealth, which is subject to a Financial Services Board (FSB) court application for curatorship, is giving investors in an unlisted property investment company, Specialist Income Ltd, the choice of cashing in assets at a loss or sticking it out until property markets come right.
[Full Story...]
Ruling opens door to more property syndication complaints
A financial services company and its representative were 'clueless' when they advised a pensioner to invest in a property syndication company, the Ombud for Financial Services Providers has found.
[Full Story...]
Moves to protect property syndication investors
Moves are afoot to bring to heel under-regulated property syndications, which have left a trail of misery in their wake since the early 1990s, when Masterbond became the first major property syndication to collapse. Over the years, the victims have included thousands of pensioners, many of whom have been left destitute after losing hundreds of millions of rands.
[Full Story...]
Where it's hard to tell the genuine from the crooks
Never for one moment relax your guard when given advice on an investment product, particularly one that is not regulated by the Financial Services Board (FSB). And high on the list of what to watch out for are investments in unlisted shares and debentures, importantly when a property syndication, by whatever name, is involved.
[Full Story...]
'Don't pin all your hopes on property'
The high returns on residential property between 2003 and 2008 may prompt you to wonder why you should risk your retirement savings on shares when you could potentially earn more from property. At the last meeting of the acsis/Personal Finance Financial Planning Club, Shaun Latter of acsis pointed out that you should not be relying on just one asset class for your retirement.
[Full Story...]
Absa Insurance will refund premium increases imposed without clients' consent
If you are an Absa homeowner's insurance client and the company increased your policy value and premiums in December last year without your express permission, you can have the increased portion of your premiums refunded.
[Full Story...]
Longer property transfer period?
The window period during which you can transfer property in a trust, company or close corporation into your own name without paying transfer duty, secondary tax on companies or capital gains tax (CGT) may be extended.
[Full Story...]
New ombud to rule on sectional title disputes
A statutory ombud is to be set up to rule on a wide range of disputes that arise in sectional title complexes and similar community schemes. We report on the ombud service and the other significant legislative changes that will affect sectional title schemes.
[Full Story...]
New ways to register a trust with master's office
New ways to pay for the registration of a trust have been introduced after the Stamp Duties Act was abolished on October 31 this year.
[Full Story...]
Transfer a home from a company or trust tax-free
If you have a residential property in a company, a close corporation (CC) or a trust and you would like to transfer it into your own name, now is the time to do so.
[Full Story...]
It may be time to fix home loan rates - but should you?
Fixing your home loan interest rate will give you certainty about your future financial situation, but there is a price to pay.
[Full Story...]
A few rays start to shine on SA real estate
The outlook for listed property for the year ahead compares favourably with the outlook for assets such as bonds and cash, while the recent decrease in interest rates and the banks easing up on lending criteria bode well for the residential property sector, property analysts say.
[Full Story...]
Opportunities in property if you have cash to spare
Leverage, or debt, is an important part of property investments, because it can greatly influence the returns investors can expect from this asset class. But although leveraging boosts returns when property prices rise, it has the opposite effect when prices fall, and highly indebted investors can incur significant losses. At a recent round of meetings of the acsis/Personal Finance Financial Planning Club, Andre Stadler, the managing director of Catalyst Fund Managers, spoke about the challenges...
[Full Story...]
You need a bigger deposit to get a home loan
The prime lending rate has dropped to 10.5 percent, its lowest level in three years, but banks are tightening up their lending criteria and you will need to put down a sizeable deposit if you want to qualify for a home loan. You will also have to pay the transfer and registration costs out of your own pocket.
[Full Story...]
R500m property syndication faces collapse
Investments based on the premise of ever-rising property prices were bound to fail when the market took a turn for the worse.
[Full Story...]
What’s the deal with private selling?
Homeowners with properties to sell are breaking with tradition and ditching estate agents in favour of finding their own buyers. With prices under pressure, selling privately is taking off because of the money you can save yourself in commission. But isn’t a sluggish market the time when you most need the skills of an estate agent? We look at what it takes to sell your own home.
[Full Story...]
Question & answer
Graham Paddock answers your questions about owning or living in a sectional title property.
[Full Story...]
How your body corporate exercises its powers
Property owners have numerous powers when it comes to managing their sectional title schemes. We discuss how these powers may operate in practice.
[Full Story...]
Customised cover for you
Trustees need to make sure that they have insured the body corporate against certain events. This is much easier for trustees these days because customised sectional title policies are now available. We tells you about some of these products.
[Full Story...]
Calculators on the house
Use these free online tools to find out whether you qualify for a home loan and what your monthly repayments will really cost you.
[Full Story...]
Question and answer
We answer your questions about owning or living in a sectional title property.
[Full Story...]
Make sure you can take the knock
We explain how trustees can ensure they are fulfilling their statutory obligations regarding sectional title insurance.
[Full Story...]
What your trustees should do for you
The duties of each body corporate are laid down in law, and owners can make additional rules to ensure that their sectional title scheme is run efficiently.
[Full Story...]
Sectional title questions and answers
Graham Paddock answers your questions about owning or living in a sectional title property.
[Full Story...]
Conditions of sale
Once you buy a sectional title property, you will be bound by the conditions of the sectional plan and the decisions of the scheme’s body corporate. We give you some tips on how to assess what your obligations are likely to be.
[Full Story...]
Make sure your insurance has you covered
The arrival in your postbox of the insurance schedule for your sectional title unit is your cue to start asking questions and being more proactive in looking after your investment. We tell you what you need to know.
[Full Story...]
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