Articles published in April 2011
2011/04/01
SA dropped to 29 in the global house price performance rankings, in contrast to 5 years ago when it was the world’s fastest growing property market.
2011/04/01
With the clever placing of plants, your décor can be quickly and easily transformed into softer and more inviting areas in the home.
2011/04/01
The CTICC is set to get a major boost as more then R4,5bn is earmarked for improvements and expansion of this major attraction in the city.
2011/04/01
Eskom wants to build 17 salt-water dams to augment the province’s electricity supply but most of the new dams will be built in nature reserves.
2011/04/01
Fancy buying the only ski resort in SA? Or how about buying a small trout fishing hideaway in Pilgrim’s Rest that's ripe for development too.
2011/04/04
Homeowners are bracing themselves for the latest round of electricity hikes but the implications of increases are more significant for retail malls.
2011/04/01
Joburg residents have until 30 April to object to new tariffs that have been proposed for the coming year for electricity, water and refuse removal.
2011/04/01
Paddy says taxpayers in SA are being robbed by our own government employees and their cohorts, as corruption and fraud runs rampant...
2011/04/04
Cape Town, rated as the best municipality in SA, has been accused of withholding a report showing some residents are not satisfied with it.
2011/04/04
New land tenure laws and a sustained level of farm attacks and killings has forced thousands of farmers to abandon their SA enterprises.
2011/04/04
A legal wrangle over Tiffindell will probably delay the planned auction of the property in April but the sale will go ahead sometime later.
2011/04/04
Property owners who took out home loans prior to the National Credit Act should be aware that there are extra charges when cancelling a bond.
2011/04/04
The March 2011 FNB House Price Index points to some flattening out in the recent declining trend in house price growth.
2011/04/04
While South Africans might be dragging themselves out of the debt spiral, the respite may be temporary as interest rates are expected to rise again.
2011/04/04
Homeowners can be susceptible to attacks when either arriving or leaving their homes. Get some useful tips to keep you and your home safe!
2011/04/05
The government is encouraging Karoo residents to start farming and is offering land, technical and material support to those displaced by apartheid.
2011/04/05
An ambitious plan to develop six precincts around the inner city area in Cape Town may lead to billions being invested in modernising these areas.
2011/04/05
Trustees of sectional title complexes are being urged to impose harsh penalty interest on any levies that are outstanding from unit owners.
2011/04/05
A stately Cape Dutch property in Constantia, Cape Town is set on over 16,000sqm of land with views over False Bay.
2011/04/05
The Eastern Cape residential property market appears to have battled its way back from a severe slump, according to latest figures.
2011/04/05
Cape Town house sellers must not only provide an electrical compliance certificate but will have to warrant that their plumbing is sound as well.
2011/04/06
The participation quota determines the size of the undivided share of the common property, the value of each owner's vote and the size of the levy.
2011/04/06
Making space for a new addition to the family is a special process. Here is what to consider when decorating your baby room...
2011/04/06
More and more estate agencies are calling on banks to ease up on their tough home loan lending criteria in order to stimulate the property market.
2011/04/06
Durban plans to force residents living in government subsidised houses to pay rates, taxes and service fees like any other home owners in the city.
2011/04/06
For a complete change of life, you could consider moving to Ladismith in the Swartberg that’s less than half a day’s drive from Cape Town.
2011/04/06
The ANC will not take any action against councillors who owe municipalities thousands of rands and will allow them to stand in the elections.
2011/04/07
More than innovative gadgets, modern solar lights are a good choice for outdoor lighting. 'Green' and affordable, here’s more about it...
2011/04/06
Johannesburg has launched the Inner-City Property Scheme in partnership with the private sector, to address urban decay and rejuvenate the CBD.
2011/04/07
While there may be modest growth in some house prices, the overall picture remains gloomy for property with prices likely to fall by 3% in 2011.
2011/04/07
Centurion residents are complaining that the new Gautrain, being tested ahead of its launch in July, is disrupting life with excessive noise levels.
2011/04/07
Estate agency group RealNet has ended its financial year with turnover 21% ahead of target and 19 new franchises on its books.
2011/04/07
This is the latest move in a national strategy to build a Leapfrog footprint across every key sector of the residential property market in SA.
2011/04/07
Cape Town property owners are quick to prevent high-density projects going up in their neighbourhoods but they should know the zoning rules first.
2011/04/07
Investors must be careful when investing in property syndications, says the FSB, and should always first check the credentials of the company.
2011/04/08
Nepotism, corruption and end to wage disparities are making a real stench at Pikitup amid allegations of tender fraud and dubious decision-making.
2011/04/08
The EAAB has found widespread non-compliance with the Estate Agency Affairs Act which may mean that sellers need not pay commissions to agents.
2011/04/08
A survey conducted in the city shows that at least half of the 70% of residents who received council accounts believe they’ve been wrongly billed.
2011/04/08
Seven of the ANC-run provinces failed to spend their public infrastructure grants on basic services as R2,5-billion is returned to the Treasury.
2011/04/08
Innocent people lose their life savings investing in dodgy property syndication schemes. Paddy says beware of getting 'fleeced' by wily salesmen!
2011/04/15
Playing outside is a way of life for children, but be sure to avoid injuries by inspecting playground equipment and keeping a watchful eye...
2011/04/11
Upset with the lack of service delivery in the Free State and North West, angry residents have seized control of councils and are running services.
2011/04/11
About R50m will be spent on upgrading Blue Lagoon’s beachfront and a new retail shopping centre is planned for Durbans’s Umlazi township
2011/04/11
Amid allegations of corruption and with workers demanding an immediate investigation into the utility, Zami Nkosi, the MD of Pikitup has quit.
2011/04/11
Houses costing about R1m each will be sold in District Six once the 3000 claimants have been resettled in properties lost about 40 years ago.
2011/04/11
Demand for rental property in Johannesburg city has risen so sharply that tenants are paying the same for bachelor flats in Hillbrow as in Sandton.
2011/04/11
Latest rental data suggests some improvement in the fundamentals driving the rental property market, the FNB property barometer indicates.
2011/04/12
A landmark Constitutional Court judgment ruled that only a judge can grant an execution order against anyone who owes money on their home loan.
2011/04/12
The buy-to-let property market will remain weak for several years because of the shortage of investors prepared to put cash into this asset class.
2011/04/12
Banks have thousands of repossessed properties and yet they refuse to grant bonds on properties unless applicants have a perfect credit record.
2011/04/12
The eThekwini council has been accused of underhandedly trying to sneak through plans to build a small-craft harbour at Vetch’s Pier in Durban.
2011/04/12
The number of bond applications in March reached a three-year high while home loan approvals also improved, according to ooba statistics.
2011/04/12
Setting a realistic market-related price is the secret to effectively selling a property in the shortest amount of time possible.
2011/04/13
What’s the difference between a fish fork and salad fork? Don’t fret, dinner table etiquette is easy to master. Here are a few pointers...
2011/04/13
When choosing a fireplace, a number of things need to be considered in order to select the right one. Here is what’s ‘hot and not’ for fireplaces...
2011/04/13
Banks seem to have relaxed their lending criteria resulting in bond approvals reaching their highest level since 2008 according to ooba.
2011/04/13
Sharemax failed to pay R64m to Capicol after an arbitration hearing ruled it must do so. Does that make Sharemax technically insolvent?
2011/04/13
A Constantia landmark, The Alphen Hotel and Brit and Boer pub has closed down and its owners are now shortlisting various options for its future.
2011/04/13
The Early Morning Market that has been operating for 100 years has prevented plans to develop a new shopping mall on the Durban site.
2011/04/13
More than R4bn in investment and 27,000 jobs will be lost if the development of Vetch’s Pier doesn’t go ahead claim the developers.
2011/04/13
First-time buying of homes is on the increase and is contributing in some way to the reversal of the 'ageing buyer' trend seen in recent years.
2011/04/14
The first steps to take when selecting art are finding your style, deciding how it will fit into your home and knowing how to exhibit it.
2011/04/14
Another economist has joined a few who are predicting that the SA Reserve Bank will hike interest rates in the last quarter of 2011.
2011/04/15
A Lutheran church complex is at the centre of a dispute over a development in Cape Town that historians believe will damage the city’s heritage.
2011/04/14
Samwu’s proposal to end the refuse workers’ strike has not been signed by Joburg’s management officials who are going to the Labour Court today.
2011/04/14
The Pan Africa Parliament was built on a wetland because the environmental report conducted by Stefan Frylinck left out this crucial information.
2011/04/15
Spend the weekend building a pizza oven, ideal for home entertaining and rewarding yummy pizzas. Here is your step-by-step guide...
2011/04/14
A major new office park and shopping centre is due to open next week at the Lynnwood off-ramp from the N1. It has been built at a cost of R1,1bn.
2011/04/14
As SA’s premier financial district, Sandton is attracting more new office blocks and retail property developments and seems set to keep growing.
2011/04/15
The Joburg council is giving its assurance that no residents will have electricity or water disconnected while their account is investigated.
2011/04/15
The buy-to-let market in the academic belt around Cape Town university is strong and indications are that this trend will continue for some time.
2011/04/15
Residents in different settlements and townships around Cape Town are demanding proper houses and safe sanitation ahead of elections.
2011/04/15
Latest data from the banks paint a bleak picture of SA’s residential property market, with last year’s mini-recovery turning out to be short-lived.
2011/04/15
Paddy warns those selling property to deal only with 'qualified' agents and says the EAAB should enforce its own regulations on the profession.
2011/04/18
Children are full of energy and love having a space to call their own – a playroom where they can let their imaginations and creativity run wild...
2011/04/19
While some of us grow up learning some home DIY, others might be a bit stumpted when having to change a plug. Get a handy step-by-step guide...
2011/04/18
Although about R250m has been invested in a new golf estate its future hangs in the balance awaiting provincial approval on land rezoning.
2011/04/18
Bond originators are threatened by Absa’s latest move to provide commissions to estate agents and double the size of their sales force.
2011/04/18
West Coast residents are furious that a property developer has started clearing land to build two houses on a site where development was prohibited.
2011/04/18
Student flats in Potchefstroom are selling fast because of the shortage of suitable accommodation for students at the North West University.
2011/04/19
This week is national Green Office Week and offices nationwide are called to participate in adopting these four green eco-friendly behaviours…
2011/04/20
With the Easter weekend around the corner, many people will be preparing to go on a break. While you are away make sure your home is secure...
2011/04/19
Sapoa has asked for immediate clarity on how the new CPA affects leases, which are now restricted to a maximum period of 24 months.
2011/04/19
Applications for home loans increased in March which may indicate that the property market is improving and banks are approving loans more readily.
2011/04/19
The case against Wendy Machanik and Bruce Bernstein will be heard on 30 May because she’d run out of funds and was unable to continue her litigation
2011/04/19
Property developments worth about R60bn are underway along the KwaZulu-Natal north coast with some properties selling for less than R1m.
2011/04/20
Landlords who abandon a building – or slumlords who hijack it – could face fines of up to R1m in terms of new bylaws for Johannesburg.
2011/04/20
Shoddy building, serious fraud and selling of state houses for personal gain emerged from an investigation by the SIU as five people were arrested.
2011/04/20
Water seeping through the ground has damaged about 115 houses worth R750 000 in Braamfischerville where 19,000 homes have already been built.
2011/04/20
The convenience of living in an apartment appeals to many people, but finding truly luxurious and spacious properties can prove to be a challenge.
2011/04/20
The effect of the Consumer Protection Act on landlords and lease agreements of immovable property requires some scrutiny. Get an expert’s view...
2011/04/20
Help Property24.com and Habitat for Humanity South Africa build a house one click at a time in the Clicks for Bricks Challenge...
2011/04/21
About 15,000 ripple meters will be installed free-of-charge to residents in Joburg to cut peak time use of electricity and reduce power cuts.
2011/04/21
Services in Joburg are in danger of grinding to a halt as frustrated residents battle power cuts but the three-week Pikitup strike has ended.
2011/04/21
A disgusting building in central Cape Town is to be extensively revamped after a court order was obtained allowing owners to insist tenants move.
2011/04/21
Cities need to prepare for rapidly increasing oil prices, unpredictable rainfall patterns and fresh water demand, according to a recent report.
2011/04/21
Construction companies are co-operating with the Competition Commission investigating allegations of widespread collusion and bid rigging.
2011/04/21
The best part about Easter is the egg hunt, and the chocolate rewards you find. Here are a few tips on how to plan a great Easter egg hunt...
2011/04/24
The demand for student flats has prompted a property development company to convert offices into luxury, affordable suites.
2011/04/28
Paddy says the Estate Agents Affairs Board should shape up and start serving the property industry that it is meant to serve.
2011/04/26
Colour is one of the easiest and most economical ways to heighten drama and interest in interior spaces - and the kitchen is no exception...
2011/04/26
Special courts will be used to grant default judgments or issue writs of execution against homeowners who owe banks money on their bonds.
2011/04/26
Inefficient revenue collection is the cause of the huge cash-flow crisis facing SA’s biggest city, making it unable to pay its debts on time.
2011/04/26
Although there are plans for more flats and townhouses, the actual level of building activity is likely to remain depressed this year.
2011/04/26
A disgruntled contractor is suing the eThekwini Council for R1,8m because of alleged non-payment for a refurbishment contract in Shallcross.
2011/04/29
Design a bathroom that rivals your living room as far as comfort and aesthetics are concerned – a place to retreat to after a hard day’s work!
2011/04/29
If your home needs to have the old septic tank or cesspit replaced, be sure to follow the requirements laid down by the local municipality.
2011/04/26
Despite reports of an up tick in visits of show houses and property sales, latest figures show sales volumes are still down 42% from 2006 peaks.
2011/04/28
Eskom subsidised just 60,000 geysers in one year and at that rate it will take the utility 17 years to reach its target of a million installations.
2011/04/28
The residents of Khayelitsha are demanding the council provides basic sanitation and water to every household within a predetermined time.
2011/04/28
President Jacob Zuma has offered to assist municipalities struggling to deliver services but has urged them to hang onto their scarce skills.
2011/04/28
Cape Town has more historic homesteads than any other city in South Africa and now a Mowbray cottage is being sold that dates back to 1808.
2011/04/28
The affordability and 'back to basics' drive is still visible in property price trends in South Africa, according to latest figures.
2011/04/29
Steep increases in the costs of guarding hospital properties led the MEC for Health and Social Development to investigate tenders for this work.
2011/04/29
Small sectional title apartments represent the best-performing sub-sector of the sectional title property market, according to latest FNB figures.
2011/04/29
Residents of this Muslim community are furious over a liquor licence application by the Hilton Hotel that will allow it to serve alcohol to guests.
2011/04/29
The plan to develop Lagoon Bay has been thwarted and angry George residents have warned that they will “go to war” unless the project goes ahead.