Property Prices Are Increasing – Is It Time To Buy?

ABSA House Price Index: February 2010

Buyers are facing near perfect property conditions. That’s according to Herschel Jawitz, CEO of Jawitz Properties who says that NOW is the time to buy, and I would agree. [read more here]

ABSA House Price Index
The basic principle of investing is: Buy Low and Sell High

 
Property prices have bottomed out and are on the way up. The rate at which prices are increasing is also gaining momentum. Interest rates are forecast to remain at these current low levels, while only increasing by about 0.5% towards the end of 2010 or early 2011. At the same time most banks have a large supply of repossessed properties in stock.

Meanwhile the ABSA House Price Index, shows that property prices in all categories increased in February compared to a year ago.
These figures are based on properties for which ABSA approved home loans for in February.

The average growth rate from Feb 2009 to Feb 2010 of:

  • Small sized houses (80 – 140sqm) was 1.6%
  • Medium sized houses (141 – 220sqm) was 2.2%
  • Large sized houses (221 – 400sqm) was 3.3%

The average price for a :

  • Small house is R676 800
  • Medium house is R954 600
  • Large house is R1 408 000

Jacques du Toit, Senior Property Analyst of ABSA Home Loans, also maintains his earlier forcast that property values are expected to increase by 6% for the year 2010.
This is slightly lower than the FNB House Price Index forecast of 8% growth in property prices for 2010.

Conclusion:
As a buyer you still have an opportunity to secure a bargain as some sellers may be struggling to sell, while still benefitting from the upward trend in property values going forward.

Most property experts agree that the market has reached its bottom, and although the recovery will not be fast we will see a health steady growth in property prices for the next couple of years.

If you are considering selling, you would be better waiting a few months until the end of the FIFA World Cup. Allow you property to benefit from capital gains over this period, and you may be able to secure an extra R50k depending on the size of your house.

Downloads: ABSA House Price Index report

Important:

Before you rush out to buy, remember investing in property is usually a long term plan, and managing a Home Loan is possibly the biggest financial commitment you’ll ever make.

Before, committing yourself to a 20-year bond, ensure that you are financially able to cope with possible further upward rate adjustments.

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2 thoughts on “Property Prices Are Increasing – Is It Time To Buy?”

  1. Umm, sure they increased in nominal terms, but they dropped in real terms, as they have done fairly consistently for about 20 straight years.

    You would be FAR better off financially renting and putting the money saved into the stock market.

  2. i bought a house worth R330 000. ABSA granded me the home loan but with an interest rate of 12,2%.
    I”m paying R3535.00 per month and for 30 years.

    I’m just asking if its this possible to pay that montly instalment for 30 years even the value of the house is R330 000?

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