News24
10 Sep 2019, 11:44 GMT+10
After weak house price growth in the first half of 2019, there are signs that the prices may be stabilising, FNB has said, in a new analysis of the residential property market.
A number of factors are supporting prices:
Demand is improving
Improvements in demand can be attributed to some easing in buyer despondency following the elections, the increased bargain hunting given the attractive pricing, more competition between lenders as well as lower interest rates, says FNB.
This is reflected in the steady growth in mortgage extension, which has averaged 4.3% in the year to date, compared to 3.4% in the same period last year.
In fact, for the first time since June 2011, mortgage advances have been growing faster than the average house price growth in South Africa since the beginning of the year.
"Except for the brief period in the beginning of 2018 ('Ramaphoria'), we have not seen mortgage lending outpacing house prices since June 2011," FNB said in a release.
This has contributed to a 0.9% increase in transaction volumes this year, compared to 2018.
Supply is slowing
The FNB Market Strength indices show a "persistently slowing pace" in properties put on the market.
"The slowing pace of supply is driven by sellers withdrawing their properties, amid tough selling conditions, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to attain asking prices. This is countered somewhat by the surge in the supply of new stock (particularly flats and townhouses), as well as the rising emigration-related sales," FNB says.
Fewer properties in the market, combined with stronger demand, should push prices higher.
Interest rates
FNB expects that the SA Reserve Bank will cut rates by another 25 basis points before the end of the year, which should lend support.
Outlook
FNB expects that house prices will increase by 3.5% this year, and by 4% next year.
The eThekwini metro continues to overperform, supported by new developments in the North Coast regions, as well as renewed interest in the city centre, says FNB. In the inland regions, Ekurhuleni appears to have bucked the generally slowing price trend at a national level, while Johannesburg and Tshwane remain in the low single-digit territory.
However, Tshwane properties remain in the market for the shortest periods before they are sold:
Get a daily dose of Long Beach Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Long Beach Star.
More InformationFRANKLIN, Tennessee: Hundreds of thousands of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are being recalled across the United States due to a potential...
REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce significant job cuts, as the financial strain of building next-generation...
LONDON UK - U.S. stock markets were closed on Friday for Independence Day. Global Forex Markets Wrap Up Friday with Greeback Comeback...
SANTA CLARA, California: Nvidia came within a whisker of making financial history on July 3, briefly surpassing Apple's all-time market...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
SACRAMENTO, California: California's multibillion-dollar farms are facing a growing crisis—not from drought or pests, but from a sudden...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
LONDON, U.K.: An unrelenting heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed early summer temperatures to historic highs, triggering deadly...
President Donald Trump's plans to build a space-based Golden Dome missile defense shield have drawn immediate criticism from China,...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Paramount has agreed to pay US$16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump over...
LONDON, U.K.: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote in Parliament this week to move ahead with changes to the country's welfare...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday. President...