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Articles published in November 2005

CT's first new switched-use lifestyle park

01 Nov 2005

Farelli Park is Cape Town's first new switched-use lifestyle park, offering mix and match multiple-zoned units that can be combined and tailored for light industrial workshops, commercial and residential purposes.

Mortgage explosion in SA

01 Nov 2005

Data released by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) showed that mortgage growth in September reached its highest level in over 20 years

Shari'ah Banking – Mortgage Bonds With A Difference

04 Nov 2005

Financial institutions offering Shari'ah compliant products offer an interesting alternative for both Muslim and non-Muslim property investors.

Cut the costs of running your home

07 Nov 2005

With the holiday season almost upon us and the extra spending that's usually involved, now is a good time to review your household operational costs and see where you can save.

Boutique development concept

09 Nov 2005

Tired of Tudor, Tuscan or Provencal-look complexes? The new boutique development concept has been implemented at Domain Bryanston for discerning buyers.

Absa first with Islamic investment offering

10 Nov 2005

Absa says it is the first major bank in South Africa to offer investment products specifically designed to comply with Shari'ah law of Islamic banking principles.

Islamic finance – the new global trend

10 Nov 2005

The recent move by First National Bank announcing that it will offer Islamic financing to its customers, reflects a growing trend worldwide for financial services that are compliant with the laws of Islam.

Warnings on home loan debt - economists

11 Nov 2005

Much of the debt currently created by consumers is for home loans and not for consumer products, but even home loan debt is a risk for the economy, economists said recently.

Household debt levels partly due to rising house prices

15 Nov 2005

Absa's economists believe that the bulk of the recent marked increase in household debt can be ascribed to increased borrowing for housing, as a result of the rising house prices.

Spring tips for a cool summer

17 Nov 2005

Through the recent winter it might have felt as if summer would never come. But it's clearly on its way, and now is the time for owners to think about keeping their homes cool in the sweltering months ahead.

Don't take fire danger lightly

17 Nov 2005

News coverage of the devastating loss of life and property that can result from fires should bring home to all householders the need to take preventative measures.

Renovating? Be careful not to over-capitalise..

17 Nov 2005

If you are a homeowner planning additions or alterations, you should realise that you will not necessarily recover the total cost of these improvements if you decide to sell in the near future.

First offer could be the best

22 Nov 2005

Sellers should never treat the first offer made on their property casually, or take the view that it's the first of many as it could well prove in time to be the highest offer they might receive.

Buying 'Voetstoets'? Beware!

24 Nov 2005

The excitement of buying your dream home can lead to some nasty shocks later down the line. Sellers can get away with a myriad of property defects by hiding behind the 'voetstoets' clause which is incorporated into all property sale agreements.

How to choose a reliable builder

28 Nov 2005

Many of those who have bought residential stands in the past two years are now ready to start creating their "dream" homes – but first they have to choose the right builder.

Life insurance for HIV+ people

30 Nov 2005

HIV-positive people can now enjoy a first for South Africa, and possibly worldwide, in that they can now access life insurance cover for up to R1m.

Invest in trees

30 Nov 2005

Trees are a key design element in the garden. Here's how to choose the right tree for your garden and circumstances.

Dubai or not to buy?

30 Nov 2005

It was bound to happen: As the South African housing market nears its peak after exceptional growth of more than 120% over the past four years, real estate groups and investment consultants are back riding the offshore property bandwagon.