"We are receiving a steady flow of enquiries for the purchase of office accommodation, mainly from small and medium business and professional enterprises," says Bier.

"While this is further boosted by the lower interest rates, the fact is there's an increasing awareness among business owners of the sound value of owning their own premises. The business community is correctly of the view that office accommodation represents a good investment, particularly where it is of good quality and enjoys a good geographic location within an established office node. They have noted the steady increase in the value of office space over the last few years and it is anticipated that this upward trend in property values will continue for the foreseeable future – largely as a result of ever increasing building costs and escalating rental rates."

To illustrate this, less than 12 months ago, good quality sectional title office space was available between R12 000 and R14 000 per square metre. Currently prices range from R16 000 to R20 000 per square metre in office nodes in Sandton and the northern Johannesburg areas.  Such increases reveal that investors who purchased more than two years ago have already achieved substantial growth and one can reasonably expect this trend to continue.

Adds Bier: "Many small to medium sized businesses are now in a position to own and occupy property while acquiring a good investment at a fixed price, thereby negating rising building costs while also avoiding annual escalations as is the case with leased space."

Pam Golding Commercial is currently marketing sectional title projects in prime locations in the Bryanston, Fourways and Rivonia areas, ranging in size from 120sqm upwards, depending on buyer requirements. Larger spaces of 500sqm upwards may be obtained by combining two or more units. While the price range is generally as stated ie in the region of R16 000 to R20 000 per square metre, limited opportunities still exist to purchase good quality sectional title units at around R13 000 a square metre in the Rivonia and Bryanston areas – which represents sound value for money.