He says a rural retail property fund intends listing later in the year.

"The property fundamentals are in place and the market is strong, with the retail and industrial sectors buoyant.

"Provided there is no major shock for the economy, there is no reason why the growth seen in the retail sector will not continue."

He says that retail trading is still at a high level, although there has been something of a flattening out in this market.

The office market has seen improved earnings coming through and the industrial sector is buoyant and looks to remain so, he says.

Growthpoint Properties CEO Norbert Sasse says it is a good time to have a listed property fund in SA, especially one with a strong exposure to commercial and industrial property.

Not only is the office sector showing signs of life for the first time in four or five years, but the entire commercial and industrial sector is poised for a boom that some say is long overdue, he says.

The listed property sector is now attracting interest from small and individual investors as well as the institutional buyers who have long recognised the sector?s potential, he says.

"We are certainly excited at the prospects. We believe we're in a ?boom? cycle, and property funds have never been better," Sasse says.