As Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan tabled what appeared to be a pro-poor budget, he has announced that relief will be given to the affordable housing market.

The value of outstanding credit balances in the South African household sector increased by a negligible 0,7% to R1 485,7 billion in 2016, down from growth of 4,5% in 2015.

Building activity with regard to new private sector-financed housing in South Africa remained much subdued in the first eleven months of 2016 compared with the corresponding period in 2015, based on data published by Statistics South Africa.

The FNB House Price Index for 2016 as a whole rose by 5%, slower than the 7.2% and 6.5% for 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Retail Sales growth tends to be more cyclical than overall economic growth, outperforming the latter in good times, but often underperforming economic growth in tougher times.

While political and economic uncertainty is likely to continue across the globe next year (2017), it is hoped that local economic growth will be modestly stronger, which will be more supportive for the South African housing market, says Dr Andrew Golding, CE of the Pam Golding Property group.

Holding the repo rate steady at today’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting today (24 November 2016) was the right decision and one which is expected to help boost consumer confidence at a time of the year when many are planning and making career and lifestyle decisions for the year ahead, says Dr Andrew Golding, CE of the Pam Golding Property group.

Sectional Title homes have seen a long term rise in prominence in South Africa’s property trade, driven by mounting urban land and infrastructure scarcity, which requires a “drive” towards smaller average sized properties as we look to utilize land and infrastructure more economically.

October 2016 saw year-on-year growth in the average nominal value of middle-segment homes in the South African housing market remaining relatively low against the background of trends in and prospects for the economy and the household sector.

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