Motivated by the prevailing, historically low interest rates and further incentivised by banks’ lending appetite and sound purchasing opportunities, South African first-time buyers across the country continue to capitalise on the favourable buying environment and demonstrate confidence in the residential property market by acquiring their own homes, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

With South Africa’s inflation rate below the lower limit of the inflation target at 2.9%, and local inflationary expectations remaining well-anchored, it was expected that the Monetary Policy Committee would keep the repo rate unchanged, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

Relief at no increase in personal tax, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, the market for prime global residential property is expected to remain active as the long-term appeal of this sector holds strong - as sentiment improves amidst the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine across the globe, and as the Biden administration plans a massive stimulus package to revive growth in the US, according to Savills World Cities Prime Residential Index.

While a further reduction to the interest rate would have been a bonus for aspirant first-time home buyers and existing homeowners with mortgages, the Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to leave the repo rate unchanged at 3.5% was anticipated by the majority of market commentators, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has been a catalyst for highlighting the different characteristics – as well as the commonalities of preference – among various generations of home buyers, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

Further repo rate cut would have provided relief for economy and boosted housing market, says Dr Andrew Golding.

So asks Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

While retirement in its broadest sense represents a change in lifestyle in one way or another, the fact is, the traditional concept of retirement has changed significantly over the past few decades, with, for example many people in their 60s still very active and in their 70s still working, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

The further reduction of the repo rate by 25 basis points to an all-time low of 3.5% takes the prime interest rate down to 7%, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.