Though often accused of being staid and resistant to change, the property industry is beginning to alter its profile. Its representative body, the SA Property Owners' Association (Sapoa), is for the first time being presided over by a woman, Finlay & Associates CEO Lynette Finlay. And the number of women and black property professionals running it this year has doubled.

Called the Residential Property Owners Association (Respoa) it will soon start lobbying government to broaden the house market and reduce its cost, says chairman Neville Schaefer, chief executive of Trafalgar.