Commercial property association Sapoa and various government departments have agreed to work together in finding solutions to problems facing the property industry.

Commercial property association Sapoa is keen to hold discussions with government about the state's plans to build low-income homes and flats near wealthy suburbs.

WITH the buy-to-let property market softening in some areas of SA, the average investor with surplus capital is advised to consider investing in the less risky listed property sector.

The SA Property Owners' Association (Sapoa) has appointed Neil Gopal as its new chief operating officer.

Three finalists have been announced for the Women's Property Network Five-Star Woman Award sponsored by Nedbank Corporate. 

Commercial property association Sapoa will be researching service levels of organisations performing property, asset and facilities management to generate best practice guidelines and related fee structures.

Neil Gopal, the new chief operating office of commercial property body the South African Property Owners' Association (Sapoa), says one of the challenges facing the group is to get more black economic empowerment companies to join it.

Sapoa Workshops

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.

With transformation of the South African property industry high on commercial property association Sapoa's agenda, the organisation is expected to announce its first woman president at its annual convention in Cape Town later this month.