Reduced operating costs translate into higher rental income

South Africa's top rated Green Star buildings and top green building professionals were announced at the Green Star Leadership Awards 2014, held at the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) Convention, sponsored by Nedbank, in Cape Town last week.

Encouragingly, the residential property market is currently in an upward cycle and we are seeing a strong resurgence of investors entering the market, says Carol Reynolds, Pam Golding Properties area principal in Durban, Durban North and La Lucia.

The South African Council for the Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in London have committed to solidifying their relationship by signing a "Mutual Recognition of Professional Competence".

Warren Schultze, CEO of Eris Property Group (Pty) Ltd, recently appeared on CNBC Africa discussing the opportunities available to investors in Africa and Eris involvement with Momentum in launching an African Real Estate Fund focused on Sub-Saharan Africa.

The IPD South Africa Annual Green Property Indicators strongly supports the case for green building.

Commercial property still offers the best returns

By 2030 an expected 40% of Africans will be living in cities. How do we build an African Urban Green Legacy?

Investors are lining up for a share of sub-Saharan Africa's booming affordable housing market, with global private equity investor, International Housing Solutions' second fund attracting an impressive R1.5-billion.

Managers of shopping centres and retail chains can now assess the health of portfolio assets through an innovative recommendations-based early warning system.