Industry revenue of “property owning and letting“ in South Africa 2011-2023
Up until 2014-2015, the South African property market was all about sellers and landlords seeking high rents, especially in two key markets, Johannesburg and Cape Town. However, since then it has become a buyer’s market with overall revenues of property owning and letting expected to fall from 12.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2017 to 11.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. A struggling economy, much political noise and a resultant lack of discretionary spending are the three key reasons for the slump in prices. The impact has been mainly felt in the high-end segment with investors opting out and only actual users completing transactions. Foreign buying, which earlier accounted for a significant portion of market revenues is also on the wane, with more of this consumer segment actually looking to sell.
The Covid-19 outbreak has plunged the South African economy deep into recession with a recovery over the short to medium term unlikely. However, this doesn’t augur badly for the property market as a whole. In fact, the interest rate cut by the central bank in January, along with an increase in the transfer duty threshold to R1 million and personal income tax relief, is likely to boost the lower segment and result in more buyers.
The Covid-19 outbreak has plunged the South African economy deep into recession with a recovery over the short to medium term unlikely. However, this doesn’t augur badly for the property market as a whole. In fact, the interest rate cut by the central bank in January, along with an increase in the transfer duty threshold to R1 million and personal income tax relief, is likely to boost the lower segment and result in more buyers.
