With affordability, an issue for many and bearing in mind that our country has a young, growing population, the majority of which has yet to enter the housing market, the demand for sectional title properties, the first choice for these aspirants, remains brisk for the foreseeable future. Add to this the news that Ooba recorded the highest rate for home loan approvals in over a decade and that banks are even willing, in some instances, to lend 100% bonds without deposits. This is a very different picture from the 20% deposits so commonplace just a few years ago. But it’s not only this upward demand from first-timers which is influencing the sectional title market. Homeowners are without a doubt, scaling down in general. Soaring utility costs and the need for secure, safe communities are seeing this segment of the market outstripping freehold prices.
Sandra Gordon, Senior Research Analyst for the Pam Golding Property Group says that according to Lightstone data, sectional title prices rose by 3.65% in June, while growth in freehold property prices is losing momentum more rapidly, showing growth of just 3.40% by mid-year.
Lightstone data also tells us that South Africa has 6.6 million homes worth a total value of R5.3 trillion, 11.7% of these comprise sectional title units, accounting for 14.7% of the total housing market.
“Developers have been responding with a long-term view to this growing demand which may see this sector ultimately become the larger of the two residential market segments some years from now,” predicts Gordon.
People are building smaller homes and an FNB report agrees. Evidently, average building sizes have shrunk over the past 50 years or so. And it’s not just building sizes either, lower property prices are also becoming a trend. Lightstone reports that 76.2% of homes sold in Q4 of 2017 were priced under R1.5million, with 45.5% priced under R800 000. This trend supports the shift in the ratio between a newly built sectional title and freehold homes – with 27.06% of all homes built between 2015 and 2017 being sectional title units, compared to only 6.09% during the period 1985 to 1989.
Traffic congestion and fuel prices are expected to further impact this market as consumers attempt to reduce commutes and live as close to the workplace as possible. Failing that, the use of sophisticated digital technology is making work-from-home spaces a popular trend. According to Gordon, some analysts will even argue that the true cost of a house is not only the house itself but the households’ transport costs – as both are major household budget items.
As in all property market cycles, opportunities arise. This one seems marked by increased innovation that’s catering for a growing market of first-time buyers who are re-engineering the norm when it comes to greener homes and even the number of cars on the road.
If you are considering selling, buying or letting your home, we recommend contacting Pam Golding Properties to find out more about your area and to obtain professional advice or a valuation.
