Good news for house sellers
After weak house price growth in the first half of 2019, there are signs that the prices may be stabilising, FNB has said, in a new analysis of the residential property market.
A number of factors are supporting prices:
Demand is improving
Improvements in demand can be attributed to some easing in buyer despondency following the elections, the increased bargain hunting given the attractive pricing, more competition between lenders as well as lower interest rates, says FNB.
This is reflected in the steady growth in mortgage extension, which has averaged 4.3% in the year to date, compared to 3.4% in the same period last year.
In fact, for the first time since June 2011, mortgage advances have been growing faster than the average house price growth in South Africa since the beginning of the year.
“Except for the brief period in the beginning of 2018 (‘Ramaphoria’), we have not seen mortgage lending outpacing house prices since June 2011,” FNB said in a release.
This has contributed to a 0.9% increase in transaction volumes this year, compared to 2018.
Read the full story on: News24.