Proving Green Houses Can Be Affordable

Proving Green Houses Can Be Affordable.

“South Africa’s built environment is earmarked as a sector having a significant role to play in becoming more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable. But with a low-income housing backlog of more that two-million units, the affordable-housing sector potentially also has an important role to play in employment creation and in creating manufacturing opportunities. Hence, there is excitement over a pilot project being rolled out in the picturesque coastal town of Kleinmond, in the Western Cape, where the first 20 of 411 greener, low-income subsidised homes are being constructed.”

View this article to find out more about the latest developments in an effort to pursue the Going Green strategy and what the Overstrand muncipality are doing to make a contribution to this.

Vegetable gardens – grow your own – Property24.com

Vegetable gardens – grow your own – Garden & Outdoor, Lifestyle – Property24.com.

“Growing your own vegetables is easy to do even if you don’t know much about the subject. Most of them are grown from seed, which is sown in mid-spring. Once the seed has sprouted, practically all that has to be done is to keep each crop clear of weeds, and supplied with adequate water and food. In a few weeks or months, it will be ready for harvesting, to be eaten and shared with family and friends. Once you have tasted your own home-grown vegetables, the need to buy vegetables will come to an end.”

As mentioned, this article offers some fantastic tips on growing your own vegetable garden. Growing your own vegetable garden has tons of advantages to it! By giving this article a read, you will surely be doing yourself and your family a huge favour. It really is as simple as that!

Randburg Online – Saving for retirement

Randburg Online – Saving for retirement.

“Retirement is everybody’s business. Everybody expects to age and planning on the critical stage of your life may present too many challenges that careful thinking and planning, and following smart recommendations will help you put your self above the difficulties and win them.”

This is a great article that covers the aspects of retirement and explains the right ways of going about planning ahead, no matter one’s age.

Conveyancing: Explained

Here we have a page dedicated to covering the different angles of the Conveyance Process. Unlike previous posts on the subject, this post does not focus merely on the Conveyance Process, but also explains the finer detail to it. We find it extremely important for Home Owners to read through this page and take note of the facts – should You one day need to make decisions regarding the Conveyance Process.

” What is Conveyancing?

Most simply defined, Conveyancing is a process whereby immovable property (an Erf, flat, residence, small holding or farm) is transferred from one person to another. This process involves the drafting of a new title deed in the name of the purchaser together with the other documents which have to be lodged and registered in a Deeds Office. These documents can only be drawn by a conveyance. A conveyancer is an attorney who has passed a special examination called the Conveyancing Examination. The conveyance has knowledge of the Deeds Registries Act, the Sectional Titles Act and other issues pertaining to Conveyancing.

What is a Deeds Office?

A Deeds Office is a government office where, amongst others, new  title deeds, antenuptial contracts, servitudes, Notarial deeds, cessions and bonds are registered and sometimes cancelled. There are Deeds Offices throughout South Africa and a title deed is registered in a Deeds Office in the area which the property being sold is situated. So, for example, if the property being sold is situated in Parktown, the Deeds Office will be in Johannesburg. Your conveyancer will be able to assist you in this regard.

Transfer Duty or VAT?

Transfer duty is a form of tax that is payable by the purchaser to the South African Revenue Services, for every transfer of land unless he or she is exempted from doing so by the Transfer Duty Act or the transaction has VAT payable. Either Transfer Duty or VAT is applicable. (terms & conditions apply)

If, however, you have to pay transfer duty there is a formula that needs to be followed depending on the purchase price of the property and the date of the transaction. If the purchase price of the property is R500,000.00 or less, the purchaser will be exempt from paying transfer duty, provided the purchaser is a natural person.

Transfer Duty payable by a legal person (a CC, Company or Trust) will be 8% on the purchase price.

What will it cost you?

The conveyancer’s costs are borne by the purchaser. In practice, the conveyancer will collect the deposit and his transfer costs from the purchaser before proceedings to lodge the documents at the Deeds Office. The conveyancer’s costs are calculated in terms of a formula according to the purchase price of the property and disbursements relating thereto.”

This article has been reprinted with the kind permission of Joshila Desai Inc.
086 – 111 3386

Meter Readings – Not applicable for Sectional Title units

The Chas Everitt Rental’s management team has noticed that the City Council is not reading electricity and water meters on a regular basis. The Chas Everitt Rental Department would like to urge all of their clients to take regular monthly readings, preferably on the same date of each month and forward them to the following email address:
rentalrpr@everitt.co.za.

Chas Everitt has no control over what the Council invoices but with this information they can at least have records to substantiate claims should they need to investigate an account.

Please send your meter reading and the date it was taken on, clearly indicating your surname and address to:
rentalrpr@everitt.co.za.

 It has also come to our attention that Johannesburg City Council will implement the new rates and services increases from July 2010.

The increases are approximately:

– 20% On Electricity

– 14% On Water

– 15% On Sanitation services

 Chas Everitt is not able to give exact figures at present but this is an indication for budget purposes.

This article has been reprinted with the kind permission of Chas Everitt International.
Berry Everitt
011 801 2500
www.chaseveritt.com

Freehold vs Sectional

This article was discovered on the Better Bond Website. We would like to share this with You as it provides helpful information on sectional or non-sectional property – explaining the different sections to ensure that the buyer is able to make the right decision without any later on regrets. To view this article, visit http://www.betterbond.co.za/InfoforBuyers/FreeholdvsSectionalTitle/tabid/67/Default.aspx, or simply read below: 

” There are two types of ownership for residential property: 

Freehold / Full Title
Full title describes the transfer of full ownership rights when you own the property as well as the land it is built on. 

Freehold – Full Title: 

House
This is a normal free standing house with ERF number. 

Cluster House
A cluster house is a freehold property, usually in a development of similar houses. The group of houses usually has limited access through a security control. Each house is individually owned and no levy is charged to the occupants. 

Residential property used for business purposes
The property will be regarded as residential property provided that no structural changes are made which could affect its description as a domestic residential dwelling. A risk premium above the qualifying home loan rate is applicable if more than half of the house is used for business purposes. 

Smallholding
A smallholding is classified as such if it is situated in or within a 150 km radius of a built up area, does not exceed 20 hectares and is able to be connected to a local authority water supply or has a borehole.
There must be a dwelling on the property and the main source of income must not be from farming on the property. If the smallholding is larger than 8.56 hectares, it will be charged a risk premium above the qualifying home loan rate. 

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Sectional title
This describes separate ownership of units or sections within a complex or development. When you buy into a sectional title complex you purchase a section or sections and an undivided share of the common property. These are collectively known as the unit. 

Sectional Title: 

Mini subtype house
This is a small, sub-divided portion of a large property which is suitable for cluster housing developments. 

Semi-detached house
This consists of two houses attached to one another. They may be on separate stands and bonded individually as ordinary houses. They can also be on one stand and bonded together under one bond. They can be sold as separate units in a sectional title development. 

Townhouse or flat
A townhouse or flat unit must be in an approved sectional title complex. The complex must contain residential units only. 

Duet house
This is similar to a semi-detached house, but there are two separate free-standing units on one stand. It could also be two dwelling units attached to one another on one stand. They can be sold under sectional title. When you buy into a sectional title complex you purchase a section or sections and an undivided share of the common property. These are collectively known as the unit. 

Common property
The common property is that part of the development which does not form part of any section. Structures and areas in this category include; driveways, gardens, swimming pool, club houses, corridors, lift, entrance foyer, outer wall and foundations. 

Exclusive use area
Exclusive use areas are portions of the common property which have been demarcated and may only be used by the owner of a particular section. It is an aspect of the property which you do not own, but over which you alone have use. This could include: parking bays, garden, patio, garages and storeroom. 

The Body Corporate
It is the collective name given to the owners of the units in your complex. All registered owners of units are members of the body corporate. This means you will be liable for the debt of the body corporate, so it is advisable that you scrutinize the financial statements of the body corporate before you purchase. 

Levies
These are the costs incurred in running the complex which have been paid by the body corporate. The levies include the following costs: Rates and taxes and other charges, insurance premiums, repairs and maintenance of the common property, wages and salaries of cleaners and other staff, water and electricity used on the common property. “

Property market to remain buoyant after the World Cup – eProp Commercial Property News in South Africa

Property market to remain buoyant after the World Cup – eProp Commercial Property News in South Africa – Commercial Properties For Sale / To Let / To Rent in South Africa.

“Ian Anderson, the chief investment officer of Grinrod Bank told investors attending the Auction Alliance Investor Breakfast Club at One on One Conference Centre in Umhlanga that the 2010 World Cup, had, to a large extent, helped South Africa weather the worst recession in 80 years.”

This article explains what statistics predict for the coming years, after the 2010 World Cup, in terms of the property market, ect. It also states interesting facts about the subject and happenings surrounding the 2010 World Cup.

SAPOA drags Jhb Council to court – Top Stories, News – Property24.com

SAPOA drags Jhb Council to court – Top Stories, News – Property24.com.

Home repairs: Fix sales agreement first – Top Stories, News – Property24.com

Home repairs: Fix sales agreement first – Top Stories, News – Property24.com.

“Most buyers are willing to overlook small defects, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of the property group Harcourts Africa. But, he cautions, obvious defects that will need expensive repairs will also be for the buyer’s account, unless rectifying them is made a condition of sale. Such conditions should be clearly specified in the sale agreement.”

This article is extremely helpful and will provide the reader with vital information on the Sales Agreement when purchasing property.

How big is big enough? – Top Stories, News – Property24.com

How big is big enough? – Top Stories, News – Property24.com.

“Home Owners with growing families will sooner or later have to take the leap and buy a bigger property – and attention to a few basic principles can help them make sound investment decisions.”

This is a great article for Home Owners of any age – explaining the basic need-to-know about buying property and as well as providing a solid guide-line for doing so, ensuring you make the right decision the first time around.