Property market opens up

OPPORTUNITY: GOOD TIME FOR RENTALS, FIRST-TIME BUYERS, LONG-TERM BUYS

- Reinier van Loggerenberg

SA's residential property market is entering a decisive chapter. After years of macroeconomic volatility, we are witnessing a convergence of forces that make this an unusually opportune moment for long-term property investment.

Interest rates are easing and a new wave of well-positioned, high-yield developments is redefining the landscape for investors and first-time buyers alike.

We're seeing increased demand from a new generation of buyers: young professionals, remote workers and global investors who understand the structural value of location, convenience and long-term rental potential.

The SA Reserve Bank's decision to lower the prime lending rate to 10.55%, following several consecutive cuts from its peak of 11.75%, has created a crucial affordability window.

For many would-be buyers, this means the difference between staying in a rental cycle and building equity in a long-term asset. It also signals a stabilising economic environment, giving developers greater confidence to launch projects that were previously on hold.