Archive for February, 2009
Although he has, he says, “grown a little weary” of the current trend among estate agencies to claim that their area is bucking the trend and resisting price falls better than most, he himself cannot resist at this point in the property cycle giving one piece of advice, says Tony Clarke, Managing Director of Rawson Properties.
“Have a good look at the small Cape coastal properties,” said Clarke. “Right now there are many incredibly good bargains to be had here.” (more…)
The first half of this year will be a good time to buy residential property, says Tony Clarke, Managing Director of Rawson Properties.
Repeating this message for the third time in as many weeks, Clarke said,
“While it is true that none of us can tell when the market will bottom out, there is also a danger that those who wait too long will miss the boat and find themselves buying on a rising market. Right now, in my opinion, the buying opportunities are excellent and although small drops are still possible, these do not alter the basic message.” (more…)
With interest rates likely to drop by 2,5% over the coming year, homeowners should seriously consider “biting the bullet” and continuing to pay their bonds at the existing rate.
This was said recently by Tony Clarke, MD of Rawson Properties, who, on being asked for his advice for 2009, said that this was probably the best tip he could give any current homeowner.
“Build your equity on your main asset, your home. That is the road to future wealth,” he said. (more…)
Speaking to senior Rawson Properties agents, Tony Clarke, MD of the Rawson Group, warned them that “out there”, among the general public, there are still widespread misunderstandings about VAT and transfer duty – and these, he said, can bedevil a sales transaction. The most commonly asked question is when does a seller pay VAT and when does he pay transfer duty? (more…)
One of the best pieces of advice an estate agent can give to a home seller is, “declare openly and upfront all the defects and faults in your property”.
This is the counsel of Tony Clarke, MD of Rawson Properties. (more…)
Trevor Manuel’s stimulatory tax incentives for companies redeveloping disadvantaged urban areas are widely acknowledged to be exactly what SA developers need – and they have great spinoff benefits for the areas where they go into action.
Why not now extend the offer to those involved in new housing, especially if it is targeted at the lower income groups, asks Bill Rawson, Chairman of Rawson Properties. (more…)
Recent suggestions that bond originators no longer have a role to play in the residential property market are, in his view, way out of line, says Bill Rawson, Chairman of Rawson Properties.
Reviewing the background to this issue, Rawson said that in “the old days” the building societies charged fixed interest rates depending on the size and value of the bond. Later, to capture strong clients, the banks began to give discounts on the interest raised in excess of 2% in some cases. (more…)
In 2008, despite conditions in the real estate industry sometimes described as the worst in 25 years, Rawson Properties established 27 new franchises – and, says Gary Wentzel, Senior Business Development Manager at Rawson Properties, they are confident that this year (2009) they will continue their expansion at the same rate, i.e. setting up at least two new franchises per month. (more…)
The near-recession conditions now being experienced in the SA residential property sector are very much in evidence at Rawson Properties’ Goodwood franchise, says Lee Ross, who, after a period as joint franchisee with his father Ivan, took complete control of the franchise in 2005. He has now had 14 years’ property experience. (more…)
Rawson Properties’ plan to expand steadily throughout Gauteng and, in particular, to cover all the major areas in Johannesburg, has been taken a step further by the sale of the Wilgeheuwel franchise to Frederick Lange and his wife Joanita, a qualified conveyancing attorney. (He also studied law at Potchefstroom University, but has never had any inclination to practice in the legal profession). Since establishing the new franchise in August last year, he has built up a stock for sale of ± 40 homes valued from R500,000 to R3 million. (more…)
