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• Plan to get the most out of ‘downsizing’

  25 August 2010

  The prospect of a carefree retirement at the traditional age of 60 to 65 is becoming an increasingly remote possibility for many people. However, says Harcourts Africa CEO Martin Schultheiss, proper planning can bring it closer, and one of the most ...

• Call to put property taxes to work in housing

  25 August 2010

  Although the new mortgage guarantee fund introduced by the Department of Human Settlement is to be welcomed, more needs to be done to help lower-income families achieve home ownership. So says Harcourts Africa CEO Martin Schultheiss, who suggests ...

• Eskom hikes positive and negative for landlords

  13 August 2010

  Residential landlords who want to keep their tenants may have to forego any further rental increases this year as the new Eskom electricity tariffs start to eat into disposable incomes. That’s the word from RentalsDOTcom, the rental property manageme ...

• Affordability – developers need to take heed

  13 August 2010

  Affordability holds the key to the future health of the South African housing market – and developers should take heed of this fact. Commenting on FNB predictions that house price growth is likely to slow to single digits later this year, Martin ...

• Temporary relocation: should you sell or let your home?

  13 August 2010

  In a tight economy employees must go where the work is – but that raises questions about what to do with your property when you are offered a contract in another city or country. The options need careful consideration, says Martin Schultheiss, ...

• What’s behind that door?

  02 August 2010

  Seasoned home sellers know that first impressions can make or break a deal. They understand, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of the Harcourts Africa property group, that exterior appeal is crucial to whet prospective buyers’ appetite. Homes that look ...

• Take small steps to home ownership

  02 August 2010

  Interest rates may be at historic lows – but first-time buyers find it increasingly difficult to enter the market. Recent Absa statistics show that house prices are now about 15% higher than a year ago, with the average house price now R1m. “That ...

• Home repairs – fix contract first

  15 July 2010

  An ill-fitting door or a broken light fixture may not be a deal-breaker when you buy a new home – but don’t expect the seller to fix them at his expense. Most buyers are willing to overlook small defects, says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of the property ...

• Wanted – bigger home

  15 July 2010

  Homeowners with growing families will sooner or later have to take the leap and buy bigger property – and attention to a few basic principles can help them make sound investment decisions. That’s the word from Martin Schultheiss, CEO of property ...

• Property: make it a fair deal

  07 July 2010

  Estate agents have a moral and legal duty to protect the interests of property buyers and well as sellers. “Sellers expect estate agents to protect their rights as a matter of course,” says Martin Schultheiss, CEO of Harcourts Africa, “but they shoul ...

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