It's a globally recognised phenomenon that property has become a preferred investment, yet very limited scientific research takes place in this field.

In response to this need, Pam Golding Properties has launched a Residential Research Department that aims to fill this knowledge gap and provide valuable market research information and independent analysis to its clients and real estate agents. While this information will primarily relate to the South African property market, it will take into account international trends and developments, and the impact these may have on local markets.

Comments Dr Andrew Golding, CE of the PGP group: "The real estate industry in general tends to be operationally focussed, with the emphasis on a short-term result or goal ie a sale. This is perhaps a legacy of the past, where the pre-occupation has been with getting the mandate, selling the property and earning the commission on the sale of the property.

"Today much more information is needed to facilitate truly informed real estate purchase and sale decisions. The real estate industry needs more professionalism and has to develop industry foresight and take a long-term strategic view of the future of the market," says Dr Golding.

As a first step, PGP have appointed Dr Llewellyn Lewis, proprietor and principal of the BMI Building Research Strategy Consulting Unit to head up this initiative, and provide exclusive and comprehensive information regarding the South African residential property market.

Dr Lewis, who is well known in building and property industry circles, is a veteran with some 50 years of varied technical, managerial, academic, research and consulting experience in the building and property related industry. He holds a Doctorate in Business Leadership from UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership and is a past Professor Extraordinarius of this business school, is Research Fellow of Greenwich business School, London, as well as past Professor of Corporate Strategy at De Montfort Business School, Sandton. He is a past President of the Institute for Housing of Southern Africa as well as past chairman of the National Association of Homebuilders.

The research model applied by PGP will be based on that used by global property giant, FPDSavills - of which PGP is a member - a company which prides itself on its independent viewpoint and as a result has achieved enormous credibility in the marketplace. Dr Lewis will add value to internally sourced information within PGP through data mining, which, combined with external research data, will result in valuable and relevant topical research information and industry foresight becoming available to the company's agents and its clients. This will provide PGP agents with a strong competitive and professional advantage in the marketplace, while providing their clients with key data to enable them to make informed investment choices.

Says Dr Lewis: "The South African residential property market is in fact a complex system, the dynamics of which are cumulatively impacted on by the decisions of a vast number of individuals, as well as those of financial institutions and the Governor of the Reserve Bank. In other words, no one is really in control of the system in the total scheme of things, and because of this complexity, it makes it no easy matter to analyse and predict.

"In South Africa different dynamics are at play that make our marketplace unique, for example, our rapidly increasing Black middle class which will eventually surpass the size of the white market, and the integration and evolution of areas, among other factors. During recent years the residential property market has been experiencing rapid growth and strong price appreciation, and never before have we seen such a strong demand for secure, residential developments with gated access - with an increasing number of plans being submitted for both townhouses and freehold title homes," adds Dr Lewis.

For further information on PGP's new Residential Research Department contact Simon Gibb on 021 7975300 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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