There was room for a pause in the upward repo rate cycle, says Dr Andrew Golding.

Motivated by the prevailing, historically low interest rates and further incentivised by banks’ lending appetite and sound purchasing opportunities, South African first-time buyers across the country continue to capitalise on the favourable buying environment and demonstrate confidence in the residential property market by acquiring their own homes, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

With South Africa’s inflation rate below the lower limit of the inflation target at 2.9%, and local inflationary expectations remaining well-anchored, it was expected that the Monetary Policy Committee would keep the repo rate unchanged, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

Relief at no increase in personal tax, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group

A luxurious, prime located, four-bedroom Clifton bungalow in perfect position on 4th Beach has been sold by Pam Golding Properties for R70 million to an upcountry buyer for use as a holiday home.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, the market for prime global residential property is expected to remain active as the long-term appeal of this sector holds strong - as sentiment improves amidst the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine across the globe, and as the Biden administration plans a massive stimulus package to revive growth in the US, according to Savills World Cities Prime Residential Index.

While a further reduction to the interest rate would have been a bonus for aspirant first-time home buyers and existing homeowners with mortgages, the Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to leave the repo rate unchanged at 3.5% was anticipated by the majority of market commentators, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

After the worst economic downturn in decades, further dampened by the recent tightening of lockdown restrictions in response to the second wave of the pandemic and the recommencement of load shedding, economic growth – while admittedly coming off a low base - is still widely expected to show some positive growth of around 3% this year.

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has been a catalyst for highlighting the different characteristics – as well as the commonalities of preference – among various generations of home buyers, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

The Minister of Finance hit the nail on the head when he said that it is not only investors who need confidence, but also the average South African, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.