“The COVID-19 Crisis has changed the world a lot, perhaps less through introducing new trends and more through speeding up old trends,” said John Loos, FNB Economist at an FNB Commercial Property Finance (CPF) webinar earlier today.

In the midst of a rapidly contracting economy in limbo under an extended lockdown, today’s (21 May 2020) announcement of a further reduction of 50 bps in the repo rate will have a positive effect on the residential property market, albeit deferred until potential buyers can begin transacting in earnest, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

Spear REIT Limited (SEA:SJ), the only regionally specialised Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) listed on the JSE, reported its annual financial results today, posting 6.06% earnings growth amidst some of the toughest trading environments in recent years for the South African listed real estate sector.

In a recent note, we indicated that, in the “post-lockdown” recessionary period we would likely see the direct economy-related pressures being more severe on the Industrial Property Sector, via a very weak.

It is fashionable to have an opinion on how the COVID-19 Crisis is “changing the world”.

A slowing capital growth trend, into negative territory by 2019, has been in play in recent years. The Corona Crisis is likely to add momentum to this correcting trend in 2020.

JLL, one of the world’s leading real estate investment and advisory firms, today released its Q1 South Africa Real Estate Market Performance report which outlines the implications that Covid-19 will have on major sectors across the country.

“In an unexpected but welcome announcement, the Monetary Policy Committee today (14 April 2020) announced a further 100bps cut in the repo rate, reducing it to just 4.25%.

In line with market expectation, the Reserve Bank has cut the repo rate by 100 basis points to 5.25% per annum, Governor Lesetja Kganyago announced on Thursday.

Fairvest Property Holdings Limited (“Fairvest”) today again announced solid results for the six months to December 2019, with above market distribution growth of 5.1%, net property income growth of 2.2%, 5-year lows in vacancy rates and consistently low arrears.