A transaction of R1,5-billion that will make Growthpoint properties the largest property loan stock company on the JSE Securities Exchange is expected to start a trend to convert direct ownership of property portfolios into property listings.

PARAMOUNT Property Fund on the Acquisition Trail Paramount Property Fund (Paraprop), listed on the JSE Securities exchange earlier this year and rated one of South Africa's top property funds, is on the acquisition trail to boost its portfolio of properties to R1-billion by end October.

Emerging retail communities are to be represented for the first time in the JSE property sector with the joining of Shops for Africa Ltd.

MortgageSA has set its sights on the lower end of the housing market, and has partnered KwaZulu-Natal micro lender Ithala Development Finance Corporation in making inroads into the low-cost housing market

Big isn't always beautiful, as the past year's experience shows