Topic Index  

Should you hire a real estate professional when you are buying or selling a home in South Africa. What benefits or disadvantages are involved when you hire a real estate agent. How much do you have to pay the broker? Do they really care about what you want? What are the benefits of selling your home as for sale by owner? Are the contracts the same, are the same tests required, and are attorneys required if you sell your own home? How much money can you save by selling your home yourself?

Should you have your home in South Africa appraised before you sell? What elements determine your home's worth? When the offer is signed and good faith money is paid, whose side is the appraiser on? Do they appraise the home for what the lenders want to hear?

What steps do you take when you find a home in South Africa to buy? What type of offer do you make? Should you request a complete home inspection? What other tests are required by the mortgage lender such as water, sewer, pest or radon testing? Can you back out once you sign a contract? How long until you can move in to your new home after you sign? Find out what you need to know to be prepared to buy a home.

Your stories about flipping real estate in South Africa or tips, suggestions or questions. What kind of properties will earn you the most money? What properties should you avoid? Talk with others about flipping properties.

Are you in danger of losing your home in South Africa? Have you lost your job and your steady income? What are lenders willing to do to help homeowners in trouble. Will President Obama's stimulus program help to keep you from losing your home? Will filing for bankruptcy result in the loss of your home?

What housing markets are hot right now and which ones not so hot? Should you timeshare your new property with other families? How do you take care of your vacation home while you are not on vacation? What vacation property community associations can do for you. Find information on holiday and vacation homes in South Africa.

Learn how to create a comfortable environment in your home or apartment in South Africa. Use Feng Shui to improve the energy flow in your home. Design your own perfect space, whether it be a kitchen or a workshop. Share decorating ideas and decoration projects with others.

Find do it yourself projects that you can do in a weekend. Find the best improvement update for your home. Learn about energy efficient and green homes. What can you do to upgrade your home to be more environmentally friendly. Compare appliances for cost and efficiency. What home improvements are the most common in South Africa?

How do you find a reputable home inspector in South Africa? What do home inspectors include in their reports? Whose side they are on...what findings will they report? Who is reposible for fixing the deficiencies in the home being sold?

When is it decoration and when does it become interior design? Do you need a license in South Africa to be an interior designer? What does someone with a design license offer you that you can't do yourself? Are designers in league with manufacturers of certain products, or do they pick the best product for your needs?

For owners of properties to talk about problems, hints suggestions for realing with tenants in South Africa

What type of mortgages are available for buyers in South Africa. Buying a home for the first time.. what you should know. Will you qualify for a mortgage in today's financial economy? How much can you really afford for a mortgage payment? What type of mortgage should you avoid at all costs?

Is it a good time to invest in real estate in South Africa? Where is the best area to buy a home? What kind of properties to stay away from investing in. What landlords need to know about tenant rights and obligations.

This forum topic is to talk about issues relating to classified ads for real estate. Websites, tips for writing ads, etc. DO NOT POST ADVERTISEMENTS HERE.

Thinking of adding on to your home in South Africa? Learn how to design the perfect new space for your needs. How to build the best extension to your home and save energy in the process. Check out trends in remodeling products and which ones to stay away from. Should you hire a contractor or do the work yourself?

Renting a property in South Africa? Talk about things important to you with other rentes

How to increase the curb appeal of your property in South Africa before you sell. What improvements will increase the value of your home to buyers? What rooms are the most important to buyers? What do you absolutely have to do before you sell your home?

When you are buying a home, it is imperative that you have a clear, concise property survey. You really need to know how far your property reaches. Is one surveyor in South Africa better than another? How does a survey work? Who pays for it?