Banker S.A. July 2014 | Page 26

Sellers may be in for a windfall Photo: Shelley Christians, MediaClubSouthAfrica.com The property market may be set for a turnaround, thanks to the banking sector easing its lending criteria, writes Eugene Goddard Industry experts are hesitant to announce a resurgence in the property market A fter a long spell of buyers holding sway, South Africa’s property market seems to be swinging towards sellers, with stock prices rising sharply as demand surpasses supply. It bears all of the signs of recovery, of course, but leading realtors are reluctant to speak of resurgence, preferring rather to approach recent activity in the market with measured reservation. 24 BANKER SA Property_1 copy.indd 24 Seeff sales manager for Pretoria, Otto Pagel, says: “I won’t speak of an outright turnaround favouring sellers as yet, but there certainly is improvement. The fact that interest rates remain relatively low and that banks such as Standard appear to be easing their lending criteria, mortgaging as much as 80% of house prices compared to 60% as in the recent past, definitely bodes well.” Edition 10 2014/06/24 1:51 PM