But before you start spending you need be aware of the costs involved in selling your property in South Africa and how much … Subscribe. Among the legal costs for selling a home in South Africa is the cost of bond cancellation, which is carried out by the bond attorney appointed by the bank. As the seller of a property in SA, you have to pay these costs if they apply to you: Municipal rates and taxes, and often costs for services (such as electricity and water) for up to 4 months in advance ; Body corporate or Homeowner’s association levies, in advance; Estate agent … Also keep in mind that an electrical COC expires after two years. What it takes to start a career in real estate. The followings costs are to be covered by buyers: Transfer costs to the transferring attorney. Bank initiation fee (incl VAT) * R 0. Rightmove.co.uk lists the very latest property in South Africa. Staff Writer 11 August 2019. This information has not been provided to meet the individual requirements of a specific person and LegalWise insists that legal advice be obtained to address a person’s unique circumstances. All Rights Reserved. Moving costs can only be obtained by getting quotations from removal companies. After your deposit, the transfer duty is one of the biggest upfront and once-off costs to consider when buying a property. The costs that you should be aware of include advertising, obtaining a rates and taxes clearance certificate, bond cancellation fees, obtaining compliance certificates, estates agents commission, and capital gains tax. Ryan Brothwell 29 February 2020. But, the hidden costs of buying a house in South Africa can take many potential homeowners by surprise, and often thwart the entire purchase. Some costs attached to the bond cancellation process for sellers include: A penalty fee if you failed to provide 90 days’ written notice to the bank of your intention to sell the home. This is obtained from the local authority or body corporate stating that your rates and taxes or levies are paid up to date. During South Africa’s worst previous recessions after World War II, residential property prices fell by up to 10%. Get the best of Private Property's latest news and advice delivered straight to your inbox each week. The money is then paid to the Deeds Office. Compliance Certificates: These include the Electrical Certificate of Compliance (COC) and can cost anything from R1200 upwards, depending on the amount of work that is needed. When we are young we do not dream about the twenty years that it may take to pay off a bond. The fee is usually 5 – 8% of the property selling price, plus … If you are buying as an individual (officially termed a ‘natural person’), duty is calculated on the following scale: If you buy a home in South Africa, you must pay transfer duty on the value of the property above R500,000 (€51,840). An Electrical Compliance Certificate is required by law for the property to be transferred to the buyer's name. They will pre-qualify the … Source: FNB Estate Agents Survey. While agent’s commission is often one of the first cost considerations that sellers think of when it comes to selling their home, there are other costs that sellers and buyers need to keep in mind as well. Copyright © Private Property South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 1997 - 2021. 2020 Cost of selling a house in Australia – state by state guide. Find property in South Africa with Rightmove.co.uk - the UK's number one property website. This is paid to the Cancellation Attorneys for cancelling your existing bond. Motivation for a greater savings culture in SA by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was heard at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the SA Savings Institute. Real estate market in South Africa House prices have been relatively stable in South Africa, with homeownership levels at around 60% of the population. For many of you out there interested in buying a property it can come as quite a shock when you discover just how much all the associated fees can cost you in addition to any deposits and costs you incur with renovations and furnishing your new home. The costs involved in selling a house can add up quickly, and selling a house in South Africa costs a fair amount, which is why you need to be prepared for every process that will come your way. This, and any electrical repairs that need to be made, is for your account. The selling costs can be divided into five main categories, each of which include a number of costs that may or may not apply. The rate of commission is negotiable with the estate agent. House prices in South Africa. 1. Until the launch of Steeple, South Africa’s first online estate agents, in 2012, selling your house in South Africa meant you only had a choice between these two ways to sell property (namely, using a traditional estate agent or selling privately). As the seller of a property, you will have to pay the following: The commission that you agreed to pay to the estate agent – this should be agreed to in advance and is sometimes a fixed fee and sometimes a percentage of the selling price; the recommended rate is … Or, if your home loan is between R 600 000.01 and R 800 000.00, the required fee fee is R 700.00. To order your copy at the discounted price of R120 click here. My advice is to pay extra into your bond every month to bring it down faster. Sellers can save costs by letting the bank know that the property is for sale as soon as the property is listed. The first step is to ensure you know what you can afford, and the kind of home you wish to purchase. Municipality final figures: As the seller you will need to pay around four months extra on your rates and services. Since most property in South Africa is sold through Estate Agencies, we take a look at the professional services they offer: They will be available to show your property to prospective buyers removing the necessity for you to be present. Bond registration costs (incl VAT) R 0: Bond registration cost (incl VAT) R 0. Duty is levied at 5 per cent on the value between R5000,000 and R1,000,000 (€103,680), and at 8 per cent on any value over R1,000,000. The listed price you see on sales brochures and websites do not tell the full story of how much you will need to pay up when buying a house in South Africa. So you decided to sell your property and you are dreaming of what you are going to buy with the profit you will be making. These costs can have a big impact for first buyers and for our many foreign readers may come … But to give you an idea, on a R1 million bond for a freehold property, with the seller not VAT registered and the purchase being conducted by a natural person, the bond registration cost estimate would be R27 018 (incl. VAT) and the transfer cost estimate would be R23 980 (incl. READ MORE: Here’s how to get the most out of your estate agent. As counter-intuitive as it might be, selling a property can be quite an expensive exercise. The industry standard and statistics about what estate agent commission is. These are the major costs of selling property: the estate agent’s commission for selling the property. South Africa’s top homes currently on sale. Transfer costs (incl VAT) R 0: Property transfer costs (incl VAT) R 0. 2. To maximise sale price, many agents recommend professional styling and basic maintenance around the property. Calculate your selling costs with our detailed guide. Personal savings topped finance agendas this month. Internet Explorer is a very old browser that is no longer supported by Microsoft. 3. The costs involved in selling a house can add up quickly, and selling a house in South Africa costs a fair amount, which is why you need to be prepared for every process that will come your way. This means that corporate homeowners (CCs or companies or trusts) are faced with a high CGT bill when disposing of the underlying property in which the members/directors/trustees resided, at a flat rate of 22.4% for companies/cc’s and 36% for trusts. They will ensure that the potential buyer is not a security threat before he she arrives to view your home. How agent’s commission is determined and what agents do to earn their commission. Get the best of Private Property's latest news and advice delivered straight to your inbox each week. What costs are sellers responsible for during a property sale? It is important to remember that the law is … Selling prices are now on average 9.9% below asking prices – compared to the historical average of 9.0% since 2010. Sectional title clearance figures from the Body Corporate (for sectional title units): This could be a Special Levy which needs to be fully paid before the Body Corporate will issue a clearance certificate. Estimate these expenses before the decision about selling your property is finalised so you know how much will be left over in your bank account after you sell. For example, if your home loan is R 150 000.00 and below, the fee is R 310.00. Steve van Wyk, Seeff’s MD in Centurion, says while agent’s commission is often set at around 7% of the value of the property plus VAT, sellers and agents can always choose to negotiate a set fee instead. A municipal deposit payable to the municipality when opening the account. Copyright © Private Property South Africa (Pty) Ltd. 1997 - 2021. While agent’s commission is often one of the first cost considerations that sellers think of when it comes to selling their home, there are other costs that sellers and buyers need to keep in mind as well. If you have a bond on the property there will be a charge to cancelling the bond when you sell. “While it may seem like a practical and affordable idea to privately advertise your property instead of using an agent, this decision could end up costing you a lot of time and much more money than what the agent’s commission would’ve been in the first place. He says besides agent’s commission (usually set between 6% and 8% plus VAT of the selling price) sellers will also need to pay the following: Bond cancellation: This is the cancellation fee payable to the bond attorneys representing the bank that is used. There is no set rate of commission. Trevor Sturgess, MD of Seeff Kibler Park, always encourages his clients to look carefully at the other costs involved with selling. They are also unavoidable. Based on FNB’s data, ‘downscaling due to financial pressure‘ was only the the fourth biggest reason why South Africans sold their homes in the first quarter of 2018 (12.1%). Home Property Selling Costs in South Africa. Post, petties, FICA other fees (incl VAT) *** R 0. The bond cancellation cost varies from institution to institution, but you can expect to pay upwards of R3 000 per bond, which is payable upon … Article summary. These are to ensure that the plumbing is in order and that there are no insect infestations in the home. A survey among estate agents shows that virtually all properties in this category were sold for less than … If you received a certificate when the electric fence was installed this will suffice. Reasons for selling. Trevor Sturgess, MD of Seeff Kibler Park, always encourages his clients to look carefully at the other costs involved with selling. Selling your house is a big step, and your main goal would be to sell your property in the shortest possible time with maximum financial return. This new certificate will be mandatory when selling your home in South Africa – here’s what you need to know . Not only do they negotiate for the seller and connect the seller with strategic partners like conveyancing attorneys, but they also research recent sales in the area in order to determine a realistic listing price, advise on repair work that should be undertaken prior to listing, create a marketing plan that works for the seller and screen suitable purchasers before introducing them to the property amongst others. Transfer duty. From the cost of advertising your house, obtaining compliance certificates and a rates and taxes clearance certificate, to bond cancellation fees, estate agent’s commission and capital gains tax, these are all the potential house selling costs you need to be aware of. We are pleased to offer a range of property in South Africa. Relocation costs and administration: Moving trucks, breakages, the administration of informing people of your change of address and taking days off work to coordinate the move should also be considered. 10 Steps to Increase Savings for Owners, Landlords and Tenants, Capital Gains Tax – you’ll need financial records, The long and the short of purchasing property. Property in South Africa. Moving can add to your stress levels significantly. You can however claim back a portion of this after the property has been sold. Buying, Renting, Selling, Finance, Guest Experts, Courses, Home Owners. These are probably the biggest cost associated with buying a property. The attorneys will require a rates and taxes clearance certificate from the local council, the seller will need to put money upfront to get the certificate. Buying a property of R1.5 million with a 100% bond will attract transfer fees as mentioned above of around R88 000”. 24 Jul 2018. The average national price for an entry-level home (80–140 sqm) is around ZAR 937,000, with an average medium-size house currently costing around ZAR 1,255,000. The costs of selling a house quickly add up, therefore it is vital to know the costs involved in selling your property to determine the exact profit that you will make. This Sellers Guide will take you through the processes encountered when selling a house, and provide you with useful tips from understanding the property market and house fix-ups, to choosing the right Estate Agent and … Transfer duty ** … Bond attorney costs: The buyer must pay the lawyers handling the mortgage finance for the bank. V… Rates and taxes clearance certificate. Another certificate that the seller is required to provide is an Electric Fence Certificate that costs around R2000 or more depending on any work that needs to be done. Although Capital Gains Tax (CGT) only applies on the gain from the disposal of a property, the gain takes the purchase cost into account. House buying costs in South Africa. We suggest you upgrade your browser to one of the many newer and more secure options that are now available. Make sure you know exactly what you're in for, when it comes to all the costs involved with buying as well as selling property. Banks often add this figure to the bond amount. And these often don’t become clear until the transaction is well underway. This article originally appeared in Property Power 11th Edition Magazine. ABSA releases a monthly house price index for South Africa, based on the total purchase price of houses of 80m2 to 400 m2 size, costing R3.5 million or less, whose loans were approved by ABSA. If you are looking for your dream property in South Africa, you have come to the right place! The fee is regulated by the National Credit Act and is currently set at a maximum of R5 000. You should open the municipal account as soon as possible - usually between one and two months after registration. A bond initiation fee of around R6000 plus VAT that is payable to the bank granting the bond. Discliamer: Every effort is made to ensure the correct figures are stated on the date of update of this article. Cost is to be quoted for. Private Property is an easy-to-use online portal available to help you find your dream home through listing South Africa’s top homes currently on sale. Once you have your requirements in mind, you can begin the house … Buying a house in South Africa: A step-by-step guide The home-buying process may seem daunting at first, but the path is well signposted, and there are expert advisors who can help you along the way. All Rights Reserved. But for houses of more than R3.6 million, sellers can expect a larger discount of around 14%. The time-series stretches back to 2006. the “primary residence” exemption is as follows: As a natural person/s, if you sell your home (which is personally occupied by you), for a gain/loss of R 2 million or less, the sale is exempt from CGT. You can work out the fees on properties you’re considering by using ooba’s bond and transfer calculator. Tips on how to make sure paying agent commission goes as smoothly as possible. Back to Property Advice Advice Centre Property Advice 5 unexpected costs when selling your home. Get the latest property advice in South Africa. Costs involved in selling property in South Africa, Here’s how to get the most out of your estate agent. Absa has released its latest residential building statistics report – detailing how much it costs to build a home in South Africa right now. So it is quite possible that home owners who have recently bought houses with 100% mortgage bonds will by now experience negative equity (the market value of the house is lower than the outstanding mortgage bond), says Erwin Rode, MD of Rode & Associations, one of South Africa… Your agent will be able to advise how. How to avoid the dreaded ‘double-commission’ disputes. If a seller decides to go this route, it will cost them around R3 500 depending on the service provider they use. From the cost of advertising your house, obtaining compliance certificates and a rates and taxes clearance certificate, to bond cancellation fees, estate agent’s commission and capital … Press • Sep 5, 2019. A Plumbing Certificate and Beetle Certificate are also required in some instances. Rates and taxes have to be paid 4 – 5 months in advance before registration, of the property into the name of the new buyer, can take place. Transfer Duty this is a tax to the government on properties over R900 000. As a result, your browsing experience on our site may not be optimal. *Proposed rates as announced by the Minister of Finance in the 2018 Budget. Home > Advice > Selling > What costs are sellers responsible for during a property sale? Agents perform various duties and have knowledge of legislative procedures that an owner will not necessarily even be aware of. It is common knowledge that the purchaser is responsible for the payment of the transfer costs and bond registration costs (if applicable) during the transfer process. Buyers can make payments to the registering (bond) attorneys before the bond is registered. You may also be required by the buyer's bank to provide a Beetle/ Infestation Clearance Certificate. Bond costs. the first R 40 000.00 of capital gain/loss per year (2017/18 tax year) is exempt from CGT. If you use the services of an estate agent, this cost is usually covered by the estate agent. Percent drop in asking price. Press • Jan 22, 2019. The hidden costs you should know about when buying or renting a home in South Africa. 5 unexpected costs when selling your home. For corporate taxpayers or other trusts, no exemptions are available! Not to mention, if you are a home flipper in the making, you will be more than thrilled to have acquired a new asset to spruce up and sell for a profit. the maximum marginal capital gains tax rate is 18%. The costs of selling property in South Africa are significant. … Please refer to the latest edition of Property Power for up-to-date information. The cost of selling a home. This is usually a percentage of the selling price. The information contained on this website is aimed at providing members of the public with guidance on the law in South Africa. 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