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Although we do our best to give you accurate calculations, they will not be binding on us. Our calculations are only examples of how interest rates and fees can affect your repayments. Our transfer and bond cost calculations are also estimates.
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Thinking about buying
Whether you’re a first-time buyer, an experienced buyer or looking to invest in property, here are some things you should know when making your decision.
Should you buy a property?
Buying a property is not just about when you can afford it. Here are some things to also consider:
- Credit scores and how they affect your loan.
- What is a repo rate and how does it affect your purchase?
- How to manage your existing debt.
- Buying with another person.
- What can you really afford and what other costs come in to buying?
When is it a good time to buy?
Deciding on the right time to buy isn’t just dependent on you. There are a number of things that impact when to buy.
- What is the current Prime rate and is it going up or down soon?
- Is it a buyer’s or seller’s market?
- Whether you’re buying in season.
- Will you be able to access services like movers, cleaners, painters etc?
- How long do you have to stay in your current home?
Understanding the process of buying property
Buying property can be a complicated process of transfers, registrations and logistics that all come with costs. It’s important to find out:
- How does the bond registration work?
- What are transfer costs and when do they apply?
- How long does it take to register a bond and transfer ownership?
- When can you start planning your move?
Understanding what you can afford
Calculate how much you can afford to spend on a home loan.
- Affordability
Tell us more about your finances
Total monthly gross income
R
Your salary before taxes and deductions.
Please enter a minimum of R2,500.00
Total monthly expenses
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The total amount you spend on living expenses every month.
What’s your preferred bond repayment term?
- 60
- 120
- 180
- 240
- 300
Estimated loan amount
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Estimated monthly repayments
R0
Once-off costs
R0
Current interest rate
The interest rate is based on the current prime lending rate in South Africa. Please note that your interest rate will be based on factors such as your credit score and the size of your deposit.
Calculate how much you spend on your monthly expenses
Please add what you spend, where applicable.
Household expenses
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Utilities
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Credit and loan repayments
R
Health and insurance
R
Entertainment
R
Phone and data
R
Education
R
Travel
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Additional expense
Remove 
Expense type
The amount you spend monthly
R
Add additional expense
Total monthly expenditure
R0
| cond | condValue | debtBuffer | expenseBuffer | debtStress | expenseStress | surplusBuffer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 10000 | 0.1026017010000 | 1.36306636 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 15000 | 0.1013535500000 | 1.319440431 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 20000 | 0.1001053980000 | 1.321738176 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 25000 | 0.109908105000 | 1.306609407 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 30000 | 0.1157256980000 | 1.282877395 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 40000 | 0.1318541410000 | 1.276345131 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 45000 | 0.1394430720000 | 1.263615732 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 50000 | 0.1413963310000 | 1.261481222 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| GREATER_THAN | 50000 | 0.1603055010000 | 1.234109795000 | 1.02 | 1.07 | 0.6 |
| cond | condValue | minMFixedAmount | minPercentage | bandMMinimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 800 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 6250 | 800 | 0.0675 | 800.01 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 25000 | 1541.67 | 0.09 | 6250.01 |
| LESS_THAN_EQUAL_TO | 50000 | 3375 | 0.082 | 25000.01 |
| GREATER_THAN | 50000 | 5425 | 0.0675 | 50000.01 |
Looking for the right property
Finding the right property to call home can be overwhelming. Here are some things you should look for when property hunting to help you make the right decision.
Property’s features
What type of property suits your lifestyle and your budget? It’s important to weigh up the perks and costs of apartment and complex living versus stand-alone houses, as well as what appliances you want to be pre-installed and what facilities – like pools and gardens – you’re willing to pay maintenance for.
Neighbourhood
When deciding on a neighbourhood, look at the lifestyle you want, what services and businesses are nearby and noise levels. You may need to think about the neighbourhood’s proximity to other important aspects of your life, like schools, work or medical facilities. Safety is another important feature to consider, as well as the area’s zoning.
Property’s condition
Is it a ‘fixer-upper’ that you will need to renovate, or does it just need fresh paint? When looking at the property, consider the age of the property and look at the condition of its walls, roof and wiring, as well as its water pressure and plumbing.
Location
Location impacts the value of your property and the cost of travel to places like work, schools and shops. It’s important to factor in the time you will spend travelling, the community around and access to major roads.
Find your new home with our property search tool
- For safe and secure access to properties that might suit your needs
- Browse listed properties.
- Save and share the ones you are interested in.
- When you are ready, apply for your dream home easily since we will already have all its details.
Getting a property report on the home you’re interested in
It’s important to learn everything you can about a property before you buy it. A property report can help you:
- get a better understanding of the property's market value; and
- learn more about the property history, size and location.
Get up to three free property reports every month.
Found the right property?
Here’s what you need to know when applying for a home loan.
Understanding the additional costs
Rates and taxes
Every month, you will need to pay the municipality for the services and area maintenance they provide. These fees will depend on your property value and the area.
Levies
If you buy in a sectional title property, you’ll pay monthly levies to the body corporate or homeowners association to manage the complex or estate affairs for maintenance and repairs of all common areas and any relevant expenses (security, gardening and insurance).
Home and credit insurance
Buying a property is a big investment. Make sure it’s protected, so if anything happens to you or your property, you are covered.
Property maintenance
It’s important to consider what it will cost to maintain a safe and comfortable home. Features like gardens and pools add to maintenance costs.
Unexpected costs
It’s important to save for a unexpected costs. It’s impossible to know when you’ll need to make unplanned repairs, but you can budget for just-in-case. Check with your insurance provider if you’re covered for events like a burst geyser or leaking roof.
Security
In order to keep your home safe you may need to look into armed response, area watch services and physical security like alarm systems. Have a look at crime statistics in your area on www.crimestatssa.com
What does a home loan instalment include?
When you pay back your bond each month, you’re not just paying back the value of the loan. You’re paying:
- The original cost of the loan split over the loan period
- The interest the bank charges on the loan
- The monthly service fee
- Home and credit insurance (if applicable)
Making and signing an offer
When you’ve found a property, you will fill out an offer to purchase with your offer amount on it. Signing this offer is a commitment, so here are some important things to remember about offers.
- When to rent and when to buy
- How to manage your debt and credit score
- Building versus buying
Insurance
Insurance is about more than peace of mind, it’s also about protecting your investment. Here are a few types of insurance you might need.
- Household insurance
- Building insurance
- Credit protection
What you can expect when applying
Helpful info to help you on your journey.
1. Submit your application
Submit your application and if anything is missing, we’ll let you know.
2. Application outcome
We’ll look at your affordability to see if you’ll be able to cover the monthly repayments on the loan amount you require.
3. Property assessment
We’ll do a property assessment to make sure the property value is sufficient as security for the loan you need.
4. Loan quotation
After the credit and property assessment, we'll make you an offer for a home loan by sending you a ‘loan quotation’ which you need to accept.
5. The legal stuff
After accepting the loan offer, we’ll appoint an attorney to assist with the conveyancing process. You’ll sign the necessary loan documents, pay the relevant attorney fees and thereafter the attorney(s) will complete the conveyancing process by lodging your bond with the Deeds Office.
6. Bond registration
The Deeds Office will complete the conveyancing process once they’re satisfied. Once your bond has been registered at the Deeds Office, you are now officially the legal owner of your home.
Ready to apply for a home loan?
Start home loan application
See what most people ask us about
If you have a specific question you need answered, try our Frequently Asked Questions.