Home Loan Interest Rates
South Africans are starting to feel a little financial relief. The latest Household Resilience Index shows families are stronger than before, while booming exports and record trade surpluses are boosting the economy. In his monthly update for Phoenix Bonds, economist Dr. Roelof Botha explains what this means for interest rates, affordability, and your property journey.
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When the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) announces changes to the repo rate, the media goes into overdrive: “Interest rates hiked!” or “Rate cuts bring relief!” But what does this really mean for your home loan - and do banks really borrow money from SARB before lending it to you? Let’s break it down...
When shopping for a home loan, most buyers hope to “negotiate the best rate” — and rightly so. Even a small discount on your interest rate can save you hundreds of thousands of rand over the life of your bond. But how do banks actually decide what rate to offer, and why are there limits to how low they can go? Let’s unpack the reality.
As an estate agent, you’re often the first person a buyer turns to when making one of the biggest financial decisions of their life. And while buyers may feel confident approaching their own bank directly, or even another bond originator, part of your role is helping them make the smartest choice. Here’s how to confidently explain why working with a Phoenix Bonds broker is the best move for every situation.
Not too long ago, many South Africans had a “bank manager” they knew by name. You could walk into a branch, sit down with someone who understood your history, and negotiate based on loyalty, trust, and the length of your relationship with the bank. That era is gone. Today, banking has shifted dramatically. The focus is no longer on long-standing relationships - it’s on numbers, profitability, fees, and risk management. Decisions are increasingly centralised, automated, and driven by algorithms that assess affordability, risk, and return.
On July 31, 2025, the SARB cut its key policy (repo) rate by 25 basis points to 7%, also marking a shift in its inflation target preference. Going forward, the bank will aim for the bottom of its inflation band (3%–6%), effectively pushing for a 3% target rather than the mid-point of 4.5%.
Buying a home in South Africa is one of the most significant financial decisions many people make. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, your mortgage (also known locally as a home loan) is likely to be your largest long-term debt. Understanding how mortgage interest works — and how to pay less of it — can help you save hundreds of thousands of rand over time.
When most South Africans apply for a home loan, they're told the basics: improve your credit score, keep your debt-to-income ratio low, and ensure you can afford the repayments. But what happens behind the scenes once your application hits a bank’s credit risk engine is far more complex — and it's grounded in advanced statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and geographic risk profiling.
This article explores how banks in South Africa assess home loan applications through a lens of statistical risk mitigation, going beyond the surface-level criteria and into the data-driven processes used to manage exposure to default.
The National Credit Act (“NCA”) of 2005 is a law designed to regulate the consumer credit market in South Africa. It aims to promote a fair and accessible credit environment, protect consumers, and encourage responsible credit practices. How does that shape the landscape for consumers?
There are many different types of loans and methods of calculating and repaying interest. Your home loan is quite possibly the longest loan commitment you will make, so it’s critical to understand how the interest is calculated over the life of the loan, and what each repayment is actually made up of.
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