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Posts Tagged 'home loans'

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Understanding Home Loan Interest Rates in South Africa – And How Low You Can Go

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.

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Why Relationship Banking No Longer Exists in South Africa

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.

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When Is the Bond Clause in a Sale Agreement Actually Met?

For both buyers and sellers, clarity on the fulfilment of the bond (financing) suspensive clause is crucial. Under South African law, and in particular the National Credit Act, knowing whether “grant of bond” or “acceptance by the purchaser” triggers fulfilment can determine whether a sale proceeds - or can be lawfully challenged.

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SARB’s new inflation target and its potential effects on the SA economy

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%.

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How Banks View Commission and Overtime When You Apply for a Home Loan in South Africa

If you earn a basic salary plus commission, overtime, or bonuses, you’re not alone. In South Africa, many professionals — from salespeople to nurses to freelancers — have variable income structures.

But when it comes to applying for a home loan, it’s important to understand how banks view this kind of income. Spoiler alert: it’s not treated the same as a guaranteed salary.

Here’s what you need to know.

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What Really Happens to Your Home Loan Application Before a Credit Analyst Sees It

Most people think that once they’ve submitted their home loan application, it heads straight to a credit analyst who decides whether it’s approved or declined. In reality, there’s a lot that happens before it even reaches a credit analyst’s desk — and if you’re not prepared, your application might not even make it that far.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the early part of the bond journey — and why preparation is everything.

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BASEL III – What it means for banks and home loans in South Africa

The 2008 Global Financial Crisis exposed critical weaknesses in the global banking system. Banks around the world—including some of the largest—were undercapitalized, over-leveraged, and heavily reliant on short-term funding. When property markets collapsed and mortgage-backed securities went sour, these weaknesses triggered a domino effect of financial failures.

To restore confidence, ensure financial stability, and protect economies from future shocks, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision introduced Basel III, an internationally agreed set of banking regulations.

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How Lenders Report to South Africa’s Credit Bureaus — and What That Means for You

In South Africa, your credit profile is one of the most important tools lenders use to assess your ability to manage debt. But have you ever wondered how your credit information actually gets to the credit bureaus — and why sometimes, not all the bureaus have the same information?

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How South African Banks Statistically Assess Home Loan Risk

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.

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Was your home loan declined? You’re entitled to answers.

It happens far too often: a hopeful homebuyer applies for a bond, only to be told that their application was declined—without a proper explanation. Many people assume that’s the end of the road, and they walk away discouraged, confused, and unsure of what went wrong.

But here’s the truth: You have the right to know why your application was declined. In fact, South African law is very clear on this.

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