Prime rate: 10.5% Next rate announcement: 23 July 2026 Transfer duty threshold: R1,210,000 First-time buyer subsidy cap: R22,000
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Practical articles for buyers, homeowners, self-employed applicants, companies and trusts applying for home loans and anyone else interested in buying property.

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Buyer Education Hub 17 July 2026 Hannah van Deventer

Does Your Property Location Affect Your Home Loan Interest Rate?

Your property's location can affect your home loan approval and interest rate, but probably not for the reasons you think. Banks don't simply judge suburbs by reputation. They track historical default rates, their own exposure in an area, and what a risk premium can cost you in Rand terms. Here's how area risk classification works, why it matters, and why comparing multiple banks could save you thousands.

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Buyer Education Hub 15 July 2026 Hannah van Deventer

Investec Just Widened Its Net: Here's What Changed

Investec has quietly rewritten who qualifies for its Private Home Loan. Lower earnings thresholds for commission earners and entrepreneurs, a broader net asset calculation, and a new no-minimum-earnings pathway for young professionals in ten qualifying professions. Here's what actually changed, and why it matters for South Africa's earners.

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Buyer Education Hub 8 July 2026 Saskia Wright

First-Time Home Buyers in South Africa: Why Your Own Bank Isn't Always Your Best Bet

Most first-time buyers walk straight into their own bank, assuming loyalty means a better deal. It rarely does. Here's what a proper pre-approval actually involves, why past financial trouble shouldn't stop you from applying, and the discounts and cost cover you may be entitled to as a first-time buyer.

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Buyer Education Hub 2 July 2026 Lorian Aldous

Why Closing All Your Contractual Expense Accounts Isn't the Best Way to Improve Your Credit Score

Closing every credit account won't necessarily improve your credit score. Learn why keeping well-managed accounts open can strengthen your credit profile and improve your chances of finance approval.

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Buyer Education Hub 28 June 2026 Deb Wright

Why You Should Apply for a Home Loan When No One Else Does

Most buyers wait until the property market heats up before applying for a home loan. The reality is often the opposite. Quieter markets can mean better interest rates, faster approvals, and banks that are competing harder for your business.

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Buyer Education Hub 27 June 2026 Hannah van Deventer

What Interest Rate Can You Really Expect On Your Home Loan?

Most buyers think their deposit decides their rate. It barely moves the needle. Here's what actually separates a prime-minus-2% client from a prime-plus-2% client, and why debt-free isn't always the advantage you think it is.

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Buyer Education Hub 26 June 2026 Hannah van Deventer

Buying Your First Home Before 35? FNB’s New Loan Is Worth a Look

If you’re under 35, a few years into your career, owning a home in South Africa can feel like something for “later” - when the deposit is bigger, the salary is higher, life is less expensive. FNB launched a new home loan product at the end of April 2026 that’s designed to bring “later” closer. Here’s what’s on offer and who it’s likely to suit.

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Buyer Education Hub 26 June 2026 Hannah van Deventer

The Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) and Home Loan Applications

A history of the permit, its repeated near-cancellations, its current legal status, and why ZEP holders deserve fair access to home finance.

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Buyer Education Hub 20 June 2026 Hannah van Deventer

Where to Buy (and Where Not to Buy) Property in Johannesburg for Capital Growth

A straight-talking guide for buyers and investors, particularly foreign investors who have never lived in South Africa.

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Buyer Education Hub 15 May 2026 Hannah van Deventer

First Home Finance: A Good Idea That Doesn’t Always Land on Time

First Home Finance - previously known as FLISP (the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme) - is a government subsidy administered by the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) on behalf of the Department of Human Settlements. It is a once-off subsidy aimed at first-time buyers whose household income falls in

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Buyer Education Hub 16 April 2026 Hannah van Deventer

Why Your Home Loan Was Declined Before Anyone Even Saw It

Not every home loan decline is the result of a credit manager saying no. Many applications fail at the system level due to scorecard triggers, missing information, affordability issues, or simple administrative errors. Proper preparation, quality control, and an understanding of how bank assessment systems work can often mean the difference between an automatic decline and a successful approval.

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