Buyer Education Hub

Home Loan & Property Education Hub

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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Comparing Loan Products in South Africa: Understanding Rates and Risks

South Africans have access to a wide variety of credit products, each designed for different purposes and each carrying its own cost and level of risk. While credit cards and personal loans may provide quick access to funds, they are usually far more expensive than structured, secured lending such as a home loan. It is

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What Happens If You Miss a Home Loan Repayment in South Africa?

Buying a home is often the biggest financial commitment you'll ever make. But life can be unpredictable — retrenchment, illness, or unexpected expenses can suddenly make it difficult to keep up with monthly bond repayments. Missing a payment doesn't mean you'll automatically lose your home. What matters most is how qui

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First Home Finance (FLISP): What Every First-Time Buyer Should Know

For many South Africans, the dream of owning a first home feels just out of reach. To help bridge the gap, government introduced First Home Finance (formerly known as FLISP) - a subsidy designed to support qualifying first-time buyers.

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The Biggest Missed Opportunity in Home Loans: Future Rental Income

When it comes to applying for a home loan, most buyers are told the same thing: your affordability is based on your current income, debt, and expenses. But there's a powerful lever that often gets ignored by agents, originators, and even the banks themselves: future rental income.

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The Hidden Fees of Home Loans: Where Banks Really Make Their Money

When you apply for a home loan, your focus is almost always on one thing: the interest rate. But there may be other costs we don't think about.

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Why Foreigners Are Treated Like Second-Class Buyers in South Africa

Buying property in South Africa is a dream for many foreigners. From luxury apartments in Cape Town's Atlantic Seaboard to family homes in Sandton or Umhlanga, our property market offers opportunities that are attractive when compared to international prices.

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How the Repo Rate Influences Prime – And Where Banks Really Get Their Money to Lend

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?

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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 un

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Identity Fraud in South Africa: Why You Should Check Your Credit Before Buying a Home

Identity fraud is a growing problem in South Africa, and unfortunately many people only discover it when it's already caused serious damage. At Phoenix Bonds, we've seen cases where clients only realise something is wrong when they apply for a home loan and the bank pulls their credit report.

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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.

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