Here’s Who Is Actually Buying Homes In South Africa

Loading player...
Esteani Marx - Head of Real Estate at Lightstone Property.

Although domestic and global headwinds are persisting into 2023, South Africa’s residential property is showing pockets of progress and opportunity, says Hayley Ivins-Downes, the head of digital at Lightstone.

Ivines-Downes said that the data analytics company found rising interest rates, socio-political tensions, and a limp economy hampered by an unstable electricity supply dampened consumers’ spirit.

Despite the slight dampening, the most recent comprehensive data from Lightstone points to certain categories of buyers carrying the market with Mid value and High-value segments carrying the market at 37% and 32%, respectively, in 2021 – a consistent trend for many years.

Ivins-Downes said that: “Luxury category buyers were back to 12% in 2021, the highest recorded in this category and last matched in 2015, and buyers in the High category hit 32% in 2021, the highest score recorded in the past 14 years.”

Low-value buyers, unfortunately, dropped below 20% in 2021, said Ivins-Downes.

This perhaps suggests fewer new entrants into the market – an unwelcome development given the country’s demographics – with market activity dominated by the Mid and High values, said the head of digital.
7 Feb 2023 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

EXPLAINER - Why some sports stars are worth more than companies.

An 18-year-old footballer valued at more than R6 billion has reignited a global debate: how do we really put a price on modern sports stars? Following a new long-term contract at Barcelona, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has been named the world’s most valuable footballer — outranking established global icons and…
15 Jan 3PM 22 min

Why central bank independence matters.

GUEST – Prof Jannie Rossouw - Honorary professor at Wits Business School and economist at Altitude Wealth Central bank independence refers to a central bank’s ability to formulate and implement monetary policy - such as setting interest rates and managing liquidity - without direct control or interference from the political…
15 Jan 3PM 19 min

South Africa at Davos 2026: The Investment Message SA Is Taking to the World.

GUEST - Neville Matjie, CEO of Brand South Africa As global leaders gather in Davos under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue”, South Africa is stepping onto one of the world’s most influential stages to make its investment case amid heightened geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological change. With…
15 Jan 3PM 10 min