
The Top 5 Property Trends Set to Shape 2026 — What Investors Need to Know
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South Africa’s residential property market has pulled off an unexpected turnaround. After sluggish sales and affordability pressures in 2024, the sector entered 2025 with cautious optimism and ended the year on a high, buoyed by long-awaited interest rate cuts and a resilient economy. Now, with the prime lending rate down a full percentage point and further cuts expected into mid-2026, investors have reason to lean in again.
We’re joined by Grant Smee, CEO of Only Realty Property Group, to unpack the five major trends he says will define the residential landscape in 2026, from stabilising house price inflation to the rise of rentvesting, foreign capital returning to Gauteng, and the growing impact of short-term rental regulations.
We’re joined by Grant Smee, CEO of Only Realty Property Group, to unpack the five major trends he says will define the residential landscape in 2026, from stabilising house price inflation to the rise of rentvesting, foreign capital returning to Gauteng, and the growing impact of short-term rental regulations.

