The Property Corner with Rowan Alexander

The biggest cost of owning a home isn't always your bond anymore.

In this episode of The Property Corner, we explore why today's property buyers need to think beyond the monthly bond repayment. Rising municipal charges, security costs, insurance, maintenance, levies and utility inflation are changing what true affordability looks like.

Using practical examples, we explain why the total cost of ownership has become one of the most important factors when buying property, how these costs can grow over time, and why many homeowners are feeling financial pressure despite keeping up with their bond repayments.

We also discuss:
Why affordability is no longer just about qualifying for a home loan.

How municipal charges and maintenance can overtake your bond repayment over time.

The hidden costs many buyers overlook before purchasing.

Whether estate living is really more expensive.

How to budget for long-term homeownership and avoid future financial strain.

If you're planning to buy property, already own a home, or want to make smarter property decisions, this episode will help you look beyond the purchase price and understand the real cost of owning a home.
 
In this episode:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 The Bond Has Become the Smaller Part of the Equation
02:03 Municipal Charges Are Growing Faster Than Many Realise
04:46 Security Upgrades Are No Longer Optional
06:14 The Silent Killer: Maintenance
07:21 Estate Living Isn't Always More Expensive
09:42 The New Affordability Calculation
 
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#PropertyInvestment #HomeOwnership #RealEstateSA #PropertyFinance #HomeLoan

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Is a 30-year home loan really a better financial decision than a 20-year bond?

In this episode of The Property Corner, we unpack why choosing a longer bond term could give you greater flexibility, improved cash flow, and more control over your financial future.

Many buyers focus solely on the total interest payable over the life of the loan, but there’s another side to the equation: liquidity, risk management, and financial flexibility. By understanding how bond terms work and how additional repayments can shorten your loan term, you can potentially build wealth while maintaining a valuable financial safety net.

Whether you're buying your first home or building a property investment portfolio, this discussion highlights how a 30-year bond can be used strategically to improve affordability, create access to emergency funds, and reduce monthly cash flow pressure.

In this episode:
00:00 Introduction
00:54 Understanding the Numbers
01:48 The Hidden Value of Lower Contractual Commitments
02:35 The Part Most People Miss
0348 Why This Helps Build an Access Facility
04: 32 The Investor Advantage

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#HomeLoanTips #RealEstateInvesting #SouthAfricanProperty #WealthBuilding #BondRepayment

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Cape Town's northern suburbs have undergone one of the most significant transformations in South Africa's property market over the past two decades.

What were once considered dormitory towns feeding commuters into the CBD have evolved into thriving economic hubs where people can live, work, shop, study and invest within a single ecosystem.

In this episode, we unpack the key drivers behind this transformation, from industrial and logistics developments such as Brackengate Business Park to major residential precincts, retail expansion, education infrastructure, and the rise of Durbanville as the crown jewel of the northern suburbs.

We also explore how infrastructure investment, job creation, schooling demand, and mixed-use development have combined to create a self-sustaining property market that increasingly functions as a parallel city system alongside Cape Town.

Whether you're a homeowner, investor, developer, or simply interested in the future of Cape Town's property landscape, this episode offers valuable insights into where the northern suburbs have come from and where they're headed next.

What changes have you witnessed in the northern suburbs over the last 10, 15, or 20 years? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

In this episode:
00:00 The Northern Suburbs' Economic Transformation
02:00 Industrial Growth, Logistics & Job Creation
02:20 Residential Expansion, Retail & Lifestyle Development
06:29 Schools, Education & Why Families Are Moving In
08:48 Durbanville: The Crown Jewel of the Northern Suburbs
10:57 Infrastructure, Future Growth & What Comes Next

#CapeTownProperty #NorthernSuburbs #Durbanville #RealEstateSouthAfrica #PropertyInvestment

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Cape Town's property market is booming, but there's a catch: the middle class is being pushed further and further out.

In this episode, we unpack why buyers are being priced out of the CBD, how pressure is building across the suburbs, and why demand is spilling into areas like Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Wellington. From semigration and supply shortages to investor demand and Airbnb, we explore the forces reshaping Cape Town's property market.

If you've been wondering why homes are selling so quickly, why affordability feels increasingly out of reach, or where the next opportunities in Cape Town's property market may lie, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
00:00 The Middle-Class Property Squeeze in Cape Town
01:16 The 3 Forces Driving Property Prices Higher
02:53 Cape Town's Booming Property Markets
04:51 The Middle-Class Affordability Crisis
06:34 What This Means for Future Property Owners
07:49 Key Message for Buyers

#CapeTownProperty #PropertyTrends #PropertyInvestment #SouthAfricanProperty #MiddleClassSqueeze

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Cape Town property owners may have just experienced one of the most significant municipal legal shifts in recent years. A recent Western Cape High Court ruling has declared parts of the City of Cape Town’s tariff structure unlawful, specifically fixed charges linked to property values rather than actual consumption.

In this episode we break down what the ruling actually means, why it matters, and how it could reshape property affordability, investor confidence, municipal funding models, and the broader South African property market.

We also unpack a real municipal bill to show exactly how these charges work, why they became so controversial, and how they impact different stakeholders from homeowners and landlords to large commercial property investors.

Finally we explore what happens after 30 June 2026, how municipalities may respond, and what this could mean for the future cost of owning property in South Africa.

In this episode:
00:00 Cape Town's Biggest Property Billing Victory?
00:29 What the High Court Actually Ruled
01:24 What Actually Happened?
02:08 What Does This Ruling Mean?
02:31 Breaking Down a Real Municipal Bill
08:05 Why Are Property Owners So Frustrated?
09:45 SAPOA's Position Explained
10:51 How Property Affordability Is Changing
12:35 What Happens After 30 June?
13:37 How Cape Town Could Replace the Lost Revenue
15:16 The Bigger Debate: Who Pays for Municipal Infrastructure?
15:58 Impact on the Property Market
18:34 Why This Matters Beyond Cape Town
19:19 Could This Accelerate Off-Grid Living?
20:32 Key takeaways

#CapeTownProperty #PropertySouthAfrica #MunicipalRates #PropertyMarket #LandlordsSA

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