ABOUT US

Inspiring you to think differently about property.

Welcome to Jacques Louw Properties in Alberton, we offer a wide variety of properties for sale AND to rent in Alberton. Jacques Louw has been selling houses in Alberton since 1994, & his knowledgeable & motivated team is standing by to assist you with your property needs in the Alberton & surrounding area! Our regional knowledge of the Alberton property market ensures that you receive the best real estate advice, whether you are buying, selling or renting a property in Alberton or the surrounding areas (We also service neighboring areas, including Germiston & Johannesburg South) Our local knowledge of Alberton property sales and rentals combined with our high-tech marketing technologies and our experienced team of local Alberton agents allows us to deliver an outstanding real estate experience. We are your estate agency of choice!

Contact us today for a FREE Valuation of your Property!”

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Some Info

Pros And Cons Of Having A Show House

In South Africa, Show houses are something that have been around for many years and has become a tradition in the Real estate Market. However with the changing technological environment and the quality of photos and videos of properties for sale and the online advantages, many Estate Agents believe that traditional show houses are becoming old fashioned and non-productive and would rather arrange individual viewings for prospective buyers. This theory is also supported by sellers who don’t like the idea of their home being open to strangers and the security risks that come along with this.

However, keep in mind that not all potential purchasers have access to the internet or website portals and may not be very familiar with this marketing tool, so a show-day may be the only opportunity they have to view your home. Many buyers like to get to know an area in person first to see if they like it and what it offers and therefor will then visit whatever homes may be on show over a few weekends to get a better feel for what it would really be like to live there. It also helps create a market presence for the seller’s home.

Of course it can also happen that the only people who turn up on a particular show-day are inquisitive neighbours or a few hopelessly under qualified buyers who have no intention of making an offer but more often than not your neighbours can be a good source of buyer leads, knowing a friend or family member that might be interested in moving into the area. Some further advantages of show houses are that they produce “live feedback” as potential purchasers get to communicate with your agent and that can be very valuable in that fact that it helps determine the response on your asking price, buyers opinion on the home and general pros and cons of the home. This can help your agent sit and discuss things with you and adjust aspects to the marketing of the home and things that could be attended to, to make it more sellable.

Your qualified and experienced Rosie Viljoen agent will not let your efforts to prepare your home for the show house go to waste but will instead do their best to promote and advertise the show house in advance and generate maximum possible interest among suitable buyers.

Costs To Budget For And Remember When Buying A New Home

Purchasing a new home is a whole new chapter in a persons life and can be very exciting but can also turn out stressful if you haven’t prepared for all the costs you’ll soon need to pay.

Extra costs which could be once-off payments, substantial upfront lump sums or even ongoing monthly costs eg. electricity, water and refuse removal (on your municipal account), garden and cleaning services, maintenance, painting and so on, which all need to be budgeted for.

Doing your homework is very important in planning your finances. Important Costs to remember.

1. Deposit

In todays market, one can try apply for a 100% Loan depending on certain banks criterias but Banks typically require a 10% deposit on the purchase price of the home. It can even be as high as 30% depending on your credit rating. So, you’ll need to have a deposit in hard cash. It is paid upfront and once-off to the transferring attorneys.  

2. Transfer duty and Transfer costs

Besides the deposit, the transfer duty is one of the biggest upfront and once-off costs to consider when buying a property. Transfer duty is a tax by the government and a property cant be transferred to a new owner without this being paid. The only time transfer duty is not payable in a normal sale of property is when you are buying from a registered VAT vendor (eg. A developer)

The higher the value of the property you buy, the higher the percentage of transfer duty that is payable. Property transactions below R750 000 are exempt from transfer duty.

Transfer cost is a fee that the conveyancing/ transferring attorney charges to do the property transaction and to register your ownership of the property with the Deeds Office. This is paid once-off before registration and is not to be confused with transfer duty.

3. Bank Initiation fee

This fee is charged by the bank at the start of the loan (if you take out a bond). It can be paid upfront and as a once-off fee, or capitalised to your loan amount. The fee is regulated by the National Credit Act and is currently set at a maximum of R5 000 and is often included in your homeloan. 

4. Bond registration costs

If you have taken out a homeloan/bond over the property, Similar to transfer costs, the bond attorneys appointed to register your bond will also charge a professional fee for registering the bond, which the buyer has to pay. This cost is paid once-off, to the bond attorneys prior to registration of the bond.  

5. Moving costs

Get quotes and shop around for the best prices and service, also it is more expensive to move month end because it’s the busiest. Some removal companies offer special pricing during off-peak times, so don’t be afraid to ask.

6. Homeowners and Life insurance

If taking a homeloan/Bond, the bank will require protection to ensure that the value of their security on your loan, the house, remains intact. The bank will require that you take out two types of insurance which need to stay in place for as long as you have the loan with the bank. 

-Homeowners’ insurance which protects the bricks and mortar of the property against things like fire, flood and so on.-Life cover which in the event of the death of the property owner or bond holder, the insurance will settle the outstanding bond amount so that your family is not lumbered with the debt you owe to the bank.  

You have the option to take this insurance through the offering via your bond provider, or through your current preferred broker or insurer. It is often worth comparing and shopping around to see where you get the best offer. Where you do not use the bank’s offering you will need to provide proof of external insurance.  

7. Contents insurance

Although not obligatory, it’s highly recommended that you insure the contents of your home against loss or damage as a result of theft or burglary and other perils such as fire, flood and extreme weather conditions. 

This insurance is often combined with homeowners insurance, and if you have car insurance, with one insurer, this usually results in a much cheaper combined premium.  

8. Rates and taxes and Water and Electricity.

Once the transfer is completed, you will need to register for rates and taxes as well as your water and electricity services. The municipality will require a deposit - the amount varies from municipality to municipality and is linked to the municipal value of the home.

Doing your financial homework before hand is key to having the peace of mind that you can manage with all the costs, and enjoy your new home and the making of many happy memories.

Thank You