It’s a really exciting time, buying a house, particularly if it’s your first! Don’t forget, however, that you will have to pay a variety of costs over and above the purchase price. What are those costs and when must you pay them? Do they impact your ability to afford the house you have your eye on? We’ll address those questions with a checklist of costs you should budget for. It’s a good idea to work these into a cash flow forecast so you aren’t ambushed by ...

Phew! No major tax increases are planned, and taxpayers will benefit from zero “bracket creep” across a range of taxes. While property sellers and buyers will be disappointed that transfer duty thresholds have not increased, there’s reason to get very excited about the 50% increase in the primary residence CGT exclusion from R2m to R3m.  Read on for an illustrative calculation of CGT savings, some of the more important tax tables, and a calculator to show you how much mo...

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a great excuse to indulge in ruinously expensive red roses, cards and heart-shaped chocolates. It’s also a reminder that if you’re in a cohabitation arrangement, there will be financial implications – making it essential to check that your relationship’s legal aspects pass muster.  Particularly when you start acquiring high-value assets jointly, you need a full co-ownership agreement to avoid the uncertainty and dispute that a...

As 2026 dawns with all its exciting new possibilities and opportunities, let’s not forget about all the annoying – but vital – legal aspects of our lives. They’re easily overlooked in the rush of another hectic back-to-work, back-to-school, and back-to-everything-else Janu-worry, so we’ve put together a list of ten ideas to help you prioritise what’s important to you and what’s not. Tick these items off your action list for a safe, happy and prosperous...

Particularly over the holiday season, many house and apartment owners in residential complexes will want to let out their units on a short-term letting / Airbnb basis.  It goes without saying that other owners and residents may object. A high turnover of tenants can prejudice the complex’s security, traffic, noise levels and the like. That can leave bodies corporate and homeowners’ associations struggling to frame the relevant conduct rules so as to balance the competing rig...