“An interest rate cut should have some mildly positive impact on the
property and home loans business.”
well that is true to some extent but you cannot just rely on this.
So some simple but sound tips for householders and the man in the street:
STAY WITHIN YOUR BUYING MEANS - Although
interest rates are at historical lows, home buyers should buy well within their
means, in order to make provision for a significant degree of interest rate
increase in future, these will come somewhere and somehow.
Watch the external costs - Costs related to housing such as municipal rates and tariffs are
escalating at rates significantly higher than consumer price inflation.
While it is difficult to predict when these rapid increases will
subside, given South Africa’s infrastructure funding needs, this makes it even
more essential to borrow well-within one’s means, and ensure you read the meter and watch the leaks.
Peg your rate - Besides buying well within your own means so as to be able to
absorb future interest rate hikes, because they will come, fixing interest rates is another way of
being better prepared for this eventuality. However your fixed rate will be quite a bit higher than prime. So plan for this
Use it or ,lose it.
