A NEW LEASE AT LIFE: BECOMING AN ESTATE AGENT OVER 40
COVID-19 brought plenty of extreme changes to the world – many of them in the world of work. Over 2.8 million people lost their jobs because of the pandemic, with women accounting for two thirds of those losses. And for those who didn’t lose work, changes in the way...
Advantages to being the Local Real Estate Agent
As an agent, we know that our livelihoods depend on the number of houses we sell. It’s tempting, then, to search far and wide to find clients and sellers and increase our listings, regardless of where the property is located. More listings mean more sales, right?...
Buy or Rent: how to know what’s right for you
Owning their own homes is one of the most common financial goals listed by South Africans and the interest rate drops last year has brought buying a house to the forefront of many people’s minds. But choosing to buy a property is a big decision and comes with big...
WHO’S PAYING WHAT: ESTATE AGENT COMMISSIONS AND THE COSTS OF SELLING A HOME
Whether you’re buying or selling, the property market can be complex to navigate with plenty of costs and legal jargon getting thrown around, making it difficult to know what you’re paying for. One common question is: who pays the estate agent? An estate agent...
ESTATE AGENT VALUATIONS: ARE YOU GETTING THE TRUTH?
We’ve all been told that negotiation is key when buying a home. When on the hunt for your dream property, it’s common to think that the price you see online is not the price you’ll end up paying for the home in question. But what does this mean for sellers? Are home...
Selling a property with defects: What you need to know
The Purchaser signs an agreement of sale with the Seller. The property is transferred into the Purchaser’s name. A month later, there were heavy rainfalls and the roof leaks. Is the Seller liable to repair the roof or the Purchaser, as the new owner? To understand...
The cost of losing a legal battle
I recently sued someone who owes me R50,000. The Court found that the loan agreement was invalid and that the amount was not owed to me. The legal costs were subsequently awarded in the other party’s favour on a party and party scale. What do I need to pay, and how is...
COMPENSATION FOR VACCINE RELATED INJURIES
The concept of mandatory vaccination policies has been widely publicised in 2022 and it remains a controversial topic which continues to divide opinion amongst the nation. As recently as 21 January 2022, in the matter of TM v Goldrush Group (GAJB 24054-21), the...
WHAT IS THE TRUE PURPOSE OF A SUBPOENA DUCES TECUM?
Background: Subpoena duces tecum is a Latin term which means “you shall bring with you” and is a mechanism catered for in terms of South African common law. The South African rules of court allow a party to litigation proceedings to compel a witness to produce any...
What legal costs can a creditor charge a debtor to recover outstanding debt?
When times are tough, you may not get around to paying all your bills. But be warned, if neglected for too long, it will inevitably lead to letters of demand for payment along with interest, charges and legal fees. As your outstanding obligations grow, you may wonder...