If you’re going to pull money out of your bond account to make some home improvements, a great way to spend it would be on some Smart tech upgrades, says Rudi Botha, CEO of BetterBond, SA’s leading bond originator.

For homeowners who are really struggling to make ends meet this month, it may seem like a very good idea to “borrow” some money from their access bond to help pay the bills – or even to “consolidate” all their debts into their home loan account.

The key to becoming a real estate mogul, he says, is to understand what equity is and how to get more of it.

With “freedom” in the spotlight as SA heads to the polls this week, the question frequently arises as to how this translates for the individual in everyday life.

Boosting your home’s energy and water efficiency will not only help you cut costs and sidestep the effects of load-shedding and water restrictions, but could also assist you to reduce the time it takes to pay off your bond by several years.

Moving house is often labelled as one of life’s most stressful events. With so many moving parts to keep track of, it’s easy to see why it stresses out even the most organised among us.

Maintaining your home provides benefits beyond aesthetics, and a little bit of loving care early on may save you significantly in the long-term, when you re-sell.

There are a host of good reasons to go into joint ownership of a property, but you need to tread carefully if you don’t want to end up paying for more than your share.

When unemployment, illness, death or divorce strike, they hit hard, and you could fall behind on your monthly bond repayments. Here’s how to hold on to what you’ve got.

Every buyer goes through a ‘honeymoon’ period when their monthly bond repayment seems a small price to pay for the sheer pleasure of owning a home. But the romance can soon sour if that instalment becomes too big a burden.

Moving house is notoriously expensive — not to say stressful! But the average person will probably have to move house a good few times in their life, so it’s worth learning how to save money — and maybe even make some! — with these top relocation tips.

Cutting down your bond term could save you a small fortune. But it takes careful planning and considerable mastery of your finances to do so. It’s difficult — but not impossible!

Townhouse living is a growing trend, especially for next-gen buyers who want the freedom, community and security that this lifestyle delivers. Here’s how to take that townhouse dream to the next level.

Most of us can’t afford to haul out cash for our homes — we have to rely on home loans that can cost us up to 30% of our monthly income in repayments. It’s no wonder that we’re eager to be bond-free as soon as we can.

Torn between Sectional title or freehold property? Here’s what you need to know before deciding to buy.

What comes to mind when you think of a home loan? Monthly instalments, long-term financial commitment, outstanding balance? Fair enough! But how about looking at your home loan completely differently?

What should you consider when deciding whether to build from scratch, or to renovate instead, and which of the two is more common?Building typically costs more than renovating because it usually involves more complex work, more time, labour and materials.

Moving house is often labelled as one of life’s most stressful events. With so many moving parts to keep track of, it’s easy to see why it stresses out even the most organised among us.

Financially savvy homeowners use their bond to their best advantage. Adding a little extra to your home loan repayments every month would mean paying less interest over time, and could cut down the term of your home loan by months or even years.

There are many benefits and freedoms that come with owning a place of your own. Of course, it also comes with responsibilities and this includes regular upkeep.

Improve your property with a further loan

Ways to use a further loan

What is a further loan?

What you need to know about buying off-plan If you’re in the market to buy property, have you considered looking at something that might not exist yet? Perhaps your perfect place has not yet been built, and buying off-plan could be the solution. It requires trust because you can’t see the finished product, but it…

You need a ‘big picture’ budget for home ownership How much the bank will lend you is not the only thing to consider when you’re applying for a home loan. As a home buyer, says Rudi Botha, CEO of BetterBond, SA’s biggest bond originator*, you also need to budget for the ongoing costs of property ownership,…