Cape Town’s housing boom is becoming an affordability crisis
By Neale Petersen
Cape Town’s property boom is pricing out buyers. UCT economist Dr Allan Davids warns why housing affordability could become South Africa’s next economic crisis.
News
Commercial
Equites lifts dividend 5.1% as SA logistics investment surges
Equites Property Fund raises its interim dividend 5.1% to 72.57c, cuts loan-to-value to 28.1% and funds a R2 billion South African logistics pipeline after its UK exit.
Residential
Airbnb crackdown won’t solve Cape Town’s housing crisis
Cape Town’s proposed short-term letting by-law has sparked a debate on housing supply. Developers, Communicare and industry leaders on approvals, public land and what investors should watch.
Residential
SA Housing market holds firm as new home supply slows
BetterBond’s October Property Brief shows resilient home loan demand, rising buyer incomes and stronger house prices, but completions are falling behind building approvals.
Residential
Soweto’s Rental Boom: Investors target 12% yields
Soweto buy-to-let properties priced from R450,000 are reportedly delivering gross yields of 10-12%. Where rental demand is strongest and five checks before you buy.
The Joburg home paying for a Cape Town lifestyle
Property Deposit Fraud: The risk every homebuyer must know
Is AI recommending your property business?
SA’s changing Wealth Map: 7 financial moves before relocating
Growthpoint unlocks R102m for local businesses and jobs
Is property still a safe investment in South Africa?
The R151bn Property Portfolio SA could unlock
SA House Prices hit 8.2%, but is the peak near?
CapeTrain Express: The rail plan to reshape Cape Town
Steven Brown’s challenge: Back SA property at home
Why Hammerson is betting on retail again
Semigration 2.0: Capital is following people to the Cape
SAPOA 2026 Awards celebrate property’s best
Rental market splits as landlords cut asking prices
AI is redrawing real estate’s investment map
Garden Route shifts from holiday homes to permanent living
Exclusive or open mandate? What sellers need to know
SA REITs defy equity sell-off as income growth surges
Iran shock raises pressure on SA households and property
REI honoured at SAPOA Journalism Awards 2026
Economists debate SA’s economic future at SAPOA
SAPOA readies new fight over municipal property charges
Ipic Properties buys 16 hotels in portfolio expansion
Burstone unlocks R4.5bn with new property fund platform
Western Cape rental growth surges to 9.7%
Steven Bartlett lists Cape Town mansion for R189 million
The energy decision that could change your property yield
Boland’s golden triangle draws buyers to the Winelands
Magazine
Cover story
By Khanya Gundwana
Inside this issue
- From the Editorsp. 4Celebrating Excellence. Investing in what comes next
- Ask the Expertsp. 6Can your body corporate ban Airbnb?
- Asset Managementp. 34Your biggest investment risk isn’t the property. It’s the tenant.
- Property Developmentp. 64SA’s 2 Million-Home Gap: Could you build the solution?
- Student Accommodationp. 110Student Housing: The numbers every investor must know
- Investor Intelligencep. 140The 14% Property Yield Trap: What investors really earn
Investing
Residential
Why older South Africans are heading for the KZN coast
New Developments
R48bn pipeline powers KZN North Coast property growth
Commercial
CapeGate office hub signals northern surge shift Copy
REITs
SA REITs defy equity sell-off as income growth surges
Listed Property
Fortress surges on strong demand and low vacancies
Offshore
Why Hammerson is betting on retail again
Student
NEW RESEARCH: Where SA’s student housing money is going
Offices
Smarter offices are becoming a competitive advantage
Retail
Retail growth slows as consumers value engineer their spend
Industrial
Billions fuel Gqeberha's property market boom
Green Buildings
Green offices beat traditional buildings by 28% over 10 years
Mixed Use
Sandton Gate central powers Joburg’s mixed-use shift
Apartments & Flats
Umhlanga property launch sells 97 apartments in three hours
Hospitality
The Club Med effect: KZN’s coastal market inflection
Senior Living
Why older South Africans are heading for the KZN coast
Affordable Housing
Green affordable housing sets new inner-city benchmark
Luxury Residential
Cape Town Waterfront luxury sales hit record highs
Business Broking
Liquidations fall 23%, but property sector pressure persists
Multi Family
Octodec bets big on residential growth strategy
Heron View
Alternative
Heron View
Videos
Webinars
Live Events
Upcoming Property Events 2026
Discover upcoming property investment events, seminars, and conferences in South Africa. Network with investors and industry experts at REI events.
See Upcoming EventsAdvice
Courses
Featured: Creating Wealth with Student Accommodation in South Africa
eBooks
6 titles, including "10 Simple Steps to Property Wealth" by Jason Lee
Tools
Master essential property jargon with REI's comprehensive glossary. From appraisal to zoning, understand key real estate terms before signing.
Expert Insights
Could you become SA’s next property developer?
Data & Reports
Research ReportsSA House Prices hit 8.2%, but is the peak near?
SA house prices rose 8.2% in May, but John Loos sees signs of a slowdown. See which markets are still rising and where momentum is starting to fade.
Asset ManagementRental market splits as landlords cut asking prices
FindHomes data on 156,600 live rentals shows almost a quarter of Western Cape listings have cut asking rents, typically by 7.1%, as demand meets affordability.
Asset ManagementWestern Cape rental growth surges to 9.7%
PayProp's Q2 2026 Rental Index: national rents rise 5.2% to a record R9,715, the Western Cape surges 9.7% to R12,561, and arrears edge up to 16.9%.
Research ReportsHouse Price Growth accelerates but peak Is near
South Africa’s house price growth hit 7.1%, led by the Western Cape, but rising inflation and global risks could slow momentum in 2026
Research ReportsCape Town rates shock: Check your property value now
Cape Town’s new GV2025 property valuations could raise municipal rates from July 2026, making it vital for homeowners to check and object if needed
