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Auctions show where smart money is moving in SA Property
- Auctions act as real-time barometers of investor confidence and market trends.
- Distressed sales rising, but selective buyers show early recovery signs.
- Industrial, mixed-use, and convenience retail attracting strongest demand.
Auctions as real-time market indicators
The auction floor has become the place where economic theory meets investor reality, says Greg Dart, Director at High Street Auction Co. With geopolitical uncertainty and shifting sentiment, auctions are proving to be live barometers of what buyers truly value and where the smart money is moving.
Speaking ahead of High Street’s August 21 multi-property auction at Bryanston Country Club, Dart and Prof. Adrian Saville of GIBS agree: market shifts don’t erase opportunity, they change where it’s found.
Economic trends through the lens of auctions
Saville points out that in turbulent times, investors lean towards inflation hedges such as real estate:
- Real assets can outpace inflation while historic debt costs fall in real terms.
- Low single-digit inflation is expected to continue, with SARB targeting 3%, positive news for investors and the Rand.
On the ground, Dart says High Street is seeing both pressure and promise:
- Distressed Sales Rising - More liquidators, banks, and business rescue practitioners turning to auctions for liquidity.
- Owner/Occupier Selloffs - SMEs offloading properties to raise capital amid cost pressures.
- Selective Confidence - Buyers are yield-driven, cautious, and value-focused, but deals are happening where fundamentals justify the price.
Auctions becoming the new normal
Auctions are now a preferred route to market, with repeat sellers and institutional confidence growing. Buyers are adjusting to a “new price reality” and using auctions as live intel hubs to track pricing trends.
Regional trends:
- Western Cape - Demand outstrips supply in retail, industrial, and office segments.
- KwaZulu-Natal - Demand starting to exceed supply, showing early growth signs.
- Gauteng - Oversupply across all three major commercial segments.
Where the smart money is going
Strongest demand is for:
- Industrial properties - High Street’s core performer for two years.
- Well-located mixed-use - With redevelopment or conversion potential.
- Local convenience retail - Neighbourhood centres with stable foot traffic.
By contrast, assets with vacancies, rezoning dependencies, large malls, or corporate head offices are struggling to draw interest.
Early recovery signals
While challenges remain, Dart believes auctions reveal market resilience:
“Auctions show where the market is, in real time. The buyers watching closely are the ones spotting value ahead of the curve.”
High Street’s August auction lineup includes industrial sites in Meadowdale and Wadeville, plus convenience retail centres in Butterworth and Pinetown, properties positioned for investors ready to act in the current cycle.
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