Go behind the numbers with Amanda Stone, Michael Brink and overall winner Jacques Coetzee as they reveal how they found their opportunities, financed their deals, managed the risks and created award-winning returns.
Jacques Coetzee claimed the overall Investor of the Year 2026 title and the Big Leagues category at a glittering awards evening at The Maslow in Sandton. Michael Brink won the Intermediate category, while Amanda Stone took the Beginner title — three very different journeys united by disciplined execution, smart financing and the ability to create value where others saw obstacles.
THIS IS A MARKET THAT REWARDS PREPARATION, NOT PREDICTION
Markets are entering a decisive week. Global sentiment has improved as technology and banking shares strengthened and oil prices eased, but investors remain alert to inflation, interest rates and geopolitical risk. The mood is more constructive, not carefree.
In South Africa, the rand opened the week relatively steady at around R16.24 to the US dollar as markets prepared for Wednesday’s inflation release and Reserve Bank decision. The repo rate remains at 7.00% and prime at 10.50% ahead of the announcement, making this the week’s most important signal for property owners, buyers, developers and lenders.
The property market is still producing opportunities. National house-price growth remains positive, rental growth is supporting income, home-loan approvals are improving and listed property has delivered a stronger annual performance. At the same time, affordability, municipal delays, operating costs and financing risk are separating strong deals from speculative ones.
My advice is simple: do not build an investment case around one rate decision. Stress-test every deal at a higher interest rate, protect liquidity, prioritise dependable cash flow and understand exactly where the value will be created. This is a market that rewards preparation, not prediction. Neale Petersen Founder and Editor-in-Chief Real Estate Investor
WHERE THE PROPERTY MARKET IS MOVING
Five sectors. Five signals. Here is what investors and property professionals should be watching now.
RESIDENTIAL | BUYER ACTIVITY IS IMPROVING
Buyer activity is improving, supported by stronger home-loan approvals and positive house-price growth. Demand remains uneven, however, with affordability and location doing more work than broad market momentum.
INVESTOR WATCH: Focus on supply-constrained areas, realistic valuations and repayments that remain affordable if rates move against you.
RENTALS | INCOME HOLDS, TENANTS UNDER PRESSURE
Rental growth continues to support income, but tenants remain under pressure from living costs. Strong screening, responsive management and tenant retention are becoming as important as headline rental escalation.
INVESTOR WATCH: Track arrears, vacancy days, maintenance costs and renewal rates. A reliable tenant can be more valuable than an aggressive increase.
COMMERCIAL | LEASING IS GETTING FASTER
Commercial property is shifting from a landlord-led model towards faster, more flexible and more digital client experiences. Growthpoint’s SmartLease platform, targeting a lease in a day, is a clear sign of where the sector is heading.
INVESTOR WATCH: Prioritise assets with strong tenant demand, flexible space, efficient operating costs and landlords willing to remove leasing friction.
LISTED PROPERTY | MOMENTUM, BUT SELECTIVE
The listed sector has regained momentum, but performance remains selective. Investors are rewarding quality portfolios, disciplined capital allocation and credible distribution growth rather than buying the sector indiscriminately.
INVESTOR WATCH: Compare loan-to-value ratios, interest cover, debt maturity profiles, vacancies and the sustainability of distributions.
DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE | START WITH REAL DEMAND
The Investor of the Year winners demonstrate that successful development is not simply about scale. It begins with finding a genuine need, securing workable finance and controlling risk from acquisition through delivery.
INVESTOR WATCH: Phase projects where possible, allow for approval delays and cost overruns, and secure a clear exit before construction begins.
Michael Brink just won an IOTY category with student accommodation. He turned a former crèche into a 22-bed property that now generates more than R50,000 a month, on an estimated value of R4.4 million.
Could your property qualify for NSFAS accreditation? Retha van Rooyen of My Student House walks through it live over two evenings, 30 September and 1 October.
GREAT RESULTS COME FROM DISCIPLINE, NOT PERFECT CONDITIONS
This week’s winners offer a useful reminder: exceptional property results are rarely created by perfect market conditions. They come from clear thinking, disciplined numbers and decisive execution.
Wednesday’s interest-rate decision matters, but your long-term success will depend far more on the quality of the deal, the strength of your cash flow and your ability to manage what happens next. QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Winning property deals are not found. They are created through insight, discipline and decisive action.” Neale Petersen
THE ONE QUESTION TO ASK THIS WEEK If interest rates stay higher for longer, will this property still pay for itself?
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