Thursday 29 October 2026 | 12:00–13:00 | Live online

Why are investors increasingly looking towards Paarl and the surrounding Cape Winelands?

Join Nick Morgan, CEO of Opportunity Private Capital, and Esteani Marx, Head of Real Estate at Lightstone, for a practical discussion on the region’s property fundamentals, investment demand and emerging opportunities.

We’ll explore the drivers of growth, the investment case and opportunities being marketed with targeted annual returns from 14%, while examining the associated risks and assumptions.

Property is holding firm, but investors must be more selective

South Africa’s property market is showing resilience despite a tougher economic environment, higher borrowing costs and renewed inflationary pressures.

The latest Q3 2026 figures from ooba Home Loans offer encouraging evidence. House prices have increased by approximately 5% year-on-year, home loan applications are improving and competition between banks is delivering some of the most attractive lending discounts seen since 2009.

But there is another side to the story. The repo rate stands at 7.25%, prime lending at 10.75%, and annual consumer inflation reached 4.5% in September. Rising fuel and operating costs continue to place pressure on households, businesses and property investors.

What does this mean for investors? It means opportunities remain, but careful selection and disciplined financial planning are more important than ever.

In residential property, focus on sustainable rental demand, realistic yields and affordability. Negotiate financing aggressively, but don’t allow an attractive bond rate to disguise an overpriced investment.

In commercial property, watch where capital is moving. Dipula’s proposed R2 billion acquisition of Moolman-linked retail assets, alongside new developments by Abland and Rapfund, illustrates continued investor interest in convenience-led retail and well-positioned community assets.

The Western Cape also remains a market to watch. This Thursday, our REI LIVE webinar examines why investors are looking towards Paarl and the Cape Winelands, the fundamentals supporting the region and the assumptions behind targeted investment returns.

Meanwhile, the expanded REIT framework creates new possibilities for insurer-owned property portfolios, although tax efficiency will depend on careful structuring.

My advice this week is simple: invest in fundamentals, not forecasts. Test your cash flow, understand your financing costs, examine tenant demand and build a margin of safety into every transaction.

Property remains a long-term wealth-building asset, but in this market, informed decisions will separate sustainable investments from expensive mistakes.

Enjoy this week’s edition, and I look forward to seeing you online on Thursday.

Neale Petersen
Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Real Estate Investor
Independent Property Intelligence Since 2007

Spear REIT CEO Quintin Rossi reveals what’s driving stronger distributions, strategic acquisitions and Western Cape growth, and whether the best is yet to come.

Six signals shaping your next property decision

Wednesday 18 November | 09:30 for 10:00–12:00 | In person

IEASA offices, 10 Howard Studios, Sheldon Way, Pinelands, Cape Town

Ready to become a property developer? Discover ALSA’s development opportunities, learn the process and meet the experts who can help turn your ambition into reality.

Free event. Limited seating.

The numbers behind your next property decision

Interest rates. Inflation. The rand. Bond affordability. Rental growth. Listed property performance.

Get a quick view of the economic and property indicators shaping borrowing costs, investor confidence and market opportunities.

The conferences, conversations and webinars worth putting in your diary.

This week

The smartest investors don’t chase the market, they understand it

There is a temptation in every property cycle to follow the headlines, chase the next hotspot or assume that rising prices guarantee investment success. But sustainable wealth is rarely built on excitement alone.

It comes from buying the right asset, in the right location, at the right price, supported by reliable income, sensible debt and a clear investment strategy.

South Africa’s property market continues to present opportunities across residential, retail, listed property and development. Yet the difference between a promising opportunity and a successful investment is the quality of the decision behind it.

Don’t just ask how much a property could make. Ask what could go wrong and whether the investment still works. That is where smart investing begins.

Independent property intelligence since 2007.

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