Can trustees restrict short-term rentals? What rights do sectional-title owners have? And what happens when Airbnb income clashes with body corporate rules?

Join REI and industry specialists for a timely discussion on investor rights, CSOS disputes, municipal regulation and the future of short-term letting.

As we approach the final weeks of 2026, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: South Africa’s property market is presenting fresh opportunities, but investors will need to be more selective, more informed and more commercially disciplined to capitalise on them.

The renewed optimism surrounding listed property is a case in point. Forecast total returns of 16–18% for SA REITs suggest improving sentiment as financing pressures ease and distribution growth recovers. Collins Property Group’s stronger earnings add substance to that outlook. Yet the investment story extends well beyond the JSE.

Residential markets continue to reveal pockets of demand and changing buyer preferences. Smaller lifestyle destinations such as Riebeek Kasteel are attracting attention, while property auctions highlight the importance of understanding valuations, pricing and the real cost of an investment.

Property management is undergoing its own transformation. Rising compliance obligations, rental arrears, technology and artificial intelligence are forcing managing agents to rethink how they operate. WeconnectU’s upcoming industry webinar is a timely reminder that yesterday’s business model may not be sufficient for tomorrow’s challenges.

And the regulatory environment matters just as much. Our REI webinar tomorrow on Airbnb and body corporate restrictions tackles one of the most contentious issues facing sectional-title investors: where ownership rights end and community scheme rules begin.

This week’s Cavaleros Group centenary also reminds us that successful property investment is built over decades, not market cycles. A century of entrepreneurship and resilience offers a valuable perspective at a time when investors are understandably focused on the next 12 months.

My message to investors is simple: follow the fundamentals, understand your risks, protect your cash flow and look beyond the headlines.

The opportunities are there. The advantage will belong to those who recognise the trends early and act with discipline.

South Africa’s affordable housing shortage presents a substantial opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors prepared to move beyond buying property towards developing it.

But becoming a developer requires more than identifying a piece of land. Understanding finance, feasibility, approvals, partnerships and delivery is essential.

Join Real Estate Investor and Affordable Living Solutions Africa (ALSA) for a practical, in-person masterclass exploring how aspiring developers can enter the affordable housing market.

Meet the ALSA team, ask questions and explore the potential to build a property development business.

Property investment is influenced by far more than asking prices and rental yields.

Our REI Market Snapshot brings together the economic and property indicators that matter, helping investors understand the forces affecting financing costs, income growth, valuations and market confidence.

Property markets move in cycles, but lasting wealth is rarely created by simply following the crowd. As investors prepare for 2027, the question is no longer whether opportunities exist. They do, across listed property, residential investment, rentals and development.

The real question is whether investors have the knowledge, financial discipline and operational capability to convert those opportunities into sustainable returns.

The best investments are not always the most exciting. They are the ones supported by sound fundamentals, realistic numbers and a clear strategy.