Residential house prices on the rise

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This positive activity trend indicates the volume of qualified buyers in the market currently and thereby provides a natural boost for the residential property market.

The general consensus by our banks' economists is that there will be a continued month-on-month increase in the selling price of homes for the duration of 2014. One of the reasons for this is that the demand for properties below the R1 million mark is the highest and, therefore, this optimistic outlook on the property market should continue through 2014.

It is also clear that the banks are granting more home loans on a month-to-month basis, an encouraging fact that is heartening for every sales advisor across South Africa.

According to John Loos of First National Bank: "Recently, our FNB Estate Agent Survey has pointed to the lower income/price areas of the residential property market having the strongest fundamentals underpinning them. These fundamentals include stronger activity ratings and more noticeable declines in the average time that a property remains on the market prior to being sold."

Loos further stated that the fourth quarter of 2013 featured a resumption of residential activity improvement after the previous quarter's slight decline. As affirmed by Riaan van Deventer, head of real estate of Engel & Völkers southern Africa: "This is an encouraging sign to prospective buyers that this would be the ideal timing for purchasing your home or to add to your property portfolio."

Ongoing training

To ensure that our property sales advisors provide purchasers and sellers with accurate and factual information, we require all our agents to attend our ongoing training in addition to our internationally accredited training systems at our Local Training Academy. As the entry criteria and property regulations have changed and continue to do so, we want to ensure that our clients are properly informed on all aspects of buying or selling a property.

Additionally, we adhere to the qualifications required for each agency and agent by the Estate Agents Affairs Board (EAAB), and monitor this progress. The EAAB regulates the estate agency profession by ensuring that all persons carrying out the activities of an estate agent as a service to the public are registered with the EAAB. Please contact one of our offices around the country to receive professional attention and advice.

The Fidelity Fund Certificate (FFC) required by the EAAB has resulted in our profession as real estate agents now being considered as a professional career with an exciting and lucrative future. Only those people with a valid FFC may operate as a real estate agent, which has ensured that it is now seen as a sought-after career with limited candidates who could be considered.