Features that will attract buyers & tenants in 2019

Housing trends are forever changing. While shaggy carpets and pink 
porcelain bath tubs might have made a property highly sought after 
in the 1960s, this kind of property would be a tricky sell in 2019.  
"Those who want to purchase real estate in the hopes of flipping and 
reselling for a profit, or simply to generate a secure stream of 
rental income, should keep an eye on current market-related trends 
to ensure that the property they purchase will be in high demand in 
the year ahead," explains Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of 
Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett.  

To help buyers choose such a property, Goslett predicts some of the 
trends that will come to dominate the 2019 real estate market:

Increased Demand for Sectional Titles
"According to Lightstone Property, the South African deeds office 
recorded a 3.6% drop in the number of freehold properties sold in the 
fourth quarter of 2018, and a substantial 8.1% increase in the number 
of sectional title units sold. This reveals a considerable shift in the 
market away from freehold titles and towards sectional title living. 
Often more affordable than freehold properties, sectional titles also 
offer better lock-up-and-go possibilities than freehold properties. 
With many placing increased value on the ability to travel, and with 
many appealing new sectional title developments emerging all over the 
country, it is understandable why these kinds of homes are becoming 
increasingly popular," Goslett explains.

Sustainable Eco-Friendly Housing
"The Western Cape's water crisis last year shone a spotlight onto 
sustainability and environmentally responsible ways of living. For 
those less concerned about the effect they're having on the environment, 
the ever-rising cost of living and looming threat of national electrical 
outages provide more prudent reasons for why homes with self-sustainable 
features are likely to become increasingly attractive in 2019," Goslett 
predicts.

Homes with Rental or Sharing Potential 
"Another trend which has been emerging is the growing demand for homes 
that are able to accommodate beyond just the nuclear family unit. With 
property prices shifting beyond the reach of entry-level buyers and in 
favour of the middle-income buyer, many are choosing to live with family 
members or to sub-let rooms in order to cover the rent or the bond repayment 
amounts. Two- or three-bedroom homes with en-suite bathrooms and possibly 
separate entry points or garden cottages should therefore do well in the 
2019 market," Goslett foresees.

However, Goslett adds that consulting with a reputable real estate 
professional will still be the surest way of purchasing a property with 
solid investment potential. "It is part of a real estate professional's 
job to know which suburbs are performing well and which are better avoided 
in the current market. Investors who work through a real estate agent are 
therefore likely to ensure higher returns than those who purchase without 
the advice of an expert in the industry," Goslett concludes.