Elizma Harmse

For many South Africans, the start of the year marks the time when serious home-buying decisions are made. January and February traditionally mark a period of renewed market activity, with new listings and motivated sellers. If you are planning to buy property in 2026, one of the smartest moves you can make is to get pre-approved for a home loan before February.

The latest FNB Estate Agents Survey for Q3 2025 paints a cautiously optimistic picture of South Africa’s residential property market. After months of uncertainty, market activity, agent confidence, and buyer sentiment have all improved, particularly in the affordable housing segment, which continues to drive growth nationwide.

The latest FNB Estate Agent Survey for the second quarter of 2025 reveals a slight cooling in South Africa’s residential property market. While activity and sentiment have dipped compared to the previous quarter, the affordable housing segment continues to shine, driven by interest rate cuts and increased demand from first-time buyers.