Lesley Pretorius

Selling a home is one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll ever make, and the person who helps you through it can make all the difference. Estate agents play a crucial role in pricing, marketing, negotiating, and closing the sale — but choosing the wrong agent can lead to costly delays, stress, or even a lower selling price.

The South African property market is showing signs of recovery, but the pace remains slow and uneven. The latest FNB House Price Index (HPI) indicates that home values rose by 2.2% year-on-year in April, up from 2.0% in March. This marks the fastest growth in nearly two years and reflects a modest improvement in demand.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in real estate has revolutionised property transactions, offering tools for better property analysis and customer engagement. However, criminals are exploiting these advancements to perpetrate sophisticated scams that can be used to target property buyers and sellers in South Africa.