Property News

Even small monthly top-ups can shave years off a home loan and save hundreds of thousands of rands in interest. The earlier extra repayments are made, the greater the benefit — especially while interest rates remain elevated.South Africa’s Reserve Bank (SARB) has opted to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.75% following its first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of 2026. While many homeowners and buyers were hoping for the start of a more aggressive rate-cutting cycle, the decision reflects a cautious, wait-and-see approach in a complex global environment.

Homeowners and prospective home buyers often consider fixing the interest rate on their home loans, and with inflation concerns, rising living costs, and an upcoming repo rate announcement, this has once again become a key talking point.

January has a reputation for being a quiet month in the South African property market, but that reputation is misleading. While buyer volumes may be lower than in peak seasons, the buyers who are active in January are often serious, prepared, and ready to move. For sellers, that makes January less about hype and more about execution.