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JOHANNESBURG. – Fourth quarter (Q4 2017) property statistics from bond originator Ooba, confirm that 2017 was a very tough year for the property market.

“The property market is significantly influenced by sentiment and consumer confidence. Increased political uncertainty, low economic growth and inflationary pressures caused property buyers to ease off on new property purchases during 2017,” said Rhys Dyer, CEO of Ooba.

“Reduced demand for property forced sellers to adjust their prices to meet the demands of a more cautious buyers’ market, resulting in negative price growth in real terms when inflation is factored in.”

The company said that the average age of a first-time bond applicant is 34, versus 37 for the general average, while the average approved bond was at R994 155, versus R798 329 for a first-time buyer.

The average cost of a home in South Africa in the fourth quarter was R1 177 131 versus R915 891 for a first-time buyer.

Looking ahead, Dyer believes that the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the ANC at the recent ANC elective conference has created a more investor-friendly political and economic environment.

“We hope that the economic policy uncertainty that has challenged the South African economy for the past few years will stabilise,” he said.

“We expect the new ANC leadership to deliver improved policy certainty during 2018. If this happens, consumer sentiment will recuperate and boost demand in the property market.

“This in turn will drive increased property price growth over time. We can then expect the year-on-year property price growth to rise by 6 percent for the last quarter of 2018, compared to only 1,4 percent compared achieved for the fourth quarter of 2016,” Dyer said.

Despite economic drawbacks, Ooba’s Q4 2017 statistics indicate more favourable home loan conditions. The banks’ home loan books have performed well, with historically low levels of bad debts and arrears.

“It appears as if consumers are managing their debt well, with consumer affordability measures still improving off the highs of 2008 and 2009. As a result there is strong competition among banks to lend to home buyers. We expect a buoyant home loan lending environment in 2018,” said Dyer.

Improved lending conditions are evidenced by the increase in the Ooba approval rate from 72,8 percent in Q4 2016 to 73,6 percent in Q4 2017. The average interest rate Ooba achieved for its customers also improved considerably from an average of 0,39 percent above prime in Q4 2016 to 0,18 percent above prime in Q4 2017, it said.

“With the rand already significantly stronger post the ANC election, and with inflation well within the target range, there is also a possibility that we could see an interest rate reduction in early 2018. All in all, the early signs are there for a robust year of growth in the property and home loans market,” said Dyer. – Businesstech.