If you’ve been a tenant, you know that feeling every year as the lease renewal rolls round. That vague concern in the back of your mind about being given notice comes to the fore. And if you are given another year, you’re required to delve into your bank accounts to download reams of personal data. The annual increase is usually above inflation (while your salary remains where it’s been since before COVID) and you wonder, again, why you’re putting so much of your hard-earned cash into someone else’s pocket. Scrutinising the contract to make sure it’s the same as last year brings up all the old clauses (and perhaps some sneaky new ones) that make you feel like your landlord sees you as a criminal. By the end of it all you feel you should be getting that admin fee!
Isn’t it time you bought a home of your own? Let’s look at the benefits and advantages.
Long-term Investment and Equity: One of the most compelling reasons to become a homeowner is the opportunity for long-term financial stability. Unlike renting, homeownership allows us to build equity over time, securing a valuable asset that can appreciate in value and be left to our children one day. As the property market fluctuates, owning a home can potentially offer a return on investment – what is certain is that paying it off serves as forced savings in an asset that is a solid foundation for building generational wealth.
Stability and Control: Owning a home provides a sense of stability and control over one’s living environment. You can personalise your space (go for it – knock as many nails into the walls as you like!), make renovations or modifications to suit their preferences (goodbye builders’ beige and tenants’ off white – paint that feature wall in day glo yellow if you like – it’s yours!), and create a place you can truly call your own. This stability also extends to the knowledge that those monthly bond repayments are not lining someone else’s nest, but paying for your own.
Pride of Ownership: Homeownership brings a sense of pride and accomplishment. The ability to customise and maintain a property to reflect personal tastes and preferences fosters a sense of attachment and belonging. (Look at you – you’re adulting! Mow that lawn into a pattern and run through the sprinkler.) Homeowners take pride in creating a space that reflects their lifestyle and values, making it a source of personal satisfaction
Enhanced Privacy and Security: Owning a home offers greater privacy and security than renting does. No more inspections by your landlord. No more being told which contractor you have to use and when. Plus you get to choose your own security measures, such as alarm systems, fences and security cameras, ensuring the safety of their property and loved ones. And they can be to your taste – not the cheapest, ugliest options on the market (unless that’s what you prefer.) You get to do you.
Potential Tax Benefits: Add a second property to your portfolio, rent it out and besides being on your way to becoming a property baron, other benefits come into play. Sure, the rental will be taxed, but you can deduct rates and taxes, bond interest, advertisements for tenants, collection fees charged by your managing agent, homeowners insurance, garden services, repairs to the lettable area plus security and property levies…Watch the video below
So where to buy…?
You’ll also want a great community around you. And lots to do. A big hospital in case of emergencies… None of that has to be in a city, you know.
With so many of us able to work from home now, it’s no surprise that many South Africans are escaping the rat race. Maybe you, too, should consider a move to the country. These are some of the reasons for this trend:
- Cost of Living: Rapid urbanisation and rising living costs in major cities have prompted many individuals and families to consider moving to the “platteland”, the “rurals” and the “bush”. Smaller towns often offer a more affordable cost of living, including lower housing prices, utility costs, and general expenses. This trend allows people to achieve a higher standard of living within their budget.
- Quality of Life: Smaller towns often provide a slower pace of life, closer-knit communities, and a stronger sense of belonging. Residents can enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle, reduced traffic congestion, and a closer connection with nature. This shift appeals to those seeking an improved quality of life away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan areas.
- Commute and Accessibility: Advancements in remote work opportunities have made it more feasible for people to maintain professional ties to larger cities while enjoying the benefits of living in quieter, less crowded areas.
Go wild!
If you really want to get away and enjoy a quieter life for yourself and your family, if your heart is tied to Africa’s red earth and vast open skies, and if you have a deep appreciation for nature, perhaps the bush is calling. Did you know that you could wake up every morning to a view directly into the Kruger National Park?
There are a couple of options, but let’s look at the newest. Shawu’s Hills Wildlife Estate covers 338 hectares of what was previously farmland. The main drawcard of the estate are the views across the Crocodile River to a spectacular backdrop of untouched nature.
With 6.5km of river frontage, every full-title owner is rewarded with amazing sunsets and, across the boundary fence, breath-taking views of the game and birdlife that comes to drink at the river. Every day.
Sensitively designed, Shawu’s Hills has a modern architectural aesthetic perfectly suited to the bushveld setting. And while it offers all the peace and quiet anyone could ask for, there’s loads to do. The estate is close to Malelane (and its soon to be completed state-of-the-art hospital) and Komatipoort (Mozambique holidays loading).
You’re unlikely to tire of game drives in Kruger, but if you need a bit of the beautiful game, you can catch all the soccer (and rugby – go Pumas!) at Mbombela stadium. Oh. Did I mention Leopard Creek and Kambaku golf clubs are down the road? FORE!
Owning a home near a game reserve in South Africa provides an unparalleled privilege to immerse yourself in our country’s diverse natural beauty and wildlife. It’s time. Buy a house. And buy it here.
For more information, contact Lindi Le Grange: lindi@bluegrass1028.co.za or call 074 444 0178. Visit our Instagram at @Shawushillsestate or Facebook @shawus hills wildlife.
About Shawu’s Hills Wildlife Estate
Shawu’s Hills is a place apart. As sanctuary, a beautiful window onto the untamed world. Looking across the Crocodile River to the guarded wilds of the Kruger brings a new peace that only those who know and love the bush have experience, we know just how precious it is.
