Property Brief – May 2026

The latest BetterBond Property Brief - May 2026 is out!

Article highlights:

In this month’s Property Brief, South Africa’s economy continues to show encouraging signs of resilience, despite mounting global pressure from elevated fuel prices and ongoing conflict in the Middle East. While inflation remained relatively contained at the end of March, higher oil prices and rising utility costs may place renewed pressure on inflation and delay further interest rate relief.

Encouragingly, several domestic indicators remain positive. South Africa’s cumulative trade surplus for Q1 2026 increased significantly to R77 billion, supported by strong precious metals exports, while retail activity and vehicle sales continued to perform well. China’s new zero-tariff policy for African exports also presents a meaningful opportunity for local producers and exporters.

Within the residential property market, BetterBond data shows that home loan applications remained on a healthy recovery path, increasing by 6.2% year-on-year. Average home prices reached new highs for both first-time and repeat buyers, supported by improving household resilience and rising buyer incomes.

However, banks adopted a more cautious lending approach during April, with deposit requirements increasing sharply, particularly for first-time buyers. Combined with global uncertainty and inflationary risks, this may temper affordability and slow the pace of recovery in the months ahead.

The full list of data points included in the May 2026 Property Brief is as follows:

We trust this month’s BetterBond Property Brief provides valuable insight into the trends shaping South Africa’s housing market and broader economic environment.

Missed last month’s insights? Read the April 2026 BetterBond Property Brief here.