Property Brief – November 2025
The latest BetterBond Property Brief - November 2025 is out!
Article overview
- South Africa’s economy strengthens with its removal from the FATF grey list, boosting investor confidence and paving the way for a €12 billion EU investment in energy and infrastructure.
- Market indicators improve, including a 225 bps drop in the 10-year bond yield and stronger manufacturing and wholesale sales forecasts nearing R1 trillion.
- Residential property activity surges, with home loan applications up 30% year-on-year and 17.4% more loans granted to first-time buyers.
- Affordability improves, as deposits for first-time buyers fall 21% and average buyer incomes (ages 41 to 50) rise 22% over two years.
- Home prices stabilise at an average of R1.6 million, signalling a more balanced, opportunity-rich property market amid South Africa’s economic recovery.
Property Brief - November 2025 insights
In this month’s Economic Compass, South Africa’s economic narrative continues to strengthen. The country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list after 30 months of reform has injected a fresh wave of investor confidence. This is a key milestone supported by improved collaboration between government and the private sector. This was swiftly followed by a €12 billion EU investment package earmarked for energy transition and sustainable infrastructure – further evidence of renewed global trust in South Africa’s reform path.
The ripple effects are already visible. The 10-year bond yield has dropped by 225 basis points since April. Speculation is growing that S&P Global may soon upgrade South Africa’s local currency credit rating. Meanwhile, wholesale sales are forecast to reach R1 trillion in Q4 and manufacturing output has rebounded to near-record levels, boosted by stronger demand for metals, chemicals and beverages.
Against this improving backdrop, BetterBond’s latest data shows the residential property market steadily regaining momentum. Home loan applications have risen 30% since Q4 2023 – the highest level since early 2022. Furthermore, loans granted to first-time buyers are 17.4% higher year-on-year. Deposits are trending lower, with a 21% decline for first-time buyers, reflecting easier access to credit and growing buyer confidence.
Although average home prices remain flat at R1.6 million – and R1.27 million for first-time buyers – a modest real decline of 2.1% since Q2 2023 points to a more balanced, opportunity-rich market. Importantly, average buyer incomes have risen 22% for the 41 to 50 age group over the past two years, underscoring improved affordability.
The full list of data points included in the November 2025 Property Brief is as follows:
- Welcome decline in bank impairment ratio
- BetterBond index of home loan applications
- Average home purchase price
- Average deposit for home purchase
- Regional composition of home loans granted to First-time buyers
- Average monthly homebuyer incomes
- YOY increase in residential property prices by region
- Prime lending rate trend
- Income-to-house-price ratios by age group
We hope the November 2025 BetterBond Property Brief helps inform your strategic perspective as South Africa enters a new phase of economic and property-market recovery.
Property Brief - November 2025
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