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Property Brief – October 2026
The latest BetterBond Property Brief - October 2026 is out!
Article insights:
- South Africa’s construction sector is recovering, with the Afrimat Construction Index rising 5% in Q2 2026 and construction employment increasing by 95,000 year on year.
- Home loan applications improved in Q3 2026, rising 2.4% quarter on quarter and pointing to continued stability in the residential property market.
- South African house prices continue to rise, with the average home price reaching R1.7 million in Q3 and real house price growth reaching 1.8% year on year.
- Homebuyer incomes are continuing to grow, reaching an average of R74,000 per month in Q3 and helping to offset higher deposit requirements.
- Home loan approval rates have improved across most regions, with Greater Pretoria recording the highest approval ratio at 75%, followed by the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal at 72%.
This month’s Property Brief points to a residential property market showing resilience despite renewed pressure from higher interest rates. Home loan applications improved during Q3, house price growth continued to outpace inflation and rising homebuyer incomes are helping to offset higher deposit requirements. At the same time, the recovery in construction activity and stronger home loan approval ratios point to encouraging signs across the market.
The broader economic picture also offers some positive indicators, with the construction sector recording solid growth in Q2 and employment in the sector increasing by 95,000 over the past year. Bank assets have reached a record R9.21 trillion, while the impact of the rate-cutting cycle that began in 2024 remains visible in household affordability and activity across areas including home loans, despite the recent move towards more restrictive monetary policy.
The full list of data points included in the October 2026 Property Brief is as follows:
- Construction sector on the mend
- BetterBond Index of Home Loan Applications
- Average home purchase price
- Average deposit for home purchase
- Average monthly income of homebuyers at constant 2026 prices
- Value of residential buildings completed by province
- YoY % change in ratios of home loans granted by region
- Average home purchase price by age group
- Key residential property market metrics
We hope this month’s BetterBond Property Brief offers a useful perspective on the resilience of the residential property market, as well as the economic and affordability trends shaping the decisions of South African homebuyers.
Missed last month’s insights? Read the September BetterBond Property Brief here.
Property Brief - October 2026
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BetterBond is a bond originator based in Pretoria, South Africa. We have been providing South Africans with home loans and bond advice since 2000.
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