Property investment 101 

Top mistakes to avoid when applying for a home loan

Property Brief – July 2025

Goodbye lease, hello legacy: the benefits of homeownership

Understanding the home loan application process

Turn your property into an income-generating home

Unexpected ways to boost your home loan approval chances

Don’t let deeds office delays derail your homebuying journey

Know what you can afford with our bond repayment calculator

Property Brief – June 2025

Understanding the prime rate: what it means for you

Six ways young professionals can get ahead in property investment

What homeowners need to know about asbestos risks

Youth and women buyers to benefit from higher transfer duty threshold

How to get a home loan without a payslip

Luxury house prices soar as demand surpasses supply

Property Brief – May 2025

Top tips for a stress-free cross-country move

Property Brief – April 2025

Important questions to ask before you buy that dream home

Why you should love your BetterBond bond originator

Dos and don’ts that will help your bond application get the green light

Property Brief – March 2025

Marriage and a bond – ask these important questions before making an offer

Five ways your bond can provide financial peace of mind

Popular inland hotspots where you will want to live

Keep your home in top shape – it’s your biggest investment

Things to look out for when viewing a home you love

Book that holiday and buy a new home

Make 2025 your best year with these financial resolutions

Tips on navigating a buyer’s market as a seller

Property Brief – February 2025

Enhancing your home’s curb side appeal can immediately improve its value

Eight tips to navigate a seller’s market as a homebuyer

Property Brief – January 2025

Lower interest rates mean greater demand for homes – but is there enough to go around?

Access bonds: a guide for South African homebuyers

Understanding a buyer’s market and a seller’s market

Humorous real estate stories, and lessons learned

2024 – the year of cautious optimism

Things you may not have known about bond origination

Property Brief – December 2024

Looking ahead at the property market in 2025

House flipping tips for newbies

Understanding the basics of the offer to purchase

A home for all seasons

Record-high house prices on the cards 

Building wealth through home equity

Property Brief – November 2024

Five property trends gaining momentum in 2024

Gauteng tops the list for first-time buyers

Five things you need to know about home loans

Buy now, rent out and benefit later

Is South Africa on the cusp of its next housing boom?

How to avoid defaulting on your new home

First-time buyers drive SA’s township property boom

Cash-strapped buyers join forces to invest in property

Urbanisation is the new wave driving young professionals to buy property

The Western Cape is SA’s most sought-after place to live

Seven tips for running a successful business from home

Women in their thirties dominate SA’s township market

Women over 55 are the fastest growing group of property owners

Rent to buy – the pros and cons 

Work with bond originators to get the best deal on your new home

October 2024

Six ways life will change when the interest rate drops

Avoid nasty surprises – is your new home compliant?

September 2024

Young South Africans are not shy to spend a little extra when buying property 

More solo women than men applying for bonds to buy their own homes

Buying a family holiday home: joint ownership

Bond origination myths debunked

Bonding a property in South Africa as a non-resident

Selling your home? This is what it will cost you …

August 2024

Applying for a bond? Get these documents in order

Peak of rates cycle is a golden opportunity for first time buyers

Factors that affect home loan interest rates

Tips for buying a home after divorce

Not being truthful on your loan application form has consequences

Airbnb: the advantages and disadvantages of being a host

July 2024

The great homebuying reset

Home security features that add value

June 2024

Making an offer: financing versus cash

Prepare well for the hidden costs of owning your own home

Making an offer? These life events could affect your home loan

Get your home show day ready

The not-so-obvious benefits of owning a home

Smart tax tips for renting out your property

It’s never too late to buy that dream home

Going through a divorce?

Eight ways to increase the value of your house before selling

May 2024

Turn your garden into an oasis with this step-by-step landscaping guide

The Consumer Protection Act (CPA): how it protects you as a homebuyer

How to fix a bad credit score

April 2024

What to do if you can’t pay your home loan

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Why should I get pre-approved before looking for a home?

What are the different types of sectional title properties?

What are the different types of freehold properties?

What’s the difference between freehold and sectional title properties?

Will getting a BetterBond pre-approval certificate affect my credit score?

What criteria do banks look at for home loans?

How much will a pre-approval certificate cost me?

How much can I afford on a home loan?

Can I pay off my bond earlier?

What are the upfront costs for a home loan?

What costs are included in my monthly bond repayment?

What are transfer duties?

What are transfer costs?

What costs are related to home loans?

What is the difference between a fixed and a variable interest rate?

How is my home loan interest rate determined?

Can I use BetterBond to refinance my current bond?

How do you calculate the loan amount?

What is BetterBond exactly?

Will BetterBond be able to service my bond?

Should I take out my life policy immediately, or can I wait for registration?

Will my life policy lapse once my bond is paid off?

Do I have to do medical tests when I take out a BetterLife Protection Plan?

When will my BetterSure Homeowner’s Cover begin?

Will my premium increase each year?

Are BetterSure Homeowner’s Cover and bank insurance the same thing?

Do I have to take the bank’s insurance, or can I choose BetterSure Homeowner’s Cover?

Why use BetterSure?

Can I negotiate on my interest rate?

Does BetterBond offer home loans for investment properties?

Is my information protected and secure?

Is BetterBond a direct lender?

What is the maximum age you can be, to be considered for a home loan?

What do you need to qualify for a bond?

What exactly does a bond originator do, and what are the real benefits of using a bond originator?

If I’m married in community of property (COP), must my spouse be included in the application and/or pre-approval?

Will the payment from the bank to BetterBond affect my loan repayments?

Can attorney fees be included in the loan amount?

What are the requirements for a home loan if I am self-employed and/or a sole proprietor?

Can I use my pre-approval certificate as a guarantee?

What’s the difference between a pre-qualification and a pre-approval?

Will I need an offer to purchase (OTP) to apply for a home loan or for pre-approval?

I’ve heard of FLISP. What does it stand for and how does it work?

Can BetterBond assist me with switching from one financial institution to another?

Can BetterBond help me with a building loan?

Can I apply for a bond together with another person?

I’m a South African citizen living or working abroad. Can BetterBond still help me?

Does BetterBond help foreign nationals?

Besides home loans, can BetterBond also assist me with bonds for trusts and businesses?

Does BetterBond only help first-time homebuyers?

What is the minimum income I need to qualify for a home loan?

Is BetterBond a financial institution?

Once I have my pre-approval certificate, how long is it valid for?

How long is the entire pre-approval process?

Do I have to pay to get pre-approved?

Why is getting pre-approved for a bond so important?

Why do I need to sign so many documents at the attorneys?

I’ve heard of ‘approval’ and ‘final grant’. What’s the difference?

Once my application has been submitted, how long do I have to wait for approval?

Do I follow up my application by checking in with the bank, or do I call BetterBond?

Do I have to use the bond originator suggested by my agent, or can I use any originator?

Can BetterBond guarantee that I will get home finance?

Can BetterBond guarantee a low interest rate on my bond?

Does the fee earned by BetterBond mean that I have to pay hidden costs?

If I use BetterBond to get my home loan, will I have to pay BetterBond?

So, how does BetterBond get paid?

Why is buying a home an investment?

Is it better to rent or buy property?

Why use BetterBond?

Affordability

The more information you can provide, the more accurate your estimate will be.

This affordability calculator uses the current interest rate, but the rate that will be applied to your home loan could vary, depending on factors like your credit score and whether you've saved a deposit.

Interest rate

This affordability calculator uses the most common home loan term, which is 20 years (240 months), but you can enter another timeframe and the results will change accordingly.

Repayment term

Enter your (and your co-applicant's) monthly income before taxes to determine affordability.

Monthly gross income

Enter your (and your co-applicant's) monthly income after taxes to determine affordability.

Monthly nett income

The monthly amount you pay on debt and household expences. Do not include rent or loan amounts if these will be replaced by the new bond payment.

Monthly expenses

This is the monthly repayment calculated on the loan amount you qualify for.

Total monthly repayment

This is the amount you qualify for based on the income and expences information you captured.

Total loan amount

Repayment

The price of the property you're buying and will therefore have to repay.

Purchase price