Property Avalible

Collage house


Asking Price R350k




UNIT 606=26 SQM RENTAL=R3, 800

UNIT 407=31 SQM CURRENTLY VACANT

THERE IS PARKING AVALIBLE

Click for more info

Liberty Report

At first glance the building does look like it needs a bit of attention (one lift not working, the main entrance door not working, and cracking plaster around doorways) these items are being dealt with as money becomes available.




There have been a number of reoccurring plumbing problems. The bathroom waste fittings from the unit above leaks, effecting the unit below. If the problem is caught early enough it can be fixed without too much expense. The problem gets costly when the problem is left and water damages the ceiling. We have sent our plumber and builder to sort out a number of these units.



There are the usual complaints about noise however this is a common problem in any build environment.



Sipho, the caretaker is a stern man and takes the job seriously.



There have been a number of incidents of cell phone muggings outside the building and tenants are to be reminded to be careful.



The building is still attracting good rentals and we are very positive for the next couple of years.

July News Letter

Good Morning Investors

It has been quiet a biting winter, those of us with tenants in our units have not felt the cold as much as those who are looking, June/ July is always a quite time for landlords. Things have not been that quite on our side,

We have refined the way that we are looking after CBD units, with a big emphasis on our staff training. There have been one or two complaints about our agents not giving you, the landlord, the service you deserve.

Our business is to look after your unit so that you don’t have to worry about it. Our agents are paid for taking care of your needs, your feed back is very important to us. Our agents are aware that if we have any landlords that are not happy it is an opportunity for us to solve the issue; we are on hand to remove tat stress.

We are very excited about the CBD and believe that our landlords will see the rewards for there bold move. Despite the global financial crises our CDB’s have shown some resilience, with modest but steady rental growth across all of the major metropolises. In the first quarter of 2009, rental growth in Johannesburg 6%. In the other metropolises such as Durban (9%), Port Elizabeth (7%), Cape Town (6%) and Pretoria (5%), rental growth was also been slightly effected by rising vacancies
Given consumer inflation of 8, 4% for the first quarter of 2009 and real rental growth declined across the country we are still doing ok.

For those of you that don’t feel comfortable coming into town into the thick of the action, the next best thing is see it and hear it for yourself – on video. Get the City news, feel the Jozi vibe through these live action film clips. Read more

Lets not forget the 2010 Soccer, we are current perusing some options and will inform you of our progress so that we can arrange leases accordingly.

More than 55 000 soccer fans are yet to book accommodation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and Seeff Properties and football icon Gary Bailey have joined forces in an innovative joint venture that will see South African property owners score by letting their homes to alleviate the crisis. Read more

Dealing with Rental Vacancies

There are all kinds of reasons why you may not have tenants to rent your property for a period of time. When you first buy a property, it may not be rented and could take a while to find tenants. You may not have the greatest location and it takes longer to rent. You may be trying to rent in the middle of the year when students already have housing. There may be an abundance of rental property in the area, or perhaps the condition of the property makes it difficult. Whatever the reason is, you need to fill you vacancies quickly or your property will become a much less profitable investment.
Every month that your place goes un-rented could means hundreds or thousands of Rands in lost revenue. But, there are definitely things you can do to improve your chances of limiting vacancies. First, if you do end up with a vacancy for a period, use the time wisely by making repairs and completing required maintenance to the property. Spruce up the place, paint the interior or schedule major repairs while the rental is empty. Later when you are showing the property to prospective tenants, they will give your property more thought because of the better condition. Also, it is a lot easier to make repairs in an empty property.
Be creative. If you know students will most likely be renting your property, rent your place when they are looking for housing in order to increase your chances of finding good tenants. This is typically in the beginning of the year. If you rent from February to January, consider renting for a shorter or longer period so that you can change your lease term to coincide with the time when students are looking.
Consider giving a discount or incentive to rent your property over another. Reduce rent for a short period, permit use of a garage or store room, offer to install a washer and dryer, or something else that tenants in your area may want. In addition to listing your property on this web site and others that cover your area, run ads in local papers, hang flyers and ask everyone you know. Hang a For Rent sign on the house so neighbors or people driving by will see it. Offer a reward to someone who finds you tenants. A small amount spent on advertising or discounts will more than offset the cost of lost rent for one or more months.
If you expect your tenants will not renew your lease, begin looking for new tenants early. Don't wait until the last minute and chance having a vacancy. Ask the existing tenants if they know of anyone that may be interested in renting your place. They may have friends who have already seen your rental that would be interested. Use every means possible to avoid having vacancies.
And ALWAYS DO THE BACK GROUND CHECKS

How to be a succesfull landlord

One key to being a successful landlord is taking the time to pick the best tenants and keeping the rental property maintained. If you do not have the time to keep up a property on your own, or if you own several rental properties, you can quickly become overwhelmed.
The tips provided



1. Always check references. Recurrent problem renters are usually quite accomplished at giving a good impression and can fool even the most jaded landlords. Always ask for references and take the time to follow up on them.


2. Get it in writing. In order to protect your interests and the interests of your tenants, get everything in writing. This means everything from a rental application to a code of conduct. If a tenant needs to have something fixed in their dwelling, ask them to provide the request in writing in addition to telling you on the phone or in person. This will help you with you income tax deductions and create a history for each tenant.



3. Provide a clean and secure residence. Keep the grounds of the property clean and free of debris. This will help you with property liability and keep your rental property looking its best. Depending on the location of the rental property, you may want to provide extra security measures. This can help keep your tenants safe and secure, and may even lower your insurance premiums.


4. Pick your managers carefully. If you do not have the time to personally manage your rental properties, you will need to hire a manager. But your success as a landlord will hinge on your choice. Make sure to hire the absolute best person for the job.


5. Get insured. Make sure that you have the maximum amount of rental insurance, property liability insurance, and any other type of insurance that may be required in your state. This can help protect you from devastating losses.


6. Make repairs promptly. Your tenants deserve to have decent living conditions. In the case of furnaces and other necessary appliances and fixtures, repairs simply cannot be put off. Try to imagine yourself in your renter's position. Could you live without running water for three days?


7. Respect the privacy of your tenants. Adhere to your state's guidelines for entry into a rented dwelling. Most states require at least a 24 hour notice before a tenant is required to allow their landlord to enter their rented dwelling.


8. Do not discriminate. Follow the Fair Housing Administration Act when you screen prospective tenants. A discrimination lawsuit is extremely costly and completely avoidable. Give everyone an equal chance to rent your property, regardless of their race, religion, or beliefs.


9. Have a well-drafted lease. It is imperative that the form of lease you use with tenants be well-drafted and pro-landlord-oriented. For a well-drafted form, check out the sample Residential Rental Agreement at the Forms & Agreements Center.


10. Always be fair. In addition to avoiding discrimination, strive to treat all of your tenants fairly. Try to understand their position and keep in mind how they may perceive your actions. While you may not be able to get along with everyone, having a good rapport with your tenants will reduce vacancy problems.

Great news for the CBD

This Artical from Eprop

Office decentralisation and perceptions of crime and grime has seen certain tenants relocating from Braamfontein to the decentralised nodes, but companies such as Liberty Life, Sappi, SafMarine and Rennies have committed to the area, and together with Government, are pumping vast amounts of capital into the area in the form of urban design initiatives and parking facilities. This is now seeing strong improvements to property market fundamentals and investment activity.

Marc SchneidereProp Research

The next arical was taken from business day

Pace Property Group MD David Green says the development of Bridgeview units prices range from R399000 to R1,2m, including VAT. The apartments are trendy and aimed at young professionals and executives.
Green says there is strong demand from buyers for space in Braamfontein. Government’s urban development zone tax-incentive scheme is paying dividends, with developers looking to extract the full benefit of the incentives. “Therefore, we anticipate rapid new development and improvement of inner-city real estate.”
The urban renewal tax incentives were announced by the treasury in October 2004. On offer is a 20% tax deduction from all income earned in the first five years after a building has been refurbished. For new developments, government is offering a tax deduction of 20% in the first year in which the building starts earning an income.
The Johannesburg urban development zone, for which the tax break is applicable, includes the central business district, Newtown and Braamfontein, as well as the high-density, high-rise residential areas of Hillbrow and Berea.
Other low-density residential areas surrounding the general Ellis Park area, such as Bertrams, Judith’s Paarl, Doornfontein and Troyeville, as well as Bellevue, Bellevue East and Yeoville, also form part of the approved urban development zone.

CBD Buy-to-let

A question from one of our landlords!


"Hey Guys, I want to build a portfolio of buy-to-lets, how do I know what area is best to invest in to achieve my goal?

"Our reply:Great question, the first thing you have to understand is that before investing in any area, you HAVE to do your research!!!
Its simple: We've found that the most important factors in researching an area can be answered if youask yourself these 3 questions:
1- What type of tenant am I looking for?
2- What type of property would my tenantideally like to live in?
3- In what area will I find that type ofproperty?

All these 3 factors (Tenant, Property& Area)must be looked at together to assess whether the area is good for investing in Buy-To-Let's. When deciding what type of person you are looking to rent to - create a profile for them:

For example, ask yourself if they are young professionals, students, or if you want to rent to families. Once you've decided WHO you'll be renting to, look at the needs and wants of that type of person. If you decide to rent to students, they'll want to be close to their university... The best way to find out about this is actually chatting to people who represent your 'target tenant'. Find out what features your tenant values most and if they are prepared to pay extra for any of them. At this point, you should have a fairly clear idea of WHAT you'll be renting and it'll be time to look at WHERE you'll find the type of property you're looking for. Go back to the profile you've made for yout 'target tenant'and find out which area supplies all the attributes you're looking for. Consider things like the transport connections in the area, the local amenities, how are the schools in the area you're looking at, what is the quality of the local environment, how are the employment opportunities and how relevant are all these factors to your target tenant. Remember: these 3 attributes are inter-related and must be looked at together when assessing whether there is rental demand in aparticular location. Now, the next question you need to answer is:
Can you make any money or does Buy-To-Let financially stack-up in that area?

The CBD is Fast becoming a hot spot for Buy-To-Let investors