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

Rubi – taking the stress out of the ‘subject to’ condition of sale 

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

Six questions to ask your estate agent when house hunting

How to save on your electricity bill and spend more on home maintenance

Choosing the right home for you

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

November 2023

October 2023

September 2023

August 2023

July 2023

June 2023

May 2023

April 2023

March 2023

Meet South Africa’s current property investors – spoiler alert: they’re no longer male or middle-aged

Coastal semigration attracts work-from-home buyers

Five things you need to know about the repo rate

Young investors give residential property the thumbs up

Why Mossel Bay is becoming the Monaco of the Garden Route

Helping your children to buy their first home

A home for every stage of your life

How to make sure your home loan gets the green light

Ukraine

Hope for homeowners as interest rates near peak

Benefits of owning a home remain constant amid rate fluctuations

Know what you can afford as interest rates rise

How to navigate rising inflation and interest rates

Multi-generational living

Pretoria named the most affordable capital in the world

Protect your credit score in tough times

The provinces where first-time homebuyers get more bang for their buck

Eastern Cape attracts homebuyers with enviable coastal lifestyle

Plan ahead and pay as much as you can on your bond

What happens once you’ve submitted your bond application to your bond originator?

Tech upgrades: a great way to boost home value

Don’t squander your home equity

How your home can make you wealthy

Real freedom is a home of your own

Go green and pay your home off faster

Sharing requires a lot of caring

Keeping up with the upkeep of your home is one way to cash in on a future sale

The perks and perils of joint ownership

How to hold on to your home when your finances get out of hand

How to handle a break-up with your bond

How to make a move without breaking the bank

How to settle your home loan in a decade or less

Top take-outs when taking on townhouse living

Paid off your bond? Now put that bond account to use

What’s the difference: buying a sectional title versus a freehold property

How your home loan can supercharge your financial future

Renovating versus building from scratch

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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