Property Brief – September 2026

The latest BetterBond Property Brief – September 2026 is out!

Article insights:

• The residential property market remains resilient, with home loan applications 11.3% higher than in Q4 2023.
• Home loan applications remained largely stable in the first two months of Q3 2026, despite higher deposit requirements and a prime lending rate of 10.5%.
• First-time buyers are paying an average home purchase price of R1.4 million, a nominal increase of 19% since Q3 2023.
• Home affordability has improved for most age groups, with the ratio of home prices to annual incomes declining significantly since 2021.
• The home loan approval ratio increased to 64.5% at the end of August 2026, supported by lower interest rates and stronger formal-sector employment.

This month’s Property Brief highlights a residential property market showing signs of stability, with home loan applications holding steady, affordability improving for most age groups and employment growth supporting regional housing demand. While higher deposit requirements and the current interest rate environment continue to influence homebuying activity, demand remains resilient.

The latest data also points to an improving economic backdrop, with retail sales maintaining their upward momentum and the rand strengthening significantly against major global currencies. At the same time, the gap between South Africa’s long-term interest rate and prime lending rate suggests scope for further monetary policy easing, which could provide additional momentum to the property market.

The full list of data points included in the September 2026 Property Brief is as follows:

1. Bond yield spread calls out for prime rate cut
2. BetterBond Index of Home Loan Applications
3. Average home purchase price
4. Average deposit for home purchase
5. Ratio of average home price to average annual income by age group
6. Regional composition of average home prices
7. Average home purchase price by income group
8. Employment by province
9. Approval ratio for home loans granted

We hope this month’s BetterBond Property Brief provides useful insight into the economic and residential property trends influencing South African homebuyers and the market more broadly.

Missed last month’s insights? Read the August 2026 BetterBond Property Brief here.