At the start of 2025, we made a series of bold property market predictions. In this episode, we look back at those forecasts and unpack what actually played out. From interest rate relief and entry level market recovery to semigration trends, foreign buyer activity, rental growth and the return of investors. We break down what we got right, what surprised us and where the market moved slower or faster than expected. A grounded, on the ground review of 2025 and the lessons it offers heading into 2026.

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Continuous Interest Rate Relief

01:58 Sub-R2 million market recovery

02:48 Slowdown of Semigration

05:39 Interest from Foreign Buyers

06:32 Strong Rental Market Growth with Corrections

08:22 Return of the Investor

Read the full articles here:

● Selected Historical Rates

● Strong recovery in South Africa's housing market amid economic optimism

● August 2025 sees strongest annual house price growth in + 3 years

● Semigration to the Western Cape Slows – But demand remains resilient - Property24

● Tshwane tops Gauteng’s housing recovery while Johannesburg makes strong inroads | Network News

● South Africa’s richest city bounces back from rock bottom

● South Africa’s average residential rental R9 132 in Q1 2025

● Pretoria’s expanding student population fuels buy-to-let investment demand

● Investors eye coastal buy-to-let properties as rental demand surges

● Top suburbs for buy-to-let investments in South Africa: where to invest now

#PropertyMarket #SouthAfricanProperty #MarketPredictions #RealEstateInsights #PropertyInvesting #PropertyTrends