The Orion Law Podcast

Buying into an estate is not the same as buying a home — it is closer to joining a small country, with its own rules, its own elected officials, and its own bills.

Property lawyer, conveyancer, and former estate trustee Karien Hunter walks through what most buyers do not see until they have signed: how HOAs really work, why the rules can change, the hidden costs beyond the levies, and the three documents every estate buyer should read first.

If you are considering an estate purchase, or you are already in one and starting to feel the politics, this is the conversation that gives you clarity before things get expensive.

Resources mentioned:

• OA compliance check: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

• OI and constitution review: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Dispute resolution and mediation: ⁠⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/⁠⁠⁠⁠

About Orion Law

Orion Law is your guiding light for clear, commercial-grade legal thinking. Founded by property and commercial law specialist Karien Hunter. Browse downloadable contracts and document review services from R250 at orionlaw.co.za.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@orion_law⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Most property deals don't fall apart because of the price. They fall apart because of the financing. And the cash offer everyone wants? It's not always the best offer on the table. Karien Hunter, property lawyer and conveyancer at Orion Law, walks through what actually keeps a deal watertight from offer to transfer.

In this episode of the Orion Law Podcast, Luke sits down with Karien Hunter, Property Lawyer and Conveyancer at Orion Law, to break down the financing side of a property transaction.

What you'll learn:

• What pre-qualification and affordability actually mean, and why they matter from day one
• The three types of offers and which one Karien gets most excited about (it's not the cash offer)
• How a commitment deposit keeps a deal alive and saves weeks of pain
• Why early occupation is one of the most expensive mistakes a seller can make
• The Alienation of Land Act rules every property contract must follow
• Why choosing your own conveyancer matters more than most buyers realise

Resources mentioned:

• Sole mandate template: ⁠⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent⁠⁠⁠ 

• Exclusive mandate template: ⁠⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent⁠⁠⁠ 

• Open mandate template: ⁠⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/open-mandate-agent⁠⁠⁠ 

• Seller's declaration template: ⁠⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/⁠⁠⁠

• Offer to Purchase with agent: ⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/offer-to-purchase-with-agent

• Offer to Purchase without agent: ⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/residential-sale-offer-to-purchase-no-agent⁠

About Orion Law

Orion Law is your guiding light for clear, commercial-grade legal thinking. Founded by property and commercial law specialist Karien Hunter. Browse downloadable contracts and document review services from R250 at orionlaw.co.za.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@orion_law⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Most people don't actually know what they're selling when they sell a house, or what they're inheriting when they buy one. And when there's a hidden defect, the courts can hold the wrong person responsible. Karien Hunter, property lawyer and conveyancer at Orion Law, walks through what's actually changing hands at the dotted line.

In this episode of the Orion Law Podcast, Luke sits down with Karien Hunter, Property Lawyer and Conveyancer at Orion Law, to break down what every seller and buyer needs to know before signing an offer to purchase.

What you'll learn:

• What "property" actually means in law and why it matters for the agreement you're signing

• The tree-roots rule: what attaches to the land becomes part of the sale

• The seller's declaration: what to disclose, what to leave out, and what happens if you get it wrong

• Voetstoots, the "as is, buyer beware" rule that puts real responsibility on every buyer

• How the courts handle hidden defects and dishonest sellers

• The buyer's checklist for viewing day

Resources mentioned:

• Sole mandate template: ⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent⁠⁠ 

• Exclusive mandate template: ⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent⁠⁠ 

• Open mandate template: ⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/open-mandate-agent⁠⁠ 

• Seller's declaration template: ⁠⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/⁠⁠ • Offer to Purchase with agent: https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/offer-to-purchase-with-agent • Offer to Purchase without agent: https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/residential-sale-offer-to-purchase-no-agent

About Orion Law

Orion Law is your guiding light for clear, commercial-grade legal thinking. Founded by property and commercial law specialist Karien Hunter. Browse downloadable contracts and document review services from R250 at orionlaw.co.za.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@orion_law⁠⁠⁠

Follow on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Most sellers price their property based on what other listings show. The problem is that listing prices are not selling prices, and that single misread quietly costs sellers thousands. Karien Hunter, property lawyer and conveyancer at Orion Law, explains the pricing rule that does the opposite.

In this episode of the Orion Law Podcast, Luke sits down with Karien Hunter, Property Lawyer and Conveyancer at Orion Law, to unpack why overpricing is the single most expensive mistake property sellers make.

What you'll learn:

• Why listing prices on Property24 are not what homes actually sell for

• Why the first 14 days of a listing decide everything

• The pricing strategy that attracts the best buyers and the strongest offers

• What to do if your property has been sitting on the market for too long

• How the Consumer Protection Act lets you fire an underperforming estate agent

• Why a slightly conservative listing price is the fastest route to a clean sale

Resources mentioned:

• Sole mandate template: ⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent⁠ 

• Exclusive mandate template: ⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent⁠ 

• Open mandate template: ⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/open-mandate-agent⁠ 

• Seller's declaration template: ⁠https://orionlaw.co.za/⁠

About Orion Law

Orion Law is your guiding light for clear, commercial-grade legal thinking. Founded by property and commercial law specialist Karien Hunter. Browse downloadable contracts and document review services from R250 at orionlaw.co.za.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠⁠youtube.com/@orion_law⁠⁠

Follow on ⁠⁠LinkedIn ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

If you are thinking about selling your property, the decisions you make right now can cost you, or save you, hundreds of thousands of rand.

In this episode of the Orion Law Podcast, Luke sits down with Karien Hunter, property lawyer and conveyancer with over 40 years in the game, to walk through the homework most sellers skip.

What you'll learn:

• Why the first 14 days of a listing get the most traction

• How to price your property without leaving money on the table

• The difference between a sole, exclusive, and open mandate

• How to choose the right estate agent for your area

• How far to go with renovations before selling

• Simple staging moves that change how buyers feel

Resources mentioned:

• Sole mandate template: https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent 

• Exclusive mandate template: https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/sole-exclusive-mandate-agent 

• Open mandate template: https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/open-mandate-agent 

• Seller's declaration template: https://orionlaw.co.za/

About Orion Law

Orion Law is your guiding light for clear, commercial-grade legal thinking. Founded by property and commercial law specialist Karien Hunter. Browse downloadable contracts and document review services from R250 at orionlaw.co.za.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: ⁠youtube.com/@orion_law⁠

Follow on ⁠LinkedIn ⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Is property still a good investment? A 40-year property lawyer makes the case, with the actual numbers from her own portfolio.

Luke sits down with Karien Hunter, property lawyer, conveyancer, and lifelong property investor, to break down whether property still belongs in your wealth plan.

What you'll learn:

• The principle of gearing, and how using the bank's money amplifies your returns

• The R2 million primary residence exemption most South Africans never use

• Why commercial property can be safer than residential

• How a discretionary family trust carries wealth across generations

• When not to buy: the red flags to watch for

• Why you do not actually have to live in your own investment

Resources mentioned:

• Discretionary family trust template: https://orionlaw.co.za/contracts/family-trust-deed 

• 20-minute consultation booking: https://orionlaw.co.za/about 

• Subscription page: https://orionlaw.co.za/what-we-offer 

• Contact us - https://orionlaw.co.za/contact-us 

About Orion Law

Orion Law is your guiding light for clear, commercial-grade legal thinking. Founded by property and commercial law specialist Karien Hunter. Browse downloadable contracts and document review services from R250 at orionlaw.co.za.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@orion_law

Follow on LinkedIn and Instagram

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Karien Hunter sits down with Richard Talbot to introduce Orion Law, the firm and the online legal platform behind this podcast. The mission: make high-quality legal expertise affordable, accessible, and trustworthy across Africa.

In this episode of the Orion Law Podcast, Richard sits down with Karien Hunter, Founder of Orion Law, to unpack the story behind the firm and the platform.

What you'll learn:

• How a single client request revealed the gap that Orion Law was built to close

• How specialist contracts are now available from R250, with secure document storage included

• The three practice areas: commercial, employment, and property law

• Where Orion Law stands on AI in legal work

• Why legal certainty is foundational to driving the economies of Africa

• The long-term vision for the platform

Resources mentioned:

Document library (contracts from R250), orionlaw.co.za

About Orion Law

Orion Law is your guiding light for clear, commercial-grade legal thinking. Founded by property and commercial law specialist Karien Hunter. Browse downloadable contracts and document review services from R250 at orionlaw.co.za.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: youtube.com/@orion_law

Follow on LinkedIn and Instagram: @orion_law

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.