The best property-related goals

Whether it's saving for a deposit to buy your first home, deciding to take your first step onto the property ladder, making changes in your current home to help it better suit your needs or finding a new home, make 2023 the year that you get serious about your property goals that are truly achievable.

Saving up a deposit

Many banks are currently granting 100% home loans, but you're likely to get a much better interest rate if you've got a deposit saved up. Saving money is often really hard, but by adopting some savvy strategies like making your morning coffee at home and not renewing that gym contract you never use, you'll be able to save surprising amounts. The golden rule of saving relates to putting money away at the beginning of the month - not waiting until the end of the month to see what's left. Have a chat with a financial advisor to find out how you can make your money work for you. 

Take your first step on the property ladder

Perhaps this is the year you'll be signing on the dotted line and becoming a homeowner for the first time. Despite recent rises in the interest rate, owning your own property is still one of the best ways to invest in your future. You are buying an asset that will become worth more over time - especially if you buy in a good location. There are also an array of other advantages of being a homeowner - such as the ability to change and renovate your home, and the fact that the equity that builds up in your property can later be used to buy another property or pay for your child's education.

Make home improvements

If you're already a homeowner, make this the year you take on some projects to increase the value of your home and make yourself love living there even more. Whether it's beating the Eskom blues by installing solar panels and an inverter, replacing an old worn carpet with tiles or installing a luxurious shower and his-and-hers basins in the bathroom, stop thinking about it and start doing it.

If major home upgrades aren't on your mind or in your budget for this year, there are loads of small, relatively affordable projects that you can take on to breathe new life into your living space. Make your living room a talking point by painting a feature wall (hint: the Pantone colour of the year for 2023 is Viva Magenta), get some much-needed decluttering done or give your patio a deep clean. In just about every home, there's some project you can get stuck into to make your home even greater to live in - and you may well increase its value in the process.

Find a new home

If you've been feeling the need to upsize to accommodate a growing family, semigrate to another part of the country or downsize in light of changing circumstances, why not make this the year that you take action? Selling a property to immediately buy another can be tricky and you'll need to decide whether to start looking first or put your existing property on the market first. The correct answer to these decisions can vary depending on what area you've been living in and what type of property you're putting on the market. It's always a good idea to ask a property practitioner to advise you based on your specific circumstances.

Whatever your #RealProperty goal for 2023 is, the Jawitz Properties team is here to help. Let us put our decades of experience in valuing properties - as well as helping our clients to buy their dream homes and sell properties that are no longer right for them - to good use. Contact us today for more information.