Buyer checklist
Buying your home, step by step
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Estimated transfer duty
on a price of
Before you make an offer
Get ready first, so your offer is taken seriously and moves quickly.
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Get bond pre-approval A bank or bond originator checks what you can afford before you make an offer, so sellers know your offer is realistic.
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Budget for the costs on top of the price Transfer duty (on homes over R1 210 000), the conveyancer's transfer fees, bond registration costs and moving costs. Ask your agent for an estimate.
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Get your FICA documents ready ID, proof of address and tax number. If married: marriage certificate and antenuptial contract. Buying through a company or trust: its registration documents and a resolution.
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Have your deposit ready A deposit can improve your bond terms. Keep it in an account you can pay from quickly.
Making your offer
The offer becomes a binding agreement once both of you sign it.
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Read the offer to purchase carefully Check the price, the deposit, the dates and every condition before you sign.
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Make it subject to your bond If you need a bond, the sale should depend on bond approval by a set date, so you're not bound if the bank says no.
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Agree the occupation date If you move in before registration, you usually pay the seller occupational rent each month until then.
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Read the defect disclosure The seller lists the defects they know about; it's attached to the agreement. Ask about anything that's unclear.
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Check levies and rules (sectional title or estate) Monthly levies, any special levies, and the body corporate or HOA rules, such as pets and building work.
After your offer is accepted
The bank and the conveyancer do most of the work; these steps need you.
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Apply for your bond Applying at more than one bank, or through a bond originator, lets you compare rates. Send documents quickly to meet the deadline.
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Pay the deposit Pay it into the conveyancer's trust account by the date in the agreement.
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Arrange building insurance The bank needs proof of insurance on the building before it registers the bond.
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Sign at the conveyancer The conveyancer explains the transfer documents. Bring your ID.
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Pay the transfer costs The conveyancer sends you an account for the transfer duty and fees. Pay it promptly: transfer can't go ahead until SARS has the transfer duty.
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Follow the transfer Registration usually takes two to three months from signing. Your agent and conveyancer keep you updated.
Moving in
The last steps before the home is yours.
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Walk through the property Before you move in, check that everything included in the sale is there and working.
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Open your municipal accounts Rates, water and electricity in your name from registration, or from occupation if agreed.
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Collect keys, remotes and codes Gate and garage remotes, alarm codes, manuals and warranties for appliances.
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Change the locks and codes Change alarm and gate codes, and consider new locks.
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Update your address Your bank, SARS, insurer, employer and medical aid.
If you live outside South Africa
Extra steps for buyers who are not South African residents.
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Bring the money in through a South African bank Send the funds through a South African bank and keep the proof, so the money can be taken out again when you sell one day.
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Ask for a "non-resident" title deed endorsement The conveyancer can note on the title deed that you are a non-resident, which helps when you later send the sale proceeds abroad.
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Plan for a bigger deposit South African banks usually lend non-residents only part of the price, often around half. Many foreign buyers pay cash.
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Plan how you will sign Transfer documents can be signed at a South African embassy or consulate, before a notary with an apostille, or by someone you appoint with a power of attorney.
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Speak to a tax adviser Rental income from the property, and a later sale, can be taxed in South Africa.