Buying Property Online

Can I look for properties outside my own area or province?

The beauty of the Internet is that it enables you to "view" properties anywhere without leaving your chair, so whether you're moving across town or across country, the Web is a good place to start your home search.  Property24, for example, has almost 27 000 properties listed, and covers most major SA cities and towns Chas Everitt national has its own website at www.ChasEveritt.co.za and then of course there is ours.

Will I be able to see what the property looks like?
Many of the properties listed on the websites have at least one photograph attached that can be expanded to help you get a better idea of what the property looks like.  Agents are now also starting to make use of the virtual tour facility to give prospective buyers 360-degree views of various parts of the property.

What about home finance?  Can I get a loan on the Internet?

Most major leaders and bond originators now have Web sites where you can find information about the home loan products, interest rates and services they offer - and even apply online for a loan. 

But what if I don't know how much I can afford to borrow?
The automatic calculators on the most of the web sites will enable you to work out not only monthly loan repayments, but the gross salary needed to qualify for the loan you envisage, or the additional amount you would have to pay monthly in order to shorten your loan repayment period and save on interest.  You can also calculate potential transfer and bond costs, and access your own credit record