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From category archives: Phoenix Bonds News Blog

Property Investment

What South African Banks Must Tell You in a Home Loan Quotation

Home loan quotations in South Africa must disclose more than just the interest rate. Learn what banks are legally required to communicate - from fees and insurance to the total cost of credit - under the National Credit Act.

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Buying vs. Renting: Why Owning Property Builds Your Wealth

Thinking about buying instead of renting? Discover why homeownership in South Africa is a powerful wealth-building tool, why rent is “dead money,” and the long-term benefits of investing in property.

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Why Serviceability Matters More Than Collateral in Home Loans

In South Africa, banks focus on income and affordability, not collateral, when approving home loans. Learn why serviceability is key.

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Why Most Prequalification Certificates Are Useless - And How To Get One That Matters

Not all prequalification certificates are equal. Learn why most are useless, how banks calculate affordability using Debt Service Ratio and assets, and how Phoenix Bonds gives you a strategy, not just a number.

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The Biggest Missed Opportunity in Home Loans: Future Rental Income

Future rental income is one of the most overlooked factors in home loan applications. Learn how South African banks assess it, why it must be a full property, and how Phoenix Bonds uses it to boost affordability.

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Why Foreigners Are Treated Like Second-Class Buyers in South Africa

Are foreign buyers treated unfairly in South Africa’s property market? Discover the truth about the 50% deposit rule, banking bias, and how Phoenix Bonds helps international buyers secure home loans.

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SARB’s new inflation target and its potential effects on the SA economy

On July 31, 2025, the SARB cut its key policy (repo) rate by 25 basis points to 7%, also marking a shift in its inflation target preference. Going forward, the bank will aim for the bottom of its inflation band (3%–6%), effectively pushing for a 3% target rather than the mid-point of 4.5%.

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BASEL III – What it means for banks and home loans in South Africa

The 2008 Global Financial Crisis exposed critical weaknesses in the global banking system. Banks around the world—including some of the largest—were undercapitalized, over-leveraged, and heavily reliant on short-term funding. When property markets collapsed and mortgage-backed securities went sour, these weaknesses triggered a domino effect of financial failures.

To restore confidence, ensure financial stability, and protect economies from future shocks, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision introduced Basel III, an internationally agreed set of banking regulations.

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Building Wealth Through Property: Using Rental Income to Grow Your Portfolio

When it comes to long-term wealth building, property investment remains one of the most reliable and accessible strategies—especially in South Africa where demand for rental housing continues to grow. One powerful approach to property investment is using rental income to cover your bond and related costs, a model that, if planned carefully, can generate wealth through both cash flow and capital appreciation.

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How South African Banks Statistically Assess Home Loan Risk

When most South Africans apply for a home loan, they're told the basics: improve your credit score, keep your debt-to-income ratio low, and ensure you can afford the repayments. But what happens behind the scenes once your application hits a bank’s credit risk engine is far more complex — and it's grounded in advanced statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and geographic risk profiling.

This article explores how banks in South Africa assess home loan applications through a lens of statistical risk mitigation, going beyond the surface-level criteria and into the data-driven processes used to manage exposure to default.

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