Property values my parents taught me

Our heritage - the way we grow up and the homes that we live in - often influence the property decisions we make in our futures. Things we loved about our childhood and family homes will probably be carried through into our own homes and families one day, while those we did not enjoy will be avoided. We asked four property professionals how their homes and ideas about property have been influenced by their heritage and how they honour their roots in their adult lives.

BY BONNY FOURIE

bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za

Romona Reddy hopes to inherit this wagon wheel dining set.

ROMONA REDDY

PROPERTY CONSULTANT AT JAWITZ PROPERTIES ESHOWE, KZN

What lessons have you learned about property from your parents/ grandparents? One thing I have learned from my parents’ journey is that it’s important to take risks in life, especially when it comes to property investments. They did not have much when they started out over 35 years ago and initially rented a small one-bedroom house before eventually buying their first property which was nothing fancy.

They sold this a few years later and purchased a house from the municipality. They worked hard to renovate the property and with three children in a two-bedroom house, things were rather tight but they extended and provided us with a comfortably-sized home. A few years later, they purchased a plot, sold their car and used the funds to build their first big dream home. They now own seven properties in Eshowe.

Through this I have learned to not just sit and wait to inherit property. If you have the means to start now, to work hard, and to take risks, then don’t wait to reap the rewards of your parents’ hard work.

My parents also taught me that it is important that our family always has a roof over our heads, regardless of how big, small, plain or fancy the property is.

How has your family home influenced the type of property you live in or want to live in? My parents always tried to keep up to date with the latest trends, ensured their home was comfortable for their children and, very importantly, it was always wellmaintained. They also chose properties with a granny cottage, which they rented out most of the time for extra income. This has influenced me to purchase property that would be a good investment long-term.

Through that, and being an estate agent, I bought my first home that consisted of a main house with two cottages on it. It is spacious, like the one my parents built, modern and well-secured, but I had to have a pool because we never had one growing up.

We always said as kids that’s the first thing we would look at when purchasing our own properties. I have also built a smaller home that I lease out, and have purchased and re-sold a few small affordable properties.

These are definitely traits I picked up from my parents over the years.

Have you inherited anything from your family home? My mom bought a unique solid wood dining room set which has legs made of wagon wheels. It is absolutely beautiful with a gorgeous finish.

She still has it and it’s the one thing I have always loved in our family home. She has always promised that it will be my wedding present because I love it so much. I will remind her again when I do get married.

RUZIA FRY

PROPERTY PROFESSIONAL FOR LEW GEFFEN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY IN RETREAT, STEENBERG & HEATHFIELD

What lessons have you learned about property from your parents/ grandparents?

Neither my parents nor grandparents could afford to purchase property, unfortunately, but they always encouraged us to study hard and go the extra mile to achieve something in life – and to hopefully purchase our own homes one day.

The greatest lesson I learnt from them was that home is all about family and that regardless of how grand or modest your home, if your family was around you, that’s all that matters. How has your family home influenced the type of property you live in or want to live in?

We grew up in a very modest home, and there was never any money to spare, but my parents never told us when they didn’t have any. They would always make a plan and we always had food on the table.

I come from a very big family and my grandparents’ house was crowded as they had their kids and grandchildren living with them. But it was always a happy home, and growing up we had fun, and that is what is still most important now – a happy home.

Today, I’m proud to be a property professional in the area where I grew up and to have realised my biggest dream – I bought my own home three years ago. It also means I am able to encourage my own kids by giving them the best, setting an example and nurturing them to the best of my ability.

My parents’ goal was to make the property as comfortable as possible. Also, family is a big thing, so there had to be enough space to accommodate relatives. And there had to be a cottage that could be let for extra income. My family believed owning your own home was a way of providing security so, ideally, you would be able to own property by the time you married or started a family. And they would, if possible, contribute towards your deposit.

BRIAN SANGO

PARTNER/HEAD OF OPERATIONS AT PROPERTY MADE EASY

What lessons have you learned about property from your parents/ grandparents? One key lesson I learnt from my parents growing up in Zimbabwe was that your property is your home and safe haven. Therefore, making one’s property as comfortable and welcoming as can be has always been the goal.

Also, as with any other African household, family is a big thing for us, so having enough space to be able to accommodate relatives has always been essential.

And, aside from room for the extended family, having a cottage that we could rent out to tenants was always a need. This was a good way of generating income which helped us get by. Our tenants became part of the family and joined us often for dinner or just weekend barbeques as we always strove to make it a home for all.

The vital lessons my parents taught me have helped me not only shape a successful career in real estate but also build an income-generating property portfolio.

How has your family home/the home you grew up in influenced the type of property you live in or want to live in? My father was a civil engineer, so our family home was built from scratch from building plans he designed and drew up. Thanks to this, we have always been a family that creates spaces we feel at home in.

In my rental property, I too have made adjustments to ensure that it is close to perfection for me. Whether it’s a lick of paint or just a re-arrangement of cabinets, making a space mine is such a fulfilling achievement.

CHANTAL BOTES

PROPERTY PROFESSIONAL FOR LEW GEFFEN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALITY IN THE WINELANDS, WESTERN CAPE

What lessons have you learned about property from your parents/ grandparents? I grew up in a traditionally Afrikaans home and my grandparents and parents believed it was important for a young person to become independent and move into their own home as soon as possible. They believed owning your own property was a way of providing security so, ideally, you would be in a position to own a home by the time you got married or started a family.

Because of this strong belief, parents and grandparents would, if possible, contribute towards the deposit in order to help you on your way.

How has your family home influenced the type of property you live in or want to live in? When we were growing up, our parents and grandparents regularly invited friends and extended family over and there were always wonderful meals prepared for the occasion. So, it was important that a house had a large, well-equipped kitchen with space for a table and chairs because it was the heart of the home where everyone gathered, whether for Sunday lunch or tea and biscuits.

A swimming pool was also a big drawcard because in summer most of the entertaining would take place around the pool.

My family home reflected our history with photographs and handed-down, precious items. Today, my home is decorated much the same way , and includes a copper vase I inherited.

Letter from the editor

I WAS so heartened this week by the story of a KZN couple who were refused a home loan by a bank for a house in the suburbs, but instead of giving up they decided to build their own mansion in the township, Madadeni, where they lived.

It took them two years, but now they have a double-storey home that is worthy of the cover of a magazine.

I love how we as South Africans are thinking out of the box. Not everything is going to sit right, or be the best plan of action, but we are being innovative and stretching the boundaries – and we are taking control of what the future can look like.

We see it with property professionals taking to TikTok to sell properties and we see it with families considering life in a caravan estate.

While economists and trend analysts may be able to help us chart the way forward, ultimately what we do with this moment in time and how we reimagine property and housing is very much in our hands.

It is an exciting time even if it may appear dark and gloomy.

Indeed, looking globally, it is clear markets have been hard hit by the pandemic and that there have been devastating social and economic consequences.

It has also highlighted deep and longstanding fault lines in housing throughout the world.

In South Africa, and globally, we have seen the rise of homelessness, of non-affordable homes languishing on the market and of affordability issues for the lower and middle class.

It is in dark times that creative thinking comes to the fore.

What will we choose to do? Perhaps like the KZN couple who built their own mansion, we can roll up our sleeves and create something amazing during this time.

What do you think?

Warm regards Vivian Warby vivian.warby@inl.co.za

Inheriting a home can be a wonderful financial boost but the decision to keep or sell it requires careful consideration.

Inheriting a home t HE FAMILY home often offers a strong emotional connection to your past and can evoke a number of sentiments when it comes to selling or inheriting this piece of personal history. Property owners selling their much-loved homes often struggle to separate emotion from the transaction but when you have been bequeathed the home of a late parent or family member the feelings can be more powerful. Add to this the financial implications and beneficiaries could find themselves unsure what to do. The death of a loved one is difficult and dealing with the the only person with a claim to the asset, Rawson says. “There may be outstanding bond payments, unpaid rates or utilities, or even a loan secured using the property as collateral, and those debts will need to be settled, either by the estate or by the beneficiary, before transfer takes place.” The party responsible for settling any property-related debts may depend on the specifics detailed in the will but he recommends asking for all the relevant financials from the estate’s executor, regardless. “It’s also important to check that the details on the title deed are correct as errors here can lead to GET A HOME INSPECTION In addition to a valuation, Rawson strongly recommends beneficiaries have a home inspection performed, as serious maintenance issues might affect the viability of both keeping and selling an inherited home. “A lot of older family homes require a fair amount of repair or renovation to bring them up to modern standards, which can be more of a financial burden than beneficiaries are willing to bear.” FAMILY WEALTH Breytenbach says inheriting a property is a “huge boost” to an individual or family’s private wealth. with your estate agent and have an honest conversation about what you hope to get from the property. “Sometimes, sentimental value is more important than profit. Other times, a clean break is just easier from an emotional and financial point of view.” COSTS OF KEEPING THE HOME Conveyancing fees and transfer duties are typically paid by the estate, not the beneficiary, so the only real cost – other than settling debt and doing maintenance and improvements – is if capital gains tax applies, Rawson says. Luckily, under South African tax intricacies of inheritance while delays and complications with the In terms of wealth creation, it is an law, this tax applies only when the grieving is not easy, says Bill transfer.” opportunity to establish a financial property is sold by the beneficiary, Rawson, chair of the Rawson future that has long-term benefits and is calculated based on the Being bequeathed Property group. However, BOOK A VALUATION and offers a degree of security and difference between the property’s a property is a understanding your options and obligations can make the process Once you are aware of any liabilities relating to the property and have financial protection. “Property in South Africa has present-day value and its value on the day it was inherited. wonderful push much simpler. Jawitz Properties’s Mariette confirmed that the title deed is in order, Rawson says your next step a long history of appreciating in value, so keeping the asset for the It helps to know beforehand that you will be inheriting property. towards wealth but there are plenty Breytenbach agrees and says inheriting fixed property brings with it several pros and cons to consider. should be to book a professional property valuation and comparative market analysis. medium to long term will act as a wealth creator. “In addition, letting an inherited The intricacies of bequeathing or inheriting fixed property are complicated and there are many of potential legal CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL “This is important for a few reasons. The most obvious is, in the property will provide more passive income and the increase in the value factors to take into account. Breytenbach, therefore ,suggests complications when deciding IMPLICATIONS When inheriting a property there are financial considerations to event that you decide to sell, you need to know where to position the property on the market. of the property adds monetary value to grow the owner’s asset portfolio.” She says additional tax that property owners discuss the bequest of a property with the potential beneficiary before they whether to keep it, take into account. There might be outstanding debts on the property “The value of an inherited property on the day the title passes deductions can also be applied if the property is used for the generation find out about it at the reading of will. let it or sell and beneficiaries need to think about the estate taxes, she says. to the beneficiary also serves as its base cost for capital gains tax of income. This will allow them the time to carefully consider the various “Once the property is officially purposes, so it’s vital that a figure is Weigh up your options expenses and legalities. BY BONNY FOURIE bronwyn.fourie@inl.co.za transferred to the beneficiary, other expenses related to maintenance, possible renovations and monthly officially recorded.” For beneficiaries who want to keep the inherited property, a Once all the necessary steps have been taken to evaluate the financial implications of owning the property, “Nonetheless, inheriting a legacy property is an opportunity for wealth creation and a way in which rates and taxes need to be taken into valuation is also important because Rawson says beneficiaries need to to solidify wealth across generations, account.” it is a way to ensure adequate home decide whether to move in, sell or while retaining and celebrating The legatee also needs to insurance and to assess potential find tenants. history, culture and family ties,” understand that they may not be rental returns. “If you’re in any doubt, sit down Breytenbach says.