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According to sales figures at the local Chas Everitt International office, sales in the three months equalled those in the first eight months of 2009.
Newly-appointed sales manager Charlotte Vermaak, says they have had record months for the office and that the momentum was sustained in January and is expected to carry through well into 2010, she says.
Buyer sentiment is underpinned by better economic prospects in general and better job prospects in Port Elizabeth in particular. Vermaak points out that local job opportunities have improved to the extent that employees at the local motor manufacturing plants are again working overtime.
“The vehicle manufacturing industry plays an important role in the local economy and plans to gear up production for the export market in 2010 have boosted confidence. Better job prospects translate to better affordability in the housing market and affordability was further underpinned by lower interest rates.
“Most current buyers are indeed salaried workers at vehicle manufacturing plants or at the many support industries.”
Home prices are attractive at the moment, Vermaak says. “Prices are on par with those seen in 2006. However, we expect that growing demand will see prices rise towards the second quarter of the new year.”
Prices of small apartments in less favoured suburbs currently start at around the R230 000 mark but the biggest demand is for small homes in the price range of between R685 000 and R725 000. Homes and sectional title units in this price range in the suburb Lorraine are currently hot sellers.
Vermaak, who joined the agency at the beginning of September, has extensive experience in banking with specific reference to home loans. She spent 15 years at Standard Bank and was the regional manager, Eastern Cape of mortgage originator Betterbond before joining the Chas Everitt group.
Issued by Chas Everitt International
For further information call
Charlotte Vermaak on
041 396 9800 or visit
www.everitt-
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
