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Consider this before upgrading to a new home

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The thing about the property ladder is that at some point in our lives we all have reason to want to climb a rung or two higher. Sometimes, it’s because we’ve outgrown our previous dream home, or because we want to be in a better neighbourhood that’s closer to work or to schools. Sometimes it’s because our circumstances have changed, and we’re taking care of elderly parents or relatives. Sometimes, it’s just because we want a property that reflects the financial status our hard work has won.

Whatever the reason, upgrading to a bigger or better property is a decision that shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. Schalk van der Merwe, franchisee for the Rawson Properties Helderberg Group, says it’s essential to have a game plan for long-term satisfaction.

“There are a lot of factors to consider when you’re thinking about upgrading to a new home,” he says. “The most important of these is, of course, affordability. It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of a bigger, better or more luxurious property, but you have to crunch the numbers to make sure it’s also a good financial decision.”

The Rawson Property Group has an in-house finance division that can assist prospective buyers with these calculations, but van der Merwe says any bond originator should be able to offer some advice on the topic as well.

Beyond simple affordability, he also recommends talking to an experienced real estate agent to weigh up other opportunities that may be open to you as part of your upgrade.

“Consider options like renting out your current property instead of selling outright,” he suggests. “Very often, the potential rental income on that property, combined with the equity available in its bond, could provide enough capital for a deposit on your new home. That same rental income could then cover the monthly instalments on the original bond on an ongoing basis, while you service your new property’s bond with your own income and any rental money left over. If the numbers work out, this kind of setup can be an ideal opportunity to add an investment property to your portfolio – something you might not have realised was even an option.”

Accurately assessing opportunities like this requires a detailed understanding of not only property prices but also ownership costs and rental dynamics.

“Things like levies, rates and utilities, insurance and maintenance are easy to forget, but can seriously impact affordability,” he says. “A good estate agent will bring these to your attention, and include them in any feasibility studies to give you the best overall picture of what your financial situation could look like.”

Van der Merwe also urges homeowners not to dismiss the idea of renovations as an alternative way to upgrade their home.

“Buying and selling property is expensive these days,” he says. “The cost of selling a R1.5million home and buying a R2.5million home is in the region of R250k. Spending this kind of money needs some serious consideration – it’s definitely possible that adding on or renovating your existing home might be a better option.”

Here, too, van der Merwe says an experienced real estate agent can be extremely valuable as an advisor, providing great insights into opportunity costs and potential rewards.

“You need to weigh up your ability to add value with the risk of over-capitalising,” he says, “and then compare this to the cost of buying a new home. In some cases, moving on could be a far better decision, but renovations might present opportunities you hadn’t considered before.”

This kind of “bigger picture” perspective is a key part of the service that van der Merwe believes all modern real estate agents should strive to offer.

“Our role is about so much more than just selling property,” he says. “Our experience allows us to provide extremely valuable insights into all aspects of property-related opportunities. I really urge homeowners to take advantage of this, and let us become that trusted advisor that can help you make the best possible property decisions – whether that’s buying, selling, renting, renovating, or just staying in place.”

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.