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Effective Cause – who earns estate agent commission?
Contractual Matters

Effective Cause – who earns estate agent commission?

An estate agent can be an invaluable asset in helping you secure a quick and lucrative sale, but in cases where more than one agent might be marketing your property, how do you know who you owe commission to when a sale is concluded?

January 31, 2020
What does the new Airbnb law mean for Cape Town property owners?
Legislative Guidelines

What does the new Airbnb law mean for Cape Town property owners?

Cape Town has approved new legislation that will have a significant impact on how short-term and holiday rentals will operate in the city, enabling property owners to financially benefit from the tourism industry.

January 9, 2020
New year, new home
Contractual Matters

New year, new home

The new year has just kicked off and now is the perfect time to put plans in place to buy your new dream home. If you’re wondering where to start, read on to get some advice from the experts…

January 9, 2020
6 top tips from the Snymans Team
Contractual Matters

6 top tips from the Snymans Team

For many, the start of 2020 means a new property search, or in some cases a sale. Because there is so much to think about when embarking on this exciting process, the team at Snymans Inc have put together some of their top tips to help you on your journey.

January 9, 2020
2019 Year-end wrap up: Jansen Snyman
Market News

2019 Year-end wrap up: Jansen Snyman

A very dear friend has reminded me on numerous occasions that one must not let yesterday take up too much of today. However, the end of a year does provide good perspective and an opportunity to glance back over the past year while keeping a clear focus on the future.

December 5, 2019
Attorney Trust Accounts
Legislative Guidelines

Attorney Trust Accounts

One of the fundamental components of being a legal practitioner is acting as a fiduciary of client funds which comes with a duty of care and significant responsibility.

December 5, 2019
Property Registration and Transfer Costs: Responsibilities Defined
Contractual Matters

Property Registration and Transfer Costs: Responsibilities Defined

A property transfer comes along with significant expenses, but being well informed about what registration and transfer costs you can expect to incur means that you can plan carefully and avoid any unpleasant and costly surprises.

December 5, 2019
Court ruling: Trust Monies
Legislative Guidelines

Court ruling: Trust Monies

In the recently decided 2019 case of Jurgens and another v Volschenk, the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court made it clear that the utmost care must be taken by attorneys when handling trust money or dealing with a client’s finances, and that failing to do so will have severe consequences.

October 31, 2019
Is the deeds registries system ready for a change?
Legislative Guidelines

Is the deeds registries system ready for a change?

The final step in the property transfer process is registration of the new title deeds in the Deeds Office. With the recent introduction of new legislation (the Electronic Deeds Registration System Act), we take a closer look at what this means for the registration process.

October 31, 2019
Trustees' Powers and Duties in Property Transfer
Contractual Matters

Trustees' Powers and Duties in Property Transfer

There often comes a time when a beneficiary becomes entitled to take transfer of a property that is registered in the name of a trust. When this happens, there are a few options available to the trust in order to put this into effect.

October 31, 2019
The Electronic Deeds Registration Act
Legislative Guidelines

The Electronic Deeds Registration Act

The Electronic Deeds Registration System Act 2019 and the Property Practitioners Act of 2019 (repealing the Estate Agencies Affairs Act 112 of 1976) were signed into law by his Excellency the State President on 2 October 2019.

October 3, 2019
Money laundering and the Financial Intelligence Centre Act
Legislative Guidelines

Money laundering and the Financial Intelligence Centre Act

The sale of a property and the transfer of ownership along with the transfer of significant funds opens itself up to fraudulent activity which is why it is important to familiarise yourself with the risks surrounding money laundering and how the Financial Intelligence Centre Act aims to protect citizens.

September 18, 2019
Buying a property with an existing tenant
Contractual Matters

Buying a property with an existing tenant

When purchasing a property with a tenant already in place, certain aspects should always be considered before the offer to purchase is signed.

September 18, 2019
Appointing multiple executors of a deceased estate
Contractual Matters

Appointing multiple executors of a deceased estate

The decision of who should be appointed as the executor of an estate can be made by the testator. While it is common for a single person to be appointed, it is also possible for a testator to appoint more than one person to share this role which can bring with it certain added complications.

September 18, 2019
The long lease
Contractual Matters

The long lease

There has been a great deal of talk about 99-year leases which seems to have many, including Parliament, in a frenzy. What does a 99-lease entail? What happens at the end of the lease? Can your children inherit this piece of land? Below we answer some of the key concerns when it comes to a long lease.

August 27, 2019