UMaStandi- Financing Property Entrepreneurs in Townships

UMaStandi- Financing Property Entrepreneurs in Townships Providing commercial mortgage finance, training & mentorship to property entrepreneurs in townships.

A financially viable property development is one where the numbers work in the real world — not only on paper.That means...
27/09/2026

A financially viable property development is one where the numbers work in the real world — not only on paper.

That means the expected income should be able to cover:

• Operating costs

• Maintenance and repairs

• Vacancies and tenant turnover

• Finance repayments

• Unexpected expenses

It also means the assumptions behind the project (rental levels, occupancy, construction costs and timelines) need to be realistic. A viable development is not simply one that can be built. It is one that can keep working once it is built.

24/09/2026

South Africa’s townships carry generations of history, enterprise, resilience and community.

But heritage is not static. Every new home, growing business and well-planned development becomes part of what the next generation inherits.

This Heritage Day, we celebrate the communities shaping the future of our township economies, and the property entrepreneurs helping to build it.

22/09/2026

A development plan can look solid on paper, until one of the assumptions changes.

Before you build, test these five:

• Construction costs: What happens if materials or labour cost more than expected?

• Rental income: Are your projected rentals realistic for the area?

• Occupancy: What if units take longer to fill?

• Operating costs: Have you allowed enough for maintenance, utilities, rates and other ongoing expenses?

• Timelines: What happens if approvals or construction take longer than planned?

Stress-testing does not mean expecting the worst. It means understanding where the pressure points are before they become problems. A smoother development journey starts with realistic assumptions.

20/09/2026

Johannesburg’s Township Economies By-Law came into effect on 17 July 2026, with an ambitious goal: creating a more structured and enabling environment for township businesses.

For us, some of the most interesting provisions are those that recognise how township economies actually work — including mixed-use business areas, better infrastructure, clearer routes to formalisation and practical support for entrepreneurs.

This is an important step, but good policy is only the beginning. Its impact will ultimately be measured by what happens on the ground: simpler processes, more viable business spaces and fewer unnecessary barriers to township investment and development.

We’ll be watching that journey closely.

49% of township businesses are operating from homes or garages. This comes as no surprise - entrepreneurs are already cr...
18/09/2026

49% of township businesses are operating from homes or garages.

This comes as no surprise - entrepreneurs are already creating businesses where they live, often because suitable commercial space simply isn’t available.

For property developers, that creates an opportunity. Well-planned mixed-use developments and smaller commercial spaces can give local businesses room to grow, while creating additional income streams and bringing useful services closer to the communities that need them.

As township economies grow, the property around them needs to grow with them. That means looking beyond housing alone and asking, “What kind of space does this community need next?”

Township property entrepreneurs are already creating rental homes, improving local property stock and investing where de...
14/09/2026

Township property entrepreneurs are already creating rental homes, improving local property stock and investing where demand exists. The problem is that the development journey is often harder than it needs to be.

Planning processes, municipal approvals, infrastructure constraints and access to reliable information can slow projects down, increase costs and discourage formal development.

That needs to change.

Township developers should have a clearer, more practical path to building compliant, sustainable properties. Processes should be easier to understand. Requirements should be transparent. Support should be accessible.

If South Africa wants more quality housing and stronger township economies, we need to make it easier for capable local developers to build.

11/09/2026

Rental income may be the engine of your development, but it is not the only number that matters.

A financially healthy property plan accounts for vacancies, operating expenses, maintenance, finance repayments and unexpected costs before construction begins. When these numbers are realistic from the start, the development is better positioned to remain sustainable when costs rise, tenants change or repairs are needed.

Before you build, test whether your projected income can support the property in both good months and difficult ones.

68% of respondents in our August poll identified access to finance as the biggest barrier to entering property developme...
08/09/2026

68% of respondents in our August poll identified access to finance as the biggest barrier to entering property development, but access is not only about whether funding exists. It is also about knowing where to look, what options are available, what your project qualifies for and how to prepare for the application process.

Part of our role is helping developers better understand the landscape, navigate the process and find the right route forward.

Because sometimes the first barrier to finance is simply knowing where to start.

The increase in Grade A office and commercial developments, such as Waterfall City in Midrand and Menlyn Maine in Pretor...
28/08/2026

The increase in Grade A office and commercial developments, such as Waterfall City in Midrand and Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, has led companies to migrate from traditional office nodes to newer, more environmentally sustainable office buildings. This leaves historic commercial nodes underutilised, creating opportunities for property entrepreneurs to convert buildings into high-density residential assets.

Read more: https://www.tuhf.co.za/reimagining-obsolete-buildings-as-high-value-assets/

26/08/2026

Mixed-use developments can bring housing, retail and essential services together in one property, but simply adding different spaces does not automatically make a project viable.

The strongest developments begin with a clear understanding of local demand, a practical tenant mix and a feasibility study that tests whether the different income streams can support the full cost of the project. Before you build, ask:

❓Does the area need these spaces?
❓Will the different tenants work well together?
❓Can the property support their access and service requirements?
❓Do the numbers still work if vacancies or costs increase?

A successful mixed-use development starts with the right mix, and a plan grounded in reality.

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Johannesburg
BRAAMFONTEIN,2170

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Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

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+27105959000

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