Hannah Explains Bonds

03/06/2026

🏠 BUY-TO-LET FACT

When assessing a buy-to-let home loan, banks don't just look at your salary. They may also consider a portion of the future rental income the property is expected to generate.

Example:

Property purchase price: R2,000,000
Expected rental income: R18,000 per month

Depending on the bank, they may use 70% to 80% of that rental income in their affordability assessment.

That means between R12,600 and R14,400 per month could be added to your affordability calculation.

This is one of the reasons investors can sometimes qualify for more than owner-occupiers expect.

Banks will typically assess:
✔️ Your income and expenses
✔️ The expected rental income
✔️ Your investment experience
✔️ Existing rental properties in your portfolio
✔️ The overall strength of the deal

The key is making sure the application is structured correctly and that the rental income can be properly motivated to the bank.

📲 Thinking about buying an investment property? Chat to Phoenix Bonds before you sign the offer to purchase ✨

03/06/2026

28/05/2026

The residential property market continues to show resilience, even while consumers remain under pressure. Retail activity is holding up, vehicle sales are improving, and building activity in key areas is starting to recover too.

At the same time, inflation has crept up again. South Africa’s annual consumer inflation rose sharply to 4.0% in April, up from 3.1% in March, largely driven by fuel price increases and higher global energy costs. That will certainly put pressure on the SARB to at least consider a rate hike… but the broader economic picture is still far more balanced than many headlines suggest.

Regardless of the rate announcement this afternoon, make sure you’re looking at the full picture, not just a single headline.

27/05/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions in property finance is that your bank is automatically giving you the best possible bond rate 👀

The reality? Banks only offer their own product, and there’s no legal requirement for them to show you competing offers from other banks.

A difference of just 1% on your interest rate can cost you hundreds of thousands of rand over the life of your home loan.

That’s why proper structuring, multi-bank submissions, and aggressive rate negotiations matter so much.

Interesting article from REI featuring some of my thoughts on this exact issue:
https://www.rei.co.za/blog-posts/youre-not-getting-the-best-bond-rate-and-its-legal

26/05/2026

Following on from my reel yesterday… just wanted to share some interesting data on selected provinces from the latest Property Price Index graph.

The Western Cape continues to lead in property price growth, driven by semigration and strong demand. Gauteng, though, remains one of the country’s busiest property markets with strong transaction volumes and comparatively better value for buyers.

Different provinces. Different trends. Same underlying reality: property remains one of the most important long-term wealth drivers in South Africa.

More insights in our latest Property Economy article:
https://www.phoenixbonds.finance/Insights/entryid/2136/the-property-economy-may-2026-what-the-latest-economic-data-means-for-your-home-loan

25/05/2026

Everyone talks about semigration to the Western Cape… but Gauteng is still where the volume is.

Right now, Gauteng and the Western Cape are driving South Africa’s property market activity. Lower interest rates, stronger lending conditions, and renewed buyer confidence are keeping both regions incredibly active.

The question isn’t which province is winning. It’s whether you’re positioned to take advantage of the market you’re in.

Read the full Property Economy May 2026 update here:
https://www.phoenixbonds.finance/Insights/entryid/2136/the-property-economy-may-2026-what-the-latest-economic-data-means-for-your-home-loan

24/05/2026

Most self-employed home loan applications don’t fail because the buyer can’t afford the property. They fail because the application was structured incorrectly from the beginning.

Once financials, accountant letters, income structures, and affordability have been submitted to the banks, it becomes incredibly difficult to change the narrative without raising concerns from credit analysts.

This is why self-employed applications require strategy before submission, not after.

In our latest article, we unpack:
• why self-employed applications get stuck in endless bank queries,
• how alignment between your financials and bank statements matters,
• why contractors and freelancers are often classified incorrectly,
• and how proper structuring can dramatically improve approval outcomes.

Read more here:
https://www.phoenixbonds.finance/Insights/entryid/2139/why-self-employed-home-loan-applications-are-so-difficult-to-get-right

23/05/2026

Following on from my latest reel 🎬

Higher interest rates = more borrowers struggling = more bank write-offs.

Lower rates = the reverse.

The data shows we're now in that reversal. 📈➡️📉

For home buyers, that's great news - banks are under less strain, lending confidence is returning, and this could be one of the better windows to apply for a bond in years. 🏡

22/05/2026

Banks are starting to report improving impairment ratios… which basically means fewer clients are falling behind on repayments.

And when that happens? Lending appetite improves. Banks become more comfortable taking on risk, approvals tend to open up, and credit policies can become a little less restrictive.

We’re already seeing stronger competition between banks again 👀

If you’ve been sitting on the fence waiting for the “right time” to apply for a home loan, the market may be shifting more in buyers’ favour than you think.

We unpack this in our latest Property Economy Blog, with insights from Dr Roelof Botha:
https://www.phoenixbonds.finance/Insights/entryid/2136/the-property-economy-may-2026-what-the-latest-economic-data-means-for-your-home-loan

20/05/2026

Great sesh 💪🏻