Citymark South Africa: National view of number of residential properties and transactions (2012-2021)

CAHF develops Citymark dashboards as part of our market intelligence on the South African housing sector. These web-based dynamic dashboards are intended to deliver local housing market intelligence to your desktop, accurately, efficiently and easily. In this first introductory dashboard, we provide a high level national view of the number and type of residential properties that were recorded on the deeds registry from 2012. The dashboard was most recently updated in July 2022 to include data to the end of December 2021.

The three tabs of the dashboard are interactive. The first tab shows the total number of residential properties on the deeds registry within a selected year (stock) nationally and the second tab shows the total number of residential properties on the deeds registry within a selected year (stock) at a provincial level. The third tab shows how many and what type of new registrations were recorded within a selected year nationally. The fourth tab illustrates what type of resale transactions were recorded within a selected year nationally and the fifth tab illustrates new and resale transactions at a provincial level.

As you explore the dashboard, keep in mind:

• New transactions refers to the first time a property is registered to a private individual on the deeds registry; this indicator serves as a proxy for new construction, and include houses that were built by a private developer as well as units that were built through government programmes and transferred to beneficiaries. Only houses where the beneficiary has received their title deed will be included in this data.
• Resale transactions refers to existing properties that are sold for a second and then subsequent times.
• Bonded transactions refer to properties that transacted with a mortgage within three months of the closing date of the property transfer.

Government-subsidised properties refers to properties that are built through government housing programmes. The identification of government-subsidised housing (RDP, BNG, Discount Benefit Scheme, and other subsidised housing for ownership) on the deeds registry is difficult because there is no explicit marker tied to the deeds records of government-subsidised properties. Therefore we apply a proxy with a set of rules – properties that would “sell” for less than R300 000 the first time, on plots smaller than 500m², etc.  This is an imprecise approach, and so the figures in this dashboard should only be taken as indicative. For more information on government-subsidised properties, visit our dedicated dashboard on GSP data.

Data source: This dashboard utilises 2021 title deeds data obtained from Lightstone Pty Ltd, South Africa’s largest retailer of deeds registry and other data. This dashboard only covers transactions which appear on the deeds registry (the formal market) – it does not include properties that are not formally registered on the deeds registry, as might be found in backyards or in informal settlements.

To read full reports on the residential property market in each of the eight metros, visit our Citymark project page. Please feel free to contact Alison Tshangana on alison@housingfinanceafrica.org with any questions.

Suggested citation: Centre for Affordable Housing Finance. Citymark South Africa Dashboard: National view of number of residential properties and transactions (2012-2021). https://housingfinanceafrica.org/documents/deeds-data-dashboard-south-africas-national-deeds-registry-data-number-of-residential-properties-and-transactions-2007-to-2017/