Presentation: Residential property markets in Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay Metros

Prepared for the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), this presentation uses 2017 data from the South African deeds registry to analyse the residential property markets in two major cities in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa: East London (Buffalo City Metro Municipality) and Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality). The presentation explores how municipalities can use the policy, legal and regulatory tools available to them to promote spatial integration and increase access to affordable housing for low income households. How are first-time home owners accessing housing? Which banks are lending in which market segments? How are different property types (free-standing houses, sectional title, and private estates) spread spatially over the city? How can banks and municipalities work together to promote lending to low income households and develop investment-grade neighborhoods? Through exploration of these questions, the presentation addresses the role of municipalities in promoting mortgage lending and enabling government housing beneficiaries to realise the full asset value of their house.