News Research Residential

Single owner homebuyers on the rise in SA – especially in townships

Daveyton township in Ekurhuleni.

The number of homeowners preferring to buy houses on their own, rather than in partnership with others or through a company or trust, has been on the rise since 2013, according to data from Lightstone.

While joint homeownerships have decreased over the past ten or so years, more non-natural buyers, such as a company, trust or an organisation, have purchased houses in the more expensive property price bands.

Non-natural buyers and transactions involving two buyers accounted for around 60% of deals in the ‘super luxury’ category,” notes Hayley Ivins-Downes, Managing Executive Real Estate at Lightstone. “While in the township and affordable price bands, it’s the other way around with single ownership leading the way at around 65% – 68%.”

The difference in ownership type per price bands (2013 – 2024)

Interestingly, the purchase price has always been higher where non-natural buyers have been involved and mostly two-owner transactions were higher than one-owner deals.

Average purchase price comparisons