Homenet's Di Allan says that with levies in most mid-range complexes of flats and townhouses now starting at around R650 and going up to R1000 a month, young buyers in particular are rather opting for small freehold homes, where they can expect to pay local authority tax and service charges of between R250 and R350 a month.

"And we expect this trend to accelerate as interest rates rise and the pressure on household budgets mounts," she notes.

"In addition, many bodies corporate have rules that mean residents cannot own pets, and some even have rules now about children's play times. These rules have often been put in place with the best intentions of preventing disagreements between people living in close proximity to one another, but they are hard for many families to live by, and are driving such buyers to also look at freehold homes."

Meanwhile, Allan says, the PE market generally is reviving after the traditional winter slow-down and the more recent floods.

"We had to cancel some showhouses in the heavy rain earlier this month, but things are back to normal now and we are expecting the market to pick up nicely as spring approaches and the confirmation of the R1.1-million Coega steel mill deal filters through to residential property."

Sellers are also starting to realise, she says, that while overpriced properties sit on the market for extended periods, realistically priced homes will sell quickly because there is demand.