No returns in time lost
Cacisa Mgudlwa is a property investor, town and regional planner, and PropertyTalk_Cacisa channel founder
You studied to be a town and regional planner. What drew you to this?
I love that I help to shape the way towns and cities develop, and change and improve the socioeconomic environment of our communities. I also like that areas with spatial apartheid history can be revitalised through regeneration initiatives.
Nothing is more rewarding than bringing life back into a decaying area of a city and discovering development opportunities that could transform the lives of communities.
Tell me about PropertyTalk_Cacisal.
I saw a gap in the market as many people do not know the fundamental principles of buying, selling and investing in property. I also saw that people do not understand the importance of town planning as a profession and the fundamental role it plays in the real estate environment.
PropertyTalk_Cacisa is about real estate investment and town planning advice. I chat to experts from different fields who provide advice, insight, solutions and offerings to home buyers and property investors.
How does your training as a regional and town planner affect your experience as a property investor?
I understand the importance of town planning in real estate and the built environment. Town planning is a critical element that many property investors should pay attention to when planning to maximise the good-value opportunity a property presents.
For example, zoning laws represent landuse rights of a property and regulate how the property should be used, whether it is for residential or commercial use. Zoning has a significant effect on the value of a property.
A property that is zoned commercial has more value than a residential-use property. Commercially zoned properties are generally more expensive than their residential counterparts because they offer a lot more potential value in the short and long term. So property investors need to familiarise themselves with town planning regulations and zoning laws.
What do you think makes you good at what you do?
I am passionate about people’s development and empowering young people. Property investment is the instrument I use to reach out to young people through education on building wealth early in life. My conversations are geared towards simplifying the process and providing information that is not easily accessible in the public domain.
What did you want to be as a child?
A chartered accountant (CA). I was intrigued with figures and numbers, and back in the day, being a doctor or CA was our parents’ dream.
What mistake at work has taught you an important lesson?
Procrastination is the enemy of progress. I lost a very important property deal because I waited until the last moment to submit a proposal for a possible funding opportunity.
I learnt that time lost never returns. Dilatory work does not benefit anyone. In fact, it could harm everyone.
If something needs to be done, it is best to act quickly.
What is your go-to advice for young people at the start of their careers?
It starts with you. You need to have a vision, which is a blueprint of where you want to see yourself, and it serves as a marker for you to know when you have accomplished your purpose.
Write the vision down and make it plain and clear.