June sales buck the property trend

DESPITE the colder months traditionally being a slower period in the property market, RE/MAX of Southern Africa posted more than R1.5 billion worth of sales – the second highest turnover in the history of the company.

June was also the third highest month of registered sales in the company’s history, with just under R1.4bn registered, says Adrian Goslett, chief executive of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.

“Since 2004, sales have usually declined during winter, but this year sales increased and bucked the trend. Although the South African property market hasn’t recovered or returned to anywhere close to the levels of a few years ago, our figures have definitely improved and sales are continually increasing,” he says.

“RE/MAX has fewer estate agents than before but we are doing more business. The agents have weathered the tough economic times, to be more resilient and better equipped to handle current market conditions.”

Goslett says that although Gauteng had the highest percentage of sales in the country, other regions also performed remarkably well. The branches in KwaZulu- Natal and the Western Cape sold more than R100 million each in June.

“Data from the Deeds Office shows that during the first five months of 2013, the total number of property transactions decreased by around 0.52 percent compared to the same period last year,” says Goslett.