“The only person who sticks closer to you in adversity than a friend is a creditor.” (Unknown) You’ve done everything you can to leave your loved ones financially secure after
“A bad neighbour is a misfortune, as much as a good one is a great blessing.” (Hesiod, 700 BCE) It seems that every community has at least one nightmare neighbour
“Don’t wait to buy land, buy land and wait.” (Will Rogers) Summer’s a great time to look for property. With the year winding down and the holiday season upon us,
Your will could be the most important document you ever sign. A recent court fight over a poorly-drafted joint will is a stark reminder to make sure that every word in it is correct. In a worst-case scenario, bad drafting will not only subject your loved ones to bitterly-contested litigation but can also put your last wishes at risk of not being honoured at all. All perhaps for the want of just one word. We’ll explain what went wrong in the case in question and show you how to avoid the destructive family fallouts that characterise so many inheritance disputes.
What happens if a buyer can’t get a mortgage bond as specified in the sale agreement but still wants to continue with the sale on a cash basis? In an ideal world, the buyer waives the bond clause, the sale survives, and both parties reap the rewards. But there are also risks involved if the process isn’t handled correctly. As seen in a recent case where a buyer wanted his R1m deposit back after a sale collapsed. The seller said the buyer had waived his rights, while the buyer argued that the sale was as dead as a Monty Python parrot after the bond clause deadline had expired. Let’s see what happened in court …
It’s an exciting time, buying a property. But don’t let your guard down – cybercriminals love the lucrative pickings on offer from property transactions, and they never sleep! We’ll discuss the recent Supreme Court of Appeal case of a widow who, in trying to pay over the purchase price of a house, lost her R5.5m when her email system was hacked and she fell victim to a textbook email scam. Why did the SCA rule against her? How should she have protected herself? We’ll address those questions and share 5 steps you should take immediately to avoid falling into the same trap.