Is timing everything?

In this issue Lightstone dives into nearly a decade of sales data to reveal the best months for listing a home - and why Cape Town continues to outperform its counterparts. In Johannesburg, sales volumes are recovering, but homes are spending longer on the market, with standout suburbs like Discovery bucking the trend. Finally, the latest House Price Index shows a modest national increase with Gauteng and KZN slowly gaining ground.

When is the best time to sell residential property?

When is the right time to list a property for the best chance of a quick sale at a good price? In this article Lightstone analyses residential sales data from 2015 to 2024 to identify the months where homes sell fastest and closest to asking price. Lightstone also explores regional and city-level trends, including why Cape Town continues to outperform Johannesburg — and how outcomes can vary significantly even between neighbouring suburbs.

Joburg’s biggest and quickest sellers

Johannesburg’s residential property market has seen fluctuating sales volumes, steady average prices, and longer selling times over the past six years. While 2024 sales volumes rose from a 2023 low, average prices dipped slightly. Homes are spending more time on the market overall, with Discovery in Roodepoort topping the suburb list for fastest sales.

Lightstone’s latest House Price Index

Lightstone’s latest Property Index shows national house price inflation is up slightly at 2.4% year-on-year. While the Western Cape still outpaces Gauteng and KZN, its growth has flattened and even dipped slightly—unlike Gauteng and KZN, which are slowly climbing from lower bases. Among property segments, High-Value homes rose to 2.4%, Low-Value slowed to 7.7%, and both Mid-Value and Luxury saw slight monthly declines, sitting at 2.4% and 2.39%, respectively.

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