Cape Town plays host to the Africa Property Investment (API) Summit and PropTech Forum, bringing together innovators, real estate leaders, and investors to explore how technology is reshaping Africa’s property market.
The timing couldn’t be better. Despite South Africa’s repo rate holding steady at 7.00%, affordability challenges remain compared to pre-pandemic levels. However, the market continues to show surprising resilience. According to REMAX, sales volumes are accelerating in coastal provinces and other high-demand regions, underscoring how lifestyle-driven buyers are less sensitive to borrowing costs and more focused on long-term value.
Coastal hotspots lead the way
From KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast to the Western Cape’s Atlantic Seaboard, semigration and lifestyle appeal continue to drive growth. Recent data highlights record turnover in Cape Town’s winter season, with Plettenberg Bay, Umhlanga, and Ballito attracting both domestic and international buyers. These shifts confirm that coastal markets are fast becoming the heartbeat of South African property growth.
Why PropTech matters right now
At the API PropTech Forum, the spotlight will fall on digital-first solutions that address inefficiencies in property transactions. This is where platforms like TransBridj make a decisive impact. For sellers, realtors, and attorneys, bridging funding ensures that rates, taxes, levies, and compliance costs are covered upfront — removing the financial bottlenecks that so often delay transfers. With approvals and payouts completed within 24 hours, TransBridj accelerates deal flow and keeps coastal momentum alive.
Looking ahead
If inflation continues to ease, the SARB may deliver a modest rate cut later in 2025. That could provide welcome relief for affordability — but the coastal boom shows that buyers are already finding ways to act decisively in tight conditions.
At next week’s summit, the discussion will centre on how technology and liquidity solutions can help real estate professionals unlock opportunities, close deals faster, and keep South Africa’s property market resilient. For those in the ecosystem, the message is clear: innovation is not optional — it’s the bridge to the next phase of growth.