The La Niña weather pattern that SA has been experiencing since December was not only responsible for the devastating floods in KZN but for higher rainfall than usual, all over SA in the past few months – and is why so many people across the country are currently struggling to combat damp in their homes.

Rising interest rates mean falling affordability – and this is currently being reflected in home buyers’ renewed interest in new, multi-unit developments where there is no transfer duty to pay, and where developers are sometimes also willing to subsidize other transaction costs such as bond registration and legal fees.

Over the years, South Africans have become accustomed to coping with occasional Stage 1 or 2 loadshedding, and have therefore only made minor concessions but, with Stage 4 and 6 now regular occurrences, we need to plan accordingly to minimise the stress and disruption to our lives.