Property Guides
Step-by-step guides to buying property, bonds, and understanding the deeds system.
How to Get a Copy of Your Title Deed in South Africa
You can order a copy of any South African title deed online, without visiting a Deeds Office. Here is exactly how the two-step process works and what it costs.
guidesBuying Property in South Africa: A Step-by-Step Guide
Buying a home in South Africa is a structured legal process with several moving parts. This guide walks through it step by step — from budget to the day the property registers in your name.
GuidesHow to Search for a Property by Erf Number
If you have a property's erf number, you can pull its owner, title deed and transfer history online — no street address and no Deeds Office visit needed.
guidesHow to Get a Copy of an SG Diagram in South Africa
A practical, step-by-step guide to getting an SG diagram copy for any South African property — no SG number needed. Search for free, then download the survey PDFs.
guidesHow to Find Your Erf's SG Diagram by Erf Number
A practical guide to locating your property's Surveyor General diagram using the erf number, town and portion, or simply by searching the address on a map.
GuidesHow to Check a Property's Transfer History
How many times has a property sold, and when? A property's transfer history is in the deeds record. Here is how to pull it online for any SA property.
GuidesSectional Title vs Freehold Property — Comparison Guide
Sectional title and freehold are the two main ways to own residential property in South Africa. Here is how they differ and which suits which buyer.
GuidesHow to Check the Bond Registered on a Property
Want to know if a property has a bond, who holds it and how much it secures? It is part of the public deeds record. Here is how to check it online.
guidesDo I Need an SG Diagram to Build, Subdivide or Sell?
Building, subdividing or selling? Here is a plain-English guide to when you actually need an SG diagram in South Africa, and when the existing survey already covers you.
GuidesHow Conveyancing Works in South Africa
Conveyancing is the specialised legal work of transferring property ownership in South Africa. Here is what conveyancers do and how the engagement works.
GuidesUnderstanding Zoning and Land Use in South Africa
Zoning controls what you can legally build or do on a property. Here is what the zoning categories mean and how to check yours.
GuidesHow Municipal Rates Are Calculated in South Africa
Municipal rates are calculated from your property's municipal valuation multiplied by the municipality's tariff. Here is how it works in practice.
guidesWhat Is a Land Surveyor and When Do You Need One?
A professional land surveyor defines exactly where a property's boundaries lie. Here is what they do, when you genuinely need to hire one — and when you only need a copy of the existing diagram.
guidesWhat Is a Title Deed? A Plain-English Guide for SA Property Owners
A title deed records who owns a property and on what terms — not just a name on a page. Here is what it is, how to read one, and the misconceptions to ignore.
guidesChecking a Property's Boundaries Before You Buy
A listing won't tell you where the boundaries really run. Here is how to check a property's boundaries, extent and servitudes before you make an offer — and where to get the diagram.
guidesWhat Is a Property Bond? A Plain-English Guide for SA Buyers
A bond is not your home loan — it is the security the bank registers over the property for that loan. Here is what that means, in plain English.
guidesThe Property Transfer Process in South Africa, Step by Step
From an accepted offer to your name on the deed, a property transfer runs through several attorneys and the Deeds Office. Here is the whole process, step by step.