Warm seasonal wishes on the back of a challenging year

The Ennik Estates team joins me in wishing the broad South African residential property sector – and, not least, our own clients and associates – well over the year-end holiday season.

There is no question that 2016 has been one of the home sector’s most challenging post-democracy years since the global property meltdown of 2008/9.

The market in Gauteng has survived that crisis. And there is no doubt that it will weather the current turmoil as the nation comes to grips with the unprecedented problem of State capture and the seemingly rampant corruption that has enveloped the country and played havoc with the national psyche.

The fact that, in spite of this adverse climate, South Africa managed to avoid a junk status downgrade by global rating agencies at year-end is a beacon of light for the New Year – even though the threat remains.

Person(s) of the Year

It, therefore, comes as no surprise that the SA Treasury and the Constitutional Court have topped the 2016 Annual Person of the Year Awards.

The residential property sector as a whole should applaud Pravin Gordhan, Mcebisi Jonas and their team for winning the top award, as well as Mogoeng Mogoeng, Dikgang Moseneke, and their colleagues at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, who were the runners-up.

Without the sentiment-enhancing performance and dedication of these two key institutions, the residential property sector may not have maintained its relatively even keel in 2016.

Business as usual                               

While sentiment and stability are clearly important factors, the reality is that the home market is, and always has been, driven by the simple fact that everybody needs a roof over their head – irrespective of whether it is owned or rented.

The future will be no different, in spite of an economic, social and political landscape that remains pretty rugged and daunting.

That is why it will be business as usual at Rosebank-based Ennik Estates during this year-end holiday season. Against the background of a successful year of service to home sellers and buyers, we are currently recruiting more top-pedigree agents to join our team of marketing professionals as we move into 2017.

Like those who have come before them, they will be best-practice proficient in the process of selling upper end homes on sole mandate – which is, and has always been, the cornerstone of the success of Christie’s International-affiliated Ennik Estates since its inception.