“You aren’t buying a house, you’re buying a lifestyle.” (Anon)
Property
“Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides.” (William Shakespeare, in King Lear)
“I charge you by the law.” (William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice)
It’s easy to lose sight of deadlines in all the excitement of a home sale, but the consequences of letting a deadline expire can be dire.
As more and more couples elect to live together as life partners without formally marrying, our judicial system is increasingly faced with bitter disputes in the aftermath of failed relationships.
Sellers need to be really careful when choosing a conveyancer to look after their property transfer. We discuss the risks in the context of the dishonest attorney who absconded with R4.25m – leaving buyer and seller to fight it out over who would take the hit.
“Buyer’s remorse” is a well-known phenomenon that’s led many a property buyer to cast around desperately for a means, any means, to escape the sale they’ve just tied themselves into. Be careful here – cancelling a sale without sound legal grounds will be a very costly mistake.
A body corporate’s right and duty to collect levies from section owners, and to pursue those who fall into arrears, can be an onerous one.
Be certain that any estate agent you employ is both competent and trustworthy. You’re entrusting them with a major asset and, as we discuss in this article, not every “agent” out there is necessarily genuine. As for the fakes, their incompetence is often matched only by their dishonesty.
The couple’s court victory highlights both the importance of lenders producing accurate documentation, and the right of borrowers to request clear details before agreeing to settle any claims made against them.