The banks’ valuations often reflect the way in which their client is rated by their criteria rather than the true market value of the property. This can have many negative implications for both buyers and sellers...

As a mixed use and mixed income development spanning over 20 years, the multi-billion rand Cornubia project, is one of the province's and ethekwini's big priority projects, which is set to alter the skyline of the city and Umhlanga in the future. 

Work is well under way on the site of the new mixed-use development, Beacon Rock, situated in a prime location at the entrance to uMhlanga village near Durban on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast

The big banks may well have backed out of seemingly high-risk inner-city property markets but alternative lenders, private equity funds and institutions are starting to pick up the slack

US-backed private equity fund International Housing Solutions, which entered SA’s affordable housing market in 2008, recently breached the R1bn lending mark.

A public-private partnership between eThekwini municipality and Moreland Development could create another R10bn commercial and residential centre in Umhlanga, north of Durban.