Easy way for South Africans to pay less when buying a home

Property experts explained that South African homebuyers can often negotiate a lower price, and that certain strategies increase their chances of securing a discount.

While the asking price of a property may seem fixed, agents from the Seeff Property Group said it is often a starting point for negotiation, and buyers often seek a discount.

Negotiating a discount is part of most property transactions, and the worst that can happen is that the seller says “no”.

According to Seeff’s agents, there are several factors buyers should consider if they hope to secure a discount on the seller’s asking price.

Firstly, they should determine whether there is actually an opportunity for a discount. If they are, for example, purchasing off-plan, then the prices are usually fixed. However, there may be a special deal as part of the development’s marketing.

Instances where buyers could perhaps get a discount on the asking price include cases where the property is older and requires upgrading and renovation. In this case, there might be an opportunity to get a discount, provided it is not already discounted.

If the property has been on the market for some time, there may be an opportunity to negotiate a discount on the asking price.

However, Seeff’s agents noted that it will ultimately depend on whether the seller is prepared to drop the price or would rather wait for another offer.

This trend of properties selling for less than their original asking price after spending time on the market is evident in a 2025 report by Lightstone Property, which evaluated property values in Plettenberg Bay.

Lightstone’s Managing Executive of Real Estate, Hayley Ivins-Downes, said that if Plett properties didn’t sell within the first three months on the market, the drop-off in price paid relative to the asking price could be significant.

“The average price paid on transactions concluded within a month was 91% of the asking price, but this dropped to 82% if sales took six to 12 months to conclude,” Ivins-Downes said.

The graph below shows the percentage of the asking price achieved at sale in Plettenberg Bay and surrounding areas, illustrating how sale prices vary depending on how quickly properties are sold.

Improving the odds of getting a lower price

According to Seeff’s agents, cash offers usually trump all other payment methods on the property market.

If a buyer is paying in cash with no contingencies attached to the offer, there may be an opportunity to get a discount, as the seller could bank the money quite quickly.

If the buyer does not need to sell a property first and already has finance in place, it may be possible to secure a small discount.

There should, however, be no other contingencies, as the seller will weigh the cost of waiting. Pre-approved finance with a bigger deposit might also sweeten the deal.

If the market is slow and there are many properties on the market, and the seller is motivated to sell as soon as possible, there might also be an opportunity to get a discount.

Naturally, the better the price, the higher the buyer’s chance will be of getting the offer approved.

However, if the seller receives other offers, it is unlikely that a discount will be considered unless the buyer’s offer is significantly better, such as a cash offer.

Seeff said if a buyer really wants a specific home, they will likely need to offer the full asking price, or possibly more, to secure the property.

“Ultimately, getting a discount is about being a knowledgeable and strategic buyer,” the property group added. “Do your research, understand the seller’s situation, and use every tool at your disposal to make a well-reasoned and confident offer.”