If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, are looking to generate a good income, and want a flexible lifestyle, then being a real estate agent is for you. But to start working as a property practitioner, there are some essential steps that you need to take. First, as a newbie, you must find an existing firm that is licensed and managed by a fully qualified principal. A principal is the licensed or certified...

I was in my 30s when the family moved to the suburbs. It was an easy decision for the kids and me, less so for my husband, Zet. I knew that it would lead to other changes, some intended, others unintended. Our new home wasn't the dream home, but it was in a lovely area and closer to schools. Who wouldn't want a shorter school run? And the kids were happy. Happy kids; happy mom. Of course, the home...

One of the biggest blessings I had as the only grandchild at the time was living with my maternal grandmother. Living with Mama meant sharing lots of domestic routines. I wouldn’t call it domestic bliss.  Every morning, the rooster would wake the household at 03:00, 05:00, and 06:00. Imagine! The 5am rooster call meant that Mama would get her coffee from my aunt.  Like lots of us, she never got out...

Every time I tell my story, I begin with Burgersdorp, my hometown.  Then, I get a familiar blank stare.  “Burgersdorp?”Yes, Burgersdorp in the Eastern Cape. You won’t find it on any of the major routes in the province, but if you are looking for a point of reference, it is located on the R58, approximately 350 km from East London and 300 km from Bloemfontein. Yes, in the middle of nowhere.This...

I have started one of the most significant projects of my career. What a challenge it is. But I have never feared tackling new challenges. Whether it was an exam, selling produce for my parents’ spaza shop, or getting into the real estate business, there is always a way.But what I can say about this one is that I haven’t done anything like this before.It’s been an on-and-off project for a couple of...

I have always advocated real estate as the ideal career for those who can get up and go, maximise their strong network, and have good innate marketing skills. It is also an option for experienced professionals looking to start a new career, especially those who are retired but don’t want to be. It is for independent, disciplined, tenacious people who know how to set and pursue goals, including closing...

The 2025 weather report is in, and most experts agree that South Africans and the rest of the world face strong headwinds. But we were built tough.Please don’t take my word for it. According to the 2024 Happiness Report, except for Mauritius, South Africans are happier than their African counterparts. (South Africa is ranked 83rd, while Mauritius is ranked 70th.)Happiness, hope, and, by de facto, faith...

2024 is ending, and who doesn’t need a dash of good news to put us in good spirits for next year? Firstly, September brought a significant development—the first interest rate cut by the South African Reserve Bank in seven meetings, albeit only 0.25 basis points. This is reassuring, as another cut is expected as soon as 21 November. Then, in October, published numbers for property price growth...

I have some exciting developments lined up for Xoliswa Tini Properties for this year. It is an idea I had some time ago, but with COVID-19, I put it on the back burner. And while it is still under wraps, I have been working steadily on making this dream come true. I still have some way to go, but I am progressing well. But how does one take a dream and bring it to reality? It is a lot of hard work, of...

Real estate entrepreneur Xoliswa Tini is to expand her 15-year old business to other provinces later this month and become the first black 100% owned female franchise in South Africa.The University of Cape Town graduate says that key role players like investors and developers are excited about the development and see an opportunity for a strong black African brand with a nationwide presence.The...