Estate agents reported renewed momentum in the residential property market during Q3 2025, especially within the affordable housing segment (properties under R750 000), according to FNB’s Property Barometer for the quarter.

Satisfaction among property practitioners with current market conditions rose sharply to 76% in Q3 2025, up from 62% in Q2 2025, showing improvement across all price brackets. However, distinct regional trends emerged.

Property practitioners’ sentiment in Gauteng’s market activity peaked at 81%, the highest among all regions, while the Western Cape recorded the lowest sentiment. KwaZulu-Natal’s sentiment strengthened significantly, reaching its highest level since the April 2022 floods, and the Eastern Cape also saw a notable increase.

The average time properties spent on the market stayed steady at 12 weeks and 3 days with the fastest sales having occurred in the R1.6 million to R2.6 million price range – averaging 10 weeks and 6 days. Regionally, the Western Cape saw the quickest sales, with an average of 8 weeks and 1 day.

Financial pressure continued to drive property sales in Q3 2025, accounting for 20% of all transactions, alongside ‘life scaling’ at 26% and ‘emigration’ at 5%.

First-time homebuyer participation improved, making up 47% of buyers in the affordable segment and 25% in the traditional market. Overall, first-time buyers comprised 30% of transactions in Q3 2025, up from 26% in Q2. Buy-to-let investors also grew their market share to 14% of all sales, with particularly strong activity in the affordable segment (33%) versus 8% in the traditional market.