Buy a House in Germiston, East Rand, Gauteng

Germiston sits just east of central Johannesburg and is a major rail junction. That makes commuting by Metrorail or road to Johannesburg and to OR Tambo airport practical, although train reliability varies and many residents drive. The city centre is gritty and commercial. Residential demand is stronger in the established suburbs around it, so judge each street rather than the city name.

Neighbouring East Rand markets include Boksburg, Edenvale, Benoni and Alberton, all within roughly 15 to 25 minutes by road in light traffic. Johannesburg itself is the obvious step up in price and amenities, and Randburg on the north-western side is a different market again.

• Check the municipal account. Unpaid rates, water and electricity bills can follow the property into a sale, so ask the conveyancer for clearance figures.
• Look at electricity and security. Prepaid meters, solar panels and a security-complex setting all change running costs.
• Sectional title versus freehold. In the 82 apartments, read the body corporate's financials and levy history first.
• Foreigners can buy freely, but money leaving South Africa after a sale needs the purchase funds to have been recorded properly as foreign investment. Ask a conveyancer to explain this before you pay a deposit.

Our South Africa buying guide walks through transfer duty and conveyancing, and the mortgage calculator helps size a bond. Wider context is on the South Africa country page.