Polokwane Real Estate: Houses and Land for Sale

Polokwane is the capital of Limpopo and the commercial hub of the far north, on the N1 about 300 km (roughly three and a half hours' drive) north of Johannesburg, and the usual stopover on the way to the Beitbridge border with Zimbabwe. The city has a university presence, regional hospitals, shopping centres and a growing middle class, and it serves a wide farming and mining region. Buyers range from local families and government workers to investors in student or staff rentals and small commercial units.

Distances matter: Johannesburg and Pretoria are large, separate markets several hours away, and Alberton is a suburb of the Johannesburg metro. They help for comparison, not as neighbours.

Foreigners can generally buy property in South Africa without restriction, subject to exchange-control rules when moving money in and out. A buyer signs an offer to purchase, and a conveyancing attorney registers the transfer at the Deeds Office, usually in two to three months.

• Transfer duty: charged on a sliding scale; lower-priced homes pay nothing and the rate rises with price. Verify the current thresholds.
• Attorney and deeds fees: a further share of the price.
• Agent commission: paid by the seller, commonly 5% to 7.5% plus VAT.
• Bonds: banks often lend non-residents only 50% to 60%.

Our South Africa buying guide and financing page explain the steps. Low-budget buyers can start with the under €100k page.