This is a key number in South African commercial real estate (CRE). After a lot of hard work, we are able to deliver a firm, defensible value to SA – relevant to businesses (who almost all operate out of CRE), policy makers and the industry itself.

For a South African CRE industry buffeted by Covid, weak economic growth and public sector incompetence, is solar power too good to be true? Is solar indeed one of property’s unicorns – a positively geared investment with increasing cash flows – and what are the risks associated with it?

Apple, one of the most profitable businesses in the world, is the king of outsourcing. Its brains reside in California, while its grunt work is spread to specialists all over the world. Is CRE missing a trick? Like the strategic minds at Apple, can it farm back office services to cheaper, specialist hands – and drive greater profitability?

What is the role of early adopters in our CRE industry? What characterises these individuals, and how can they help me? Simon Black MRICS, an experienced professional, is one of these. Always seeking the latest tools and innovation, clients can trust them to apply best practices, while the industry follows their lead.

Nobody loves change, but change is happening. Clients of the CRE industry, wearing their consumer hats, are seeing positive data-fueled efficiencies from shopping to travel to insurance, day-to-day. Now they are expecting the same benefits of speed, control and greater transparency in their CRE dealings. How are the world’s top CRE business responding?

Build inhouse or outsource to specialists? What to own and what to rent? Lots of debate and theory about this key PropTech topic and emotional hot button. Here we share the findings of one of South Africa’s best CRE brokerages – 5th Avenue Properties – on their tech and data journey.

Africa’s annual GDP is $2.6T, and her population of consumers is large (and expanding fast). A surge in African CRE development to reach the normal global CRE ratio of 34% would trigger prosperity multiplier effects. So what’s holding the industry’s maturity and growth back? And, if there are blockers, can or will technology advancements solve them?

Africa, the world’s youngest continent, projecting 80% population growth in the next 3 decades, is seeing growing flows of venture capital. Pioneer investors like Y Combinator, and tech accelerators are entering the market. What do they know that others don’t? What is the likely effect on historically overlooked PropTech in Africa?

Lots of theory, chatter and noise about the positive and negative impacts of PropTech out there. This is a practical example, from the lens of an industry-leading CRE brokerage, unpacking the impact of technology adoption. Shalan Properties (the first in a series) shares its experience with you

Africa’s resources have historically come from below the ground. Tech promises to solve formerly unsolvable old problems and unlock the latent potential and ambition of our continent’s humans. Africa 2.0’s assets are now above the ground – and commercial real estate can play a part, and profit.