Young adults feel the property pinch more than other age groups

Shrinking wallets, affecting most households, have hit young adults hardest in the last few years if statistics of people exiting the property market are anything to go by.

Nearly 130 000 South African homeowners left the market in 2021, selling properties valued at R200 billion at an average of R1.8 million per property - and the pendulum has swung towards younger homeowners opting out in greater numbers than before.

Head of Banking and Insurance at Lightstone, Mike Lehabe, says the 128 749 sellers are 25% more than the average from 2014 to 2020, and 27% more if 2010 is included.

Lightstone is a residential property information provider that uses an ID number field in property data to identify the various categories of buyers and sellers.

"In the years 2014 to 2020, some 672 547 homeowners exited the market at an average of 96 078 a year. The average is significantly up on the 79 999 who sold and did not repurchase in 2010, the year SA hosted the FIFA World Cup", says Lehabe.

The profile of sellers changed significantly from 2010 to 2021, swinging from older to younger, and there are many potential reasons for this. Tougher economic conditions - worsened by Covid-19 - were taking their toll and forcing younger people out of their homes.

Emigration could be a factor too, while some sellers may be waiting for prices to fall to buy at bargain prices. Then again, younger people are typically adopting a "live light" philosophy, and this could also account for some of the shift, says Lehabe.

He says while the impact of Covid-19 has obviously played a role in the market, attention is now shifting to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the market is waiting to see its impact on the SA economy and how it might affect residential house sales.

In 2010 those leaving the market were predominantly in the older age groups, between 36 and 49 years of age (21%), 50-64 (35%) and the 65-plus age group was the largest category at 44%.

In 2021, this was significantly different, with 10% of sellers being in the 18 to 35 age group, up from 0% in 2010. The 36 to 49 group went from 21% to 28%, while the 50 to 64 age group dropped from 35% to 29% and the 65-years plus age group fell from 44% to 34%.

In 2010 those leaving the market were predominantly in the older age groups, between 36 and 49 years of age (21%), 50-64 (35%) and the 65-plus age group was the largest category at 44%. In 2021, this was significantly different, with 10% of sellers being in the 18-35 age group, up from 0% in 2010. The 36-49 group went from 21% to 28%, while the 50-64 age group dropped from 35% to 29% and the 65+ age group fell from 44% to 34%.

In summary, those under 50 now account for 38% of sellers as opposed to 21% in 2010.

Two-fifths of those selling are from Gauteng, with 24% from the Western Cape and 14% from KwaZulu-Natal.

Females make up most sellers in the 18-35 age group and again in the 65-years plus group, with males outselling females between 36 to 64.