#32 Signals, Sentiment & Strategy: Reading South Africa’s Property Market

Episode Overview: In this episode of Wait & Speak, I speak with John Loos about the signals shaping South Africa’s property market, from national trends and micro shifts to sentiment tracking, economic headwinds, and the factors influencing the near-term outlook. You’ll also hear us refer to the Global Financial Crisis (GFC): the major global recession of 2008–2009, triggered by the collapse of the U.S. housing market. We explore how that moment reshaped property markets and consider which lessons may still be relevant today. About John Loos: John Loos is a senior economist at FNB Commercial Property Finance. He started his career as an economist at the National Treasury under Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, then worked as a macroeconomist for Global Insight (now S&P Global). At Absa Group, he coordinated macroeconomic forecasting and was named 2004 Reuters Economist of the Year. Since joining FNB in 2006, John has developed the FNB Property Barometer, a leading source of housing market analysis in South Africa, and currently focuses on commercial property, conducting surveys such as the FNB Commercial Property Broker Survey. Follow John’s work here: https://za.linkedin.com/in/john-loos-299a3a51 Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Please consult a qualified advisor before making any decisions. Bonus Tip: Don’t forget to subscribe to Wait & Speak for more insights where signals meet strategy. Please leave a review if you enjoyed this conversation!