Access to Housing Finance in the Low-Income Market: A Review of Recent Data

This report explores consumers’ perceptions regarding the availability of housing finance in the low-income market. The report tests some of the underlying assumptions about the impact of home ownership on wealth creation, given the distorted context of the housing market in South Africa and the often unanticipated stresses home ownership can place on household budgets. It also uses survey and industry data to identify current sources of housing finance including subsidies, loans and savings. Finally, the document includes a number of key challenges that may impact on the success of the Financial Sector Charter (“FSC”) commitments in enhancing access to housing finance for the poor.