We believe homeownership should be within reach, not just for a select few, but for everyone who dreams of more.
Your journey starts here. Take your first step toward owning it.
Why Choose REAL
Owning a home can feel out of reach, especially if you’ve spent years paying rent and caring for a property that isn’t yours. At REAL Home Finance, we’re here to change that. We believe that if you can afford to rent, you can afford to own.
Your REAL home loan repayments will remain more stable and affordable, from the first payment to that last payment, when you can call your home your own.
Accessible Without Upfront Capital
With REAL, you do not need to save for a deposit or worry about paying bond registration fees upfront. We capitalise those costs into your loan, which means you pay them off over time, not in one big lump sum that is often unaffordable.
Affordable from Day One
Your initial payment will be much lower than a traditional loan. Comparable to the cost of renting the same property.
We don’t just offer lower repayments today. We’re committed to sustainable affordability over the full life of your loan. Our unique financing model is based on a repayment plan that keeps track with you future salary increase while applying the lowest possible interest rate over the lifetime of the loan.
Your annual escalation rate should be lower than average inflation. Therefore, although your repayment increases annually, the level of increase should not exceed the rate at which your salary increases.
More stable and predictable repayments, even when prime lending rates change
The impact of any changes to interest rates that are announced by the Reserve Bank is absorbed over the lifetime of your loan by amending the annual increase to your instalments. This results in much more stable and predictable instalments thereby reducing the impact on your household budget.
Opportunity to Consolidate Debt Responsibly
For over-indebted members who still meet affordability criteria, the loan may offer a structured opportunity to consolidate existing high-interest debt. This is always handled with care and typically involves voluntary debt review to support long-term rehabilitation, while enabling the member to own a home.
Through our unique funding model we apply a dynamic interest rate to your loan which allows our clients to benefit directly from lower funding costs and any improvements to your risk profile over the lifetime of your loan.
Lower cost of capital
Your retirement fund provides the funding for your loan which results in lower funding costs than what banks typically incur. This lower cost of capital is directly transferred onto our clients.
Leveraging the security in your retirement fund
Using your own retirement fund benefits as security against part of your loan significantly reduces the risk of that part of the loan. The benefit of this low-risk lending translates to lower interest rates on the part of the loan backed by your retirement fund benefits. This reduced interest rate will apply to an increasing proportion of your loan over time as your retirement benefit increases.
A reducing interest rate is applied as your risk profile improves
Unlike any other traditional bond, we pass the lower risk to the lenders over time, as your loan balance decrease and the value of your home increases, back to you through a reducing interest rate.
Discounted interest rates with payroll deduction
A significantly reduced interest rate will apply where we can arrange with your employer for your repayments to be facilitated through payroll-deduction.
We are passionate about service excellence
Our modern administration system and dedicated staff is there to make the process from applying for a loan to registering the bond as effective as possible. Applications are assessed fairly, using transparent and responsible credit criteria.
Once you found your dream home we will be with you every step of the way. Our team offers real support, honest answers, and clear communication. No jargon. No confusion. Just a straightforward path to buying your home with the guidance you need.
Contact us today to ask for a personalised Estimator to know the amount of financing available to you.
We can provide you with an “estimator”, based on your income and retirement fund benefits. This early indication helps you search with more confidence and gives you a realistic sense of your budget. In many cases, your starting repayment is close to what you already pay in rent, but now, each payment goes toward owning your home. Our mission is to unlock access for working South Africans who have been excluded from traditional finance. You don’t have to wonder whether you qualify. We’ll help you understand what’s possible. That shift from doubt to confidence, from uncertainty to ownership, is where the journey begins.
Let’s turn the key together. OWN it with REAL.
Who qualifies for a REAL home loan?
Our home finance solution is available to individuals who belong to pension or provident funds that have partnered with REAL. If you qualify, we will then guide you through the full application process.
Still looking for a property and want to know what you qualify for?
Already have a home loan and want to know if switching from your traditional bond is worth it?
Signed an offer to purchase and getting ready to own it?
“I always paid rent on time, but owning a home felt out of reach—until I met REAL Home Finance. They told me upfront I was pre-approved, and my monthly instalment is close to what I paid in rent. Now, every payment builds my own home. The process was clear, the guidance steady, and I never felt lost. I’m proud, secure, and finally building a legacy for my family.”
Wherever you are in your home journey, everything begins with one simple step. Complete our online application form and let us take it from there. Whether you are still searching, thinking about switching out of a traditional bond, or have already signed an offer, we will guide you forward with personal support and clear answers.
Contact us today to ask for an Estimator to know the amount of financing available to you.
REAL is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We are here for people who are ready to own, have shown financial commitment, and are looking for a practical path long-term homeownership, starting with what they already pay in rent.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not listed here, please reach out. We are here to help.
Home Loans and Eligibility
You must be a member of a pension or provident fund that has partnered with REAL. Your credit record must be in good standing, your income must support the loan amount, and the property must be worth more than R400 000. The loan must be repayable before you retire, and at least ten percent of the loan must be backed by your retirement savings.
Yes. You can request an estimate by completing the form on our website. This will give you a realistic idea of what you may qualify for based on your financial situation
We assess every application individually. If you have a high level of debt, we may still be able to assist, especially through debt consolidation. Your full credit report and affordability will be taken into account.
Yes. You can apply with a spouse, partner, or family member. One of the applicants must be a member of a participating fund, and the home must be occupied by the member or someone who depends on them financially.
No, our sole focus is to allow ordinary South Africans the opportunity to own the home they live in. Our loans are backed by retirement funds and may by law only be used to finance homes that will be occupied by the member or a financial dependant.
It means your repayments grow at a fixed rate every year, adjusted with changes in the repo rate or prime lending rate. This gives you lower starting repayments than most traditional home loans and helps you plan ahead, with increases that are gradual and predictable, much like rent.
Loan Types and What We Finance
No. We only offer home loans for completed and existing residential properties. We do not finance land purchases or construction projects.
No. Our loans are focused on financing the purchase of move-in-ready homes.
No. REAL only offers home finance. We do not provide vehicle finance, business loans, or personal loans.
Switching to REAL
Yes. You can apply to switch your current home loan to REAL. We will help you compare your current loan with our offer and advise you if it is a good option for you.
Debt Consolidation
In some cases, yes. We may be able to consolidate your existing debt into your new home loan. This could reduce your total monthly payments and simplify your finances.
Debt consolidation means we combine your existing debts into your home loan, so you make only one monthly repayment instead of many. This can reduce your total monthly expenses and help you manage your finances more easily.
For example, if you qualify for a loan of R 850 000 and you have R 150 000 in other debt, we can structure the loan so that R 150 000 is used to settle your debt and the remaining R 700 000 goes toward your home.
This option is however subject to your specific situation and circumstances. The final loan amount will depend on your affordability, property value, and pension fund savings.
Legal, Process, and Applications
We have arranged a discount with the attorneys who register our bonds. However, the transfer attorneys are appointed by the seller, and we do not have any special arrangements with them.
We work with a panel of experienced attorneys who handle the bond registration process on our behalf.
We do not assist directly with drafting or signing an offer to purchase. You are welcome to contact one of our panel attorneys if you need help with this step.
If you need their details, simply complete the Contact Us form, and we will gladly share their contact numbers with you.
We recommend contacting a registered debt counsellor for assistance. One of our trusted partners is Gerhard Stoltz, who may be able to help. If you would like his contact details, simply complete the Contact Us form, and we will share them with you.
For credit listings or judgments, contact Experian at 0861 105 665 or visit www.experian.co.za.
General Information
Our loans are funded through a partnership between Retirement Funds and REAL Home Finance, where the Fund invests part of its assets in our portfolio, which in turn is used to offer home loans to their members.
Probably. From time to time, we reach out to eligible members of partner funds to offer early access to home finance opportunities. If you are unsure, we can arrange for a fund representative to confirm the offer.
No, not as long as you keep your instalments up to date. Your fund benefits will only be affected if you should default on your and we need to call on your retirement fund benefits to settle the outstanding loan amount.
Where possible, we agree with your employer to facilitate repayments via payroll deduction. Where payroll deduction is not available, REAL uses DebitCheck, a secure debit order authentication system approved by PASA (Payments Association of South Africa).
Building Insurance: This protects against damage to the physical structure.
Home Contents Insurance: Covers furniture, electronics, and personal items inside the home.
Life or Credit Protection: It ensures that if something happens to you, the outstanding bond is settled, protecting your family and your home.
If you do not yet have these policies in place and need assistance, please complete the Contact Us form. We will gladly connect you with one of our trusted insurance brokers who can guide you through your options.
