South Africa’s improved standing with the world’s three major credit rating agencies is of course positive news for the economy as a whole, but also promises to have meaningful benefits for ordinary consumers, homeowners and residential property buyers, says the FIRZT Property Group.
The latest vote of confidence in the country came a few days ago, when Fitch Ratings upgraded SA’s sovereign credit rating from BB- to BB, the agency’s first rating upgrade for the country in nearly 21 years. Fitch cited improved fiscal management, stronger public finances and growing confidence in South Africa’s debt trajectory as reasons for the upgrade.
Earlier, Moody’s revised its outlook on SA to positive while maintaining its Ba2 rating, and S&P Global Ratings announced it would maintain its positive outlook on the country following its rating upgrade to BB in late 2025.
"Taken together, these moves suggest growing confidence in SA’s economic reform path, and especially the determined reduction of its sovereign debt. They point to the possibility of further upgrades over the next 12 to 18 months, and the implications for the residential property market could be significant,” says FIRZT MD Stephen Whitcombe.
“Credit ratings may sound like something that only affects government borrowing or international investors, but they have a very real impact on everyday South Africans. When ratings improve, risk perceptions are reduced and investor confidence improves, so that more capital flows into the country or is retained here. Government is also able to borrow the money it needs for major projects at lower interest rates.”
In the property market, this all translates into more employment creation, more buyer confidence in the economy, higher housing demand, improved confidence among banks when assessing home loan applications and more homes sales, he says.
“Property is fundamentally a confidence-driven market. When people feel optimistic about the economy, job security and their financial future, they are more willing to commit to long-term investments such as buying a home.”
Whitcombe says that any improvement in SA’s sovereign standing obviously helps to strengthen the Rand, create a more stable environment for banks, businesses and consumers, and that if inflation can be contained now, the group expects to see a more supportive interest rate environment sooner rather than later, which will be particularly positive for first-time buyers and families looking to upgrade.
“Improved sentiment also tends to encourage greater investment in new housing projects and property-related sectors, which creates more affordable housing stock for new buyers, and supports employment in industries ranging from construction and home improvement to financial services and real estate.”
Ratings improvements alone will obviously not solve SA’s economic challenges overnight, but the recent developments represent an important turning point after more than a decade of downgrades and economic uncertainty, he says. “We believe that the fact that all three major ratings agencies are now signalling a more positive direction for SA may well mark the beginning of a period of renewed confidence, improved affordability and stronger market activity.”
