A mortgage is the biggest credit product you'll ever take. Here's what banks actually charge in 2026, what the paperwork costs, and how to walk in pre-approved.
The biggest debt of your life deserves an hour of homework. This is that hour, condensed.
Every bond is priced off prime plus or minus a margin that reflects your risk: deposit size, credit record, income stability, the property itself. Prime moves with the Reserve Bank's repo rate; your margin is negotiated once, at grant. Two applicants buying identical houses can receive rates a full percentage point apart. the difference between a good file and a great one, worth hundreds of thousands over 20 years.
An offer to purchase with a bank's pre-approval attached beats a higher uninsured bid in most seller's minds. Pre-approval also exposes your real budget. including the fees below. before emotion enters the house hunt. Get one from at least two institutions; competing pre-approvals are the only reliable way to compress a bank's margin.
On a R1.5 million purchase, budget R70,000 to R120,000. First-time buyers should investigate current duty thresholds carefully. the exemption bands move and can save a five-figure sum by themselves.
Bonds take 4 to 8 weeks from application to registration. Life doesn't pause: deposits due, moving costs, urgent repairs on the new place. For needs under R350,000 during that window, the unsecured lenders below bridge the gap at known, capped costs. sized with the calculator, repaid when the bond registers.
Editorial ranking by approval odds, total cost and payout speed. *Same-day payout assumes a complete application before ~3pm on a business day.
Top Pick
Fast Payout
Quick Form
High Limits
Local Brand
New Lender
Fintech Group
0% Offers
Big Amounts
A bank pre-approval defines your budget and makes your offer credible. Expect income verification, a bureau pull and 3 to 6 months of bank statements.
Beyond the deposit: bond registration, transfer duty, conveyancing and initiation fees routinely add 5 to 8% of the purchase price. First-time buyers under certain prices pay reduced transfer duty.
Banks price bonds on risk margin, not a fixed menu. A competing offer. even a personal loan pre-approval. is leverage for a better home loan rate.
All amounts in ZAR. Confirm final costs in your loan agreement before signing.
| Lender | Amount | Term | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Century | R500 to R8,000 | 5 to 180 days | ★★★★★ 4.8 | Get Offer |
| LendPlus | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★★ 4.7 | Get Offer |
| Primeloans | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Get Offer |
| Creditbar | R500 to R5,000 | 7 to 45 days | ★★★★★ 4.6 | Get Offer |
| JabulaniMoney | R500 to R4,000 | Until payday | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | Get Offer |
| Cashgist | R500 to R4,000 | Short-term | ★★★★☆ 4.5 | Get Offer |
| Crediwise | R500 to R4,000 | 5 to 35 days | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | Get Offer |
| Letocredit | R500 to R150,000 | Varies by offer | ★★★★☆ 4.3 | Get Offer |
| CreditGenius | R500 to R350,000 | Up to 24 months | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Get Offer |
Most banks want 10 to 20% of the purchase price, though 100% bonds exist for strong applicants. A bigger deposit buys a better rate and smaller monthly payment.
Transfer duty (scaled by price), bond registration and conveyancing fees, and an initiation fee. On a R1.5m home, budget roughly R70,000 to R120,000 in transaction costs.
Bonds price off prime minus or plus a risk margin based on your deposit, credit record and income stability. Prime tracks the repo rate, so it moves with the Reserve Bank.
Mortgages take 4 to 8 weeks. If the need is urgent and below ~R350,000, compare the unsecured lenders below. they pay out within days, not months.