Transfer costs on a R1,5 million home
Figures for the 2026/27 tax year. Prime rate checked 1 October 2026; tax tables and fees checked 30 September 2026. By AfroTech.
On top of the purchase price, buying a home comes with costs that you have to pay in cash before the property is registered in your name. On a R 1 500 000 home financed with a 100% bond, they add up to about R 98 005. Here's where that money goes.
| Cost | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer duty | R 8 700,00 | SARS |
| Transferring attorney's fee | R 32 635,00 | Conveyancer |
| VAT on attorney's fee | R 4 895,25 | Conveyancer |
| Deeds Office transfer fee | R 1 738,00 | Deeds Office |
| FICA, searches, rates clearance and postage (estimate) | R 2 931,25 | Conveyancer |
| Transfer costs | R 50 899,50 | |
| Bond attorney's fee | R 32 635,00 | Bond attorney |
| VAT on bond attorney's fee | R 4 895,25 | Bond attorney |
| Deeds Office bond fee | R 1 738,00 | Deeds Office |
| Postage and petties (estimate) | R 1 800,00 | Bond attorney |
| Bank initiation fee (typical) | R 6 037,50 | Your bank |
| Bond costs | R 47 105,75 | |
| Total | R 98 005,25 |
Based on the SARS transfer duty table, the Deeds Office tariff from 1 April 2026 and the Law Society fee guideline from 1 July 2026. Items marked estimate or typical vary by firm and bank.
Transfer duty
Transfer duty is a tax paid to SARS when property changes hands. The first R 1 210 000 of the price is duty-free, and the rate then rises in steps up to 13%. On R 1 500 000, the duty is R 8 700, which is 0,6% of the price.
If you buy a new home directly from a VAT-registered developer, VAT is already included in the price and no transfer duty is payable.
Attorney fees
Two attorneys are involved when you buy with a bond. The transferring attorney (conveyancer), usually chosen by the seller, registers the property in your name. The bond attorney, appointed by your bank, registers the bond. You pay both.
Their fees follow the Law Society of South Africa's guideline, which scales with the price or bond amount, plus 15% VAT. The guideline isn't a fixed tariff, so it's worth asking for a quote. Some firms charge less, especially for straightforward transactions.
Deeds Office fees
The Deeds Office charges a fixed fee, set in the Government Gazette, to register the transfer and the bond: R 1 738 and R 1 738 at this price. These are small compared with the other costs.
Buying cash instead
A cash buyer pays only the transfer costs, about R 50 900 on a R 1 500 000 home, and saves the R 47 106 in bond costs.
Costs at other prices
| Price | Transfer duty | Other transfer costs | Bond costs (100% bond) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R 1 000 000 | R 0 | R 34 694 | R 39 600 | R 74 293 |
| R 1 210 000 | R 0 | R 39 762 | R 44 668 | R 84 429 |
| R 1 500 000 | R 8 700 | R 42 200 | R 47 106 | R 98 005 |
| R 2 000 000 | R 33 786 | R 47 076 | R 51 982 | R 132 843 |
| R 3 000 000 | R 107 356 | R 59 936 | R 64 842 | R 232 133 |
| R 5 000 000 | R 327 356 | R 84 830 | R 89 736 | R 501 921 |
When do you pay?
The transferring attorney asks for transfer duty and transfer costs soon after the sale agreement is signed, usually well before registration. Bond costs are paid to the bond attorney. Most banks won't add these costs to your bond, so plan to have the cash ready on top of any deposit.
Try it with your own numbers. The ZARWise calculator uses the same figures as this page.
Work out the costs for your purchase