Better Value Bonds

28/09/2026

Things I wish every first-time home buyer knew BEFORE applying for a home loan..

Visit www.bettervaluebonds.co.za for more info.

23/09/2026

Episode 2 of my series on “how to maintain a good credit score”.
Do you have a credit card? If you do, then pay attention to how you use your credit card. It could be affecting your credit profile without you even realising it.”
Hi, I am Ashwini Deosaran, a bond originator in South Africa and welcome to Episode 2 of my series on “how to maintain a good credit score”.
Lets talk about how you should be using your credit card if you want to maintain a good credit score.
It’s not just whether you pay your credit card — it’s also how much of your available credit you're using.
Lets say you have a credit limit of R50,000 and you're constantly sitting with a balance of R45,000. That means you're using 90% of your available credit.
This can make you look financially stretched and signals to the bank that you are relying too much on credit.
Ideally, try to keep your credit card usage under 30 to 35% of your limit and avoid constantly maxing out your cards.
This doesn't mean you can never use more than 35%. It's about your ongoing credit utilisation and overall profile.
And here's an important point:
Don't take on more debt just to build your credit score.
The goal is responsible credit management — not having lots of debt.
Follow along for the next part of my Credit Score Series.

23/09/2026

The prime lending rate has increased to 10.75%

21/09/2026

Episode 1 of my series on “How to maintain a good credit score”.

PAYING YOUR ACCOUNTS ON TIME

Paying your accounts late every month isn't a big deal.. I mean as long as you eventually pay.. right? WRONG!
Paying your accounts on time is one of the most important things you can do to protect your credit profile
Hi, I am Ashwini Deosaran, a bond originator in South Africa and welcome to Episode 1 of my series on “how to maintain a good credit score”.
Lets talk about the importance of paying your accounts on time.
When the bank receives an application for a home loan, one of the first things they look at is your credit score and one of the biggest things that affects your credit score is something really simple — paying your accounts on time.
Your credit card, personal loan, vehicle finance, store accounts and cell phone contracts all form part of your credit history.
Even if it’s a small account, don’t assume it doesn’t matter.

Late payments negatively affect your credit profile — and repeated arrears can make things even more difficult when you eventually apply for a home loan.
You might be able to afford to pay for the home loan, but if the banks see that you do not pay your accounts on time, then they will either decline your application or give you a high interest rate.
So my advice?
Pay on time. Every month.
If you payment due date is the 30th of each month, make sure you are paying that account before the 30th. Paying it a few days late will flag it as a late payment and that will affect your credit score.
Don't wait until you're ready to apply for a home loan to start looking after your credit score.
Start protecting it NOW.
Follow for the next part of my Credit Score Series.

15/09/2026

As a bond originator who's done many home-loan applications, one thing I wish more people understood is how short-term loans can affect their home-buying journey.

Those monthly repayments can reduce your home-loan affordability, and relying on multiple loans raises the nanks concern about how you handle your finances.

I'm going to be doing a series on what impacts your credit score, the do's and don'ts, and how your credit profile can affect your home-loan journey.

Follow along so you don't miss it! 🏡"

14/09/2026

10/09/2026

Want to apply for FLISP but not sure where to start? Here’s the process in a 4 simple steps...

Step one: Get prequalified!

Before you start house hunting, find out how much you may qualify for.

Step two: Find your property!

Once you find the right property,

Step three: Apply for your home loan!

Here’s why: when applying for First Home
Finance, two of the minimum documents required include your bank home loan approval and your signed sale agreement.

So, once your home loan is approved and your sale agreement is signed,

Step four: Apply for the subsidy

If you want to start your home-buying journey, get in touch with me and let’s start with your prequalification!

09/09/2026

These are the criteria to qualify for First Home Finance

Income - Your gross household income must be between R3,501 and R22,000 per month.

Citizenship - You must be a South African citizen with a valid ID or a legal permanent resident with a valid permit.

Age - You must be over 18 years old and legally competent to contract.

First-Time Buyer - You must never have owned a fixed residential property before, verified via the Deeds Register.

No Prior Subsidies - You must not have previously benefited from any government housing program or subsidy.

Dependents - You must be married, cohabiting, or single with financial dependents.

Follow along to learn more about First Home Finance

02/09/2026

First-time home buyers may have access to benefits that can make getting into the property market more affordable. 🏡✨

In this video, I break down 3 important benefits you should know about:

🔹 50% discount on the attorneys bond registration fees – which gives you a significant saving on your upfront attorney costs.

🔹 Bond + Costs – All the banks offer a 100% bond plus costs for first time home buyers. This makes it possible for more people to try purchasing property without needing to have saved up for the upfront attorney costs.

🔹 FLISP Government Subsidy – Financial assistance is available to qualifying buyers to help make homeownership more affordable.

These benefits make a huge difference to your home-buying journey..

Over the next few days, I'll be sharing more videos explaining FLISP, who may qualify for it and how it works.

So if you're dreaming of buying your first home, follow along — you don't want to miss this series! 🏠🔑

27/08/2026

Prequalification isn’t just about finding out how much the bank is willing to lend you.

It gives you a realistic understanding of what you can afford, based on your income, expenses, credit profile and financial commitments.

It helps you set the right property budget, so you’re not wasting time looking at homes outside your affordability range.

It can also help you understand what your estimated monthly bond repayment could be, so you can make sure the purchase fits comfortably into your budget.

And perhaps most importantly, it allows you to identify any potential issues with your finances before you find your dream home and submit an application.

So my advice is simple:
Don’t start with the house. Start with your affordability.

Get prequalified first, know your numbers, and then start house hunting with confidence.