FNB has launched a comprehensive online property tool called FNB Property Leader that offers users in-depth area and property reports, the ability to apply for and track the progress of a home loan online and provides advice for buying or selling property from start to finish.
“For many people the process of buying and selling a property can be overwhelming. This tool is a way to hold the consumer’s hand throughout the entire process from before starting to look for a first house to when it is time to sell,” says Marius Marais, CEO of FNB Home Loans.Would-be home owners can receive home loan pre-approval within seconds. “With our preapproval process, the customer literally becomes a “cash buyer” and it solves one of the biggest quandaries, “what is my affordability,” says Marais.
“The system checks the customer’s credit score and, depending on customer’s risk profile and affordability, automatically creates a pre-approval letter which serves as a provisional guarantee giving the buyer the necessary negotiating power.”
Once a user is ready to submit a home loan application they can do so through the site and can monitor the progress of their application. The site also offers free area and property reports pulled from sources including the Deeds Office.
Area reports include information like average house prices in the area, average increase or decrease in property prices, the types of homes and the profiles of buyers. A property report includes the last bought and sold price of the property as well as an estimated current value, which is calculated using a model developed for the FNB Property Leader site.
“This type of information is invaluable to any home owner in order to make informed decisions when buying or selling. Buyers will be able to determine fair value of the property by comparing properties with others recently sold. Those looking to sell can determine a fair listing price that will speed up the selling process,” Marais explains.
The site also offers users check lists for each of the buying and selling processes, suggested questions to ask estate agents. “We believe that FNB Property Leader is the ultimate property tool that will make all consumers’ lives easier and inform their decision making,” Marais says.