The banks compete. You choose.
Going to your own bank gives you one offer and no leverage. We put your application in front of all of them at once, then take the best rate back to the others.
South African bond origination
One application. Every major bank. The best home loan rate.
FinCraft submits your home loan application to South Africa's leading banks at once, then negotiates the offers against each other. You choose the winner. Our service costs you nothing.
- Free — the bank pays our fee, not you
- One application, every major SA bank
- Pre-approval in as little as 24 hours
Today in South Africa
10.5%
prime lending rate
Last reviewed 23 July 2026. A well-presented application is regularly approved below prime — that difference is what we go to work on.
See what that costs per monthWe submit your application to
- ABSA
- FNB
- Nedbank
- Standard Bank
- Capitec
- SA Home Loans
- Investec
- RMB Private Bank
- Sentinel Homes
Why use a bond originator
A better rate is worth more than you think
On a R1.5 million bond over 20 years, half a percent off your interest rate saves roughly R120 000. That margin is exactly what an originator exists to find.
A low score is not the end
Banks weigh credit records differently. We know which ones look past a thin or bruised profile, and how to present your application so it is judged fairly.
One form, not eight
You complete a single application and submit one set of documents. We handle the follow-ups, the queries and the chasing.
It costs you nothing
The bank that wins your business pays our commission. Our fee never comes out of your pocket or gets added to your bond.
What we do
Home loan finance, whatever stage you are at
Home loan pre-approval
Know exactly what you qualify for before you make an offer. Sellers and estate agents take pre-approved buyers seriously, and it stops you falling in love with a house you cannot finance.
Talk to a consultantNew home loan finance
One application, submitted to ABSA, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec and more. We put the offers side by side and push the banks to compete on your rate.
Talk to a consultantRefinancing and bond switching
Already paying off a bond? We test your current rate against the market. A drop of even 0.5% can save tens of thousands of rands over the life of the loan.
Talk to a consultantBridging finance
Cash advanced against the pending proceeds of a property sale, so you are not waiting on registration to pay a deposit, transfer costs or a move.
Talk to a consultantBuilding loans and further advances
Finance for building from scratch, or unlocking equity in a bond you already hold to fund renovations and improvements.
Talk to a consultantApplications with an impaired credit record
A low score is not automatically a decline. We know which banks take a broader view, and how to present an application that gives you the best chance.
Talk to a consultantHow it works
From first call to registered bond
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01
Tell us about you
A short conversation about your income, your commitments and the kind of property you are after. Ten minutes, on the phone or over WhatsApp.
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02
We package the application
You send one set of documents. We check every page before it goes anywhere, because a clean file is the difference between an approval and a decline.
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03
Every bank responds
Your application goes to all the major lenders simultaneously. Offers come back within days, and we lay them out side by side in plain language.
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04
We negotiate, you sign
We take the strongest offer back to the others and ask them to beat it. You pick the winner and we see the bond through to registration.
Free tools
Run the numbers before you make an offer
No sign-up, no email wall. Work out the repayment here, then use the full set of calculators for affordability, transfer costs and deposits.
Bond repayment calculator
What will your monthly home loan instalment be?
Prime is currently 10.5% (reviewed 23 July 2026). A strong application can be approved below prime.
Even a small amount above the instalment cuts years off the bond.
Monthly repayment
—
- Total repaid over the term
- —
- Total interest paid
- —
- Minimum gross income required
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- Saved by paying extra
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- Bond paid off early by
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Powered by FinCraft
- 8
- major SA lenders applied to on one form
- R0
- what our service costs the home buyer
- 30
- year maximum repayment term available
- R110k
- saved on a R1.5m bond for every 0.5% off your rate
Straight answers
Home loan questions South Africans actually ask
What does a bond originator do?
A bond originator submits your home loan application to several banks at once, compares the offers they return, and negotiates for a lower interest rate on your behalf. FinCraft is a South African bond originator: you complete one application and one set of documents, and we approach ABSA, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec and others simultaneously.
How much does FinCraft charge?
Nothing. Our service is free to the home buyer. The bank that ultimately grants your home loan pays our commission, and that commission is not added to your bond or your interest rate.
How long does home loan approval take in South Africa?
Most banks respond with an offer in principle within three to seven working days of receiving a complete application. Final grant follows the property valuation. Registration of the bond at the deeds office typically takes a further six to twelve weeks.
What is the current prime lending rate in South Africa?
The South African prime lending rate is 10.5%, based on a repo rate of 7% plus the standard 3.5% bank margin. Last reviewed 23 July 2026. Home loans are usually quoted relative to prime — for example "prime less 0.25%" — so the rate you are offered depends on your credit profile, deposit and income.
Can I get a home loan with a bad credit record?
Often, yes. South African banks assess credit records differently from one another, so a profile declined by one lender is regularly approved by another. What matters most is affordability, the size of your deposit and how recent any adverse listings are. If you are under debt review, the review must be cleared before a bank will grant a bond.
How much deposit do I need to buy a house in South Africa?
100% home loans are available, particularly for first-time buyers, so a deposit is not always required. However a deposit of 10% to 20% materially improves the interest rate a bank will offer. Note that you will still need cash for transfer duty, bond registration and attorney fees, which are not covered by the home loan.
What is transfer duty and when do I pay it?
Transfer duty is a tax paid to SARS when property changes ownership. For the 2026/27 tax year no transfer duty is payable on properties up to R1 210 000, after which it rises on a sliding scale. It is paid to the transferring attorney before registration. If you buy a new build from a VAT-registered developer, VAT applies instead and no transfer duty is due.
Should I use a bond originator or go directly to my own bank?
Your own bank gives you a single offer with no competing quote to measure it against. An originator creates competition, which is what moves the rate. Using an originator also does not stop you accepting your own bank's offer — it simply means you will know whether it was actually the best one.
Guides
Buying property in South Africa, explained
Refinancing
Should you switch your bond to another bank?
Refinancing an existing bond can save six figures over the remaining term — or cost you money. How to work out which, before you commit.
Credit
Can you get a home loan with a bad credit record in South Africa?
A low credit score is not an automatic decline. What South African banks actually look at, what disqualifies you outright, and how to improve your odds.
Applying
Every document you need for a home loan application in South Africa
A complete checklist of what South African banks require, whether you are employed, self-employed, a foreign national or earning commission.
Find out what you qualify for — free
A short call is all it takes to know your number. No cost, no obligation, and no impact on your credit score for an initial assessment.