OPINION – Why investing in property is not low-risk or passive.

Loading player...
GUEST - Maya Fisher-French is a financial journalist and author at Maya on Money

Investing in property can be a great investment but be sure that you understand the risks. I recently ran a survey on social media to understand what asset classes people invest in. The majority of women prefer property over investments such as unit trusts or exchange-traded funds which are related to the stock market.

One of the reasons people – especially women – invest in property is that they believe it is less risky than investing in market-related investments. They feel that property is tangible; they can see it and touch it, and they understand how it works. While property can be a viable investment, it is incorrect to believe that an investment property is less risky than a diversified portfolio of shares. It is also not a passive source of income. It requires a lot of management.
14 Mar 2024 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Rustenburg mayor raises alarm over rise in illegal mining

Rustenburg Executive Mayor Sheila Mabale-Huma has raised concerns over the growing threat of illegal mining in the North West town. Her warning follows the deaths of 14 illegal miners and injuries to scores of others at a disused mine in Nkaneng near Rustenburg. The incident has again highlighted the dangerous…
19 Aug 2PM 10 min

South Africans Under Pressure: Inside the Q2 2026 Debt Index

DebtBusters’ Benay Sager breaks down the latest Debt Index, revealing consumers still using 64% of their income to service debt, with high earners needing 103% just to stay afloat. We unpack the surge in unsecured credit, cost‑of‑living shocks, multi‑lender borrowing, and why debt counselling outcomes are improving despite rising financial…
19 Aug 1PM 8 min

DRDGOLD’s Big Year: Earnings Surge & Vision 2028 Takes Shape

DRDGOLD CEO Niël Pretorius unpacks a standout FY2026 performance, with revenue up 42%, operating profit up 83%, and major Vision 2028 infrastructure coming online. We explore production stability, the company’s debt‑free position, dividend uplift, and how new assets like the Daggafontein TSF and DP2 expansion reshape future output.
19 Aug 1PM 15 min

SA Consumer Price Inflation slows to 4.3% in July

Nedbank Economist Isaac Matshego breaks down South Africa’s July CPI print, which eased to 4.3% as fuel prices softened and goods inflation cooled. We unpack the drivers behind the slowdown, the stubborn pressure from housing and utilities, and what this means for consumer wallets heading into the September MPC meeting…
19 Aug 12PM 16 min

Leaky Pipelines & Broken Rungs: Fixing Gender Gaps in Investments

PPS Investments’ Fran Troskie breaks down why asset management still struggles with gender parity — from caregiving burdens to promotion barriers, wage gaps, and murky leadership pathways. A candid Women’s Month conversation on redesigning the industry for true inclusion.
18 Aug 1PM 16 min