Transfer Costs Calculator

How to Estimate Property Transfer Fees in South Africa

When buying property in South Africa, transfer costs are one of the biggest cash expenses you must prepare for. A transfer costs calculator helps you estimate how much you’ll pay for transfer duty, attorney fees, deeds office fees, bond registration and other charges before the property is registered in your name.

This guide breaks down each cost, explains how the calculation works, and provides simple examples to help you estimate accurately.

What Transfer Costs Include

1. Transfer Duty

Transfer duty is a tax paid by the buyer when a property transfers into their name.

• Calculated on the purchase price or market value.

• Lower-priced properties may qualify for zero transfer duty.

• Higher values fall into percentage brackets.

2. Transfer Attorney (Conveyancing) Fees

These fees are charged by the attorney handling the legal transfer.

• Based on the property purchase price.

• Includes professional fees and VAT.

3. Deeds Office Fees

These are fixed government fees charged to register the property with the Deeds Office.

4. Disbursements

Additional administrative charges such as:

• FICA checks

• Postage and petties

• Electronic system fees

• Clearance figures

• Copies and searches

5. Bond Registration Costs (If You’re Taking a Home Loan)

If you take a bond, you will also pay:

• Bond attorney fees

• Bond deeds office fees

• Bank initiation fees

• Admin and electronic charges

How a Transfer Costs Calculator Works

A typical calculator uses the following inputs:

• Property purchase price

  Bulk Buy, Big Savings - Start Today!

  Browse More

• Whether transfer duty applies

• Whether a bond will be registered

• Bond amount

• Attorney scale fees and deeds office fees

Then it estimates each cost component:

1. Transfer duty

2. Transfer attorney fees

3. Deeds office fees

4. Disbursements

5. Bond registration fees (if applicable)

6. Total payable before registration

Step-by-Step Examples

Example 1: Property Price R1,000,000

• Transfer Duty: R0

• Transfer Attorney Fee (approx.): R12,000 – R15,000

• Deeds Office Fee: Around R1,000 – R1,500

• Disbursements: R1,500 – R3,000

Estimated Total Transfer Costs: R14,500 – R19,500
(Bond costs excluded)

Example 2: Property Price R1,500,000

• Transfer Duty: Payable on this amount

• Transfer Attorney Fee: ± R15,000 – R18,000

• Deeds Office Fee: ± R1,500 – R2,000

• Disbursements: ± R2,000 – R3,500

Estimated Total Transfer Costs: R20,000 – R26,000
(Bond costs excluded)

Example 3: Property Price R3,000,000

• Transfer Duty: Higher bracket

• Transfer Attorney Fee: ± R22,000 – R28,000

• Deeds Office Fee: ± R2,000 – R3,000

• Disbursements: ± R2,500 – R4,000

Estimated Total Transfer Costs: R26,500 – R35,000
(Bond costs excluded)

Bond Registration Cost Estimate (If You Take a Home Loan)

Bond costs are separate from transfer costs. Typically:

• Bond Attorney Fee: R10,000 – R20,000

• Bond Deeds Office Fee: R1,500 – R3,000

• Bank Initiation Fee: Up to R6,000

• Disbursements: R1,000 – R2,500

Estimated Bond Registration Total: R15,000 – R30,000

How to Calculate Your Own Transfer Costs

Use this simple formula:

Total Transfer Costs =

Transfer Duty

• Transfer Attorney Fee

• Deeds Office Fee

• Disbursements
  (+ Bond Registration Costs, if applicable)

If you want the most accurate calculation, plug your purchase price and bond amount into your preferred fee scale or worksheet.

Tips to Avoid Unexpected Expenses

• Request a full written quotation from your conveyancer before signing.

• Confirm if any municipal clearance costs are included.

• Double-check whether VAT or transfer duty applies.

• Budget for both transfer and bond costs if using a mortgage.

How African Land Helps You

African Land provides simplified property guides, clear educational articles and practical calculators to help buyers budget confidently. With the right information, you can plan your purchase without surprises and negotiate with clarity.