# Alternative Ways to Buy a Home in South Africa

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5.  Alternative routes



A standard bank bond is not the only route into property. These guides cover rent-to-own and instalment-sale agreements, the First Home Finance subsidy for lower-income buyers, pension-backed home loans, and other less-travelled — sometimes faster — ways to own a home in South Africa.

[Alternative routes](https://bond.co.za/guides/alternative-routes)

[First-time buyer grants & subsidies](https://bond.co.za/guides/first-time-home-buyer-grant-south-africa)

How First Home Finance (formerly FLISP) works, who qualifies, and how the subsidy can reduce the bond you need.

Updated 23 Sept 20266 min read

[Alternative routes](https://bond.co.za/guides/alternative-routes)

[Pension-backed home loans](https://bond.co.za/guides/pension-backed-home-loan-south-africa)

Can your pension or provident fund help you buy a house? How section 19(5) loans work, who qualifies, and the risks.

Updated 04 Sept 20267 min read

[Alternative routes](https://bond.co.za/guides/alternative-routes)

[Reverse mortgage South Africa](https://bond.co.za/guides/reverse-mortgage-south-africa)

How home equity release actually works in South Africa, who offers it today, the compounding risk to your estate, and the alternatives worth ruling out first.

Updated 30 Sept 20268 min read

[Alternative routes](https://bond.co.za/guides/alternative-routes)

[Rent-to-own houses South Africa](https://bond.co.za/guides/rent-to-own-south-africa)

How rent-to-own (instalment sale) contracts work in South Africa, the Deeds Office registration that protects you, the informal-market risks, and when a normal bond is the cheaper route.

Updated 01 Oct 20269 min read

[Alternative routes](https://bond.co.za/guides/alternative-routes)

[First Home Finance application fee scam](https://bond.co.za/guides/first-home-finance-application-fee-scam-south-africa)

Applying for First Home Finance is free — the red flags of an application-fee scam, and the numbers to report it.

Updated 14 Oct 20265 min read

[Alternative routes](https://bond.co.za/guides/alternative-routes)

[First Home Finance subsidy (FLISP)](https://bond.co.za/guides/flisp-first-home-finance)

R38,911–R169,264 once-off for first-time buyers earning R3,501–R22,000 a month — amounts, qualifying rules and how to apply free.

Updated 14 Oct 20268 min read

[Alternative routes](https://bond.co.za/guides/alternative-routes)

[Buying a repossessed house in South Africa: how it works](https://bond.co.za/guides/buying-a-repossessed-house-south-africa)

Repossessed houses are sold by the sheriff at a sale in execution or directly by the bank — market-related prices, voetstoots and as-is, financed like any other bond.

Updated 28 Oct 20267 min read

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