Cornerstone Home Loans was established in 2003 and operates as a Southern African bond origination company for local banking institutions. The company provides financial products and related services to prospective home owners for the acquisition of a property, or to build or buy a home.  

Cornerstone Home Loans is a young and energetic company, committed to becoming a major player in the bond origination industry. The company is unswerving in its efforts to provide each client with honest and transparent guidance and assistance throughout the process of mortgage bond origination, registration and property ownership transferal.
 
Cornerstone Home Loans’ head office is situated in Midrand, with branches in Pretoria, Mpumalanga and East London. Each office is an independently owned franchise. The business model enhances service levels due to the extended ownership structure versus a large staff complement. Further company representatives are available in Cape Town, Bloemfontein, Mossel Bay, Potchefstroom and Polokwane.

1. Free services
Cornerstone Home Loans derives its revenues directly from the banks for the submission and registration of end user home loans. The company’s services are free of charge to the client, with no hidden costs or penalties from the banks for utilising a bond originator.

Cornerstone Home Loans is simply an extension of the banks’ existing sales team that negotiates the best interest rate on your behalf. Recent market reports estimate that the total savings by consumers that utilised the services of bond originators exceeds R100 million per month.

Clients benefit daily from using the services of Cornerstone Home Loans. The company:
  • Boasts strategic alliances with SAPCOR, top South African attorneys and four of South Africa’s largest banks
  • Gives clients the most appropriate advice to suit their financial and lifestyle requirements
  • Assists in the timeous completion and submission of the required documentation and supporting documentation for loan applications
  • Offers its clients guidance and peace of mind throughout the bond registration process
  • Handles all queries between the client and the banks
  • Negotiates the best interest rates with the banks
  • Negotiates discounted legal and conveyancing fees
  • Provides a service level that exceeds every client’s expectations
  • Provides its expertise and performs all these tasks free of charge to the client
2. Significant savings
Cornerstone Home Loans offers its clients significant savings, over and above an improved interest rate from the bank.

Any client that utilises the services of Cornerstone Home Loans’ approved registering attorneys for any home loan product over R200 000, will have their bond registration fees paid for them by Cornerstone Home Loans.

The savings are as follows:

Bond registered Normal costs Due by client
*terms and conditions apply

R300 000

R4 763

Nil

R500 000

R6 653

Nil

R1 million

R9 386

Nil

R2 million

R12 909

Nil


 3. Banks and technology
Cornerstone Home Loans has direct agreements and contracts with four of South Africa’s large banks, including ABSA, First National Bank, Nedbank, Standard Bank.

The company is fully automated and electronically linked to the banks in South Africa via a system called BondTrak. This management tool utilises cutting edge technology and operates as a processing platform. BondTrak enables Cornerstone Home Loans to track the development of any registration process at any stage, which increases the transparency and turnaround time of the approval process.

By having implemented BondTrak throughout the company, Cornerstone Home Loans is able to:

  • Capture and submit electronic home loans directly to all major banks
  • Track and manage applications through the entire registration process
  • Update clients via SMS at any stage of their bond registration process
  • Manage commissions
  • Credit checks online
  • Manage consultant information
  • Obtain statistics and reports




4. Compliance
The company complies with the regulations and code of conduct of the National Association of Mortgage Originators (NAMO). This organisation is the South African governing body that regulates the practice of mortgage originators.

5. Opportunities
The boom in the property market created a need for specialised organisations to act on behalf of consumers - to offer them the right financial products and services and to represent their best interests at the local banking institutions. Cornerstone Home Loans offers the benefits of an established infrastructure and a respected brand. The company is well positioned to grow the brand and franchise opportunities are available to committed and energetic parties.



   What are the costs involved in utilising a bond originator?

What savings can I expect from using the services of a bond originator?

Does Cornerstone utilise any other bond originators to provide its services?

What costs can I expect to incur during the property/home purchasing process?

What are the typical checklist points that I should consider before buying a property?

Are sellers legally required to disclose any defects on the house that could influence a decision to buy?

If a house in the market has electrical problems, who is responsible for the associated costs?

What is the difference between a freehold property and a sectional-title unit?

If a property’s registration at the Deeds Office is complete, but the seller still resides in the house, when can occupational rent be charged and how much?