First Property at 25: Lessons From Lebo Grass

In 2012, Lebo Grass made a decision that most 25-year-olds wouldn't consider: instead of buying a car with her first real salary, she bought a property in Protea Glen, Soweto. That single decision became the foundation of seven income streams and a career in property mentorship.

The logic was simple but counter-cultural. A car depreciates the moment you drive it off the lot. A property, especially in an area with growth potential, appreciates over time and can generate rental income. While her peers were making car payments, Lebo was building equity.

But it wasn't easy. The bond application process in South Africa can be daunting for first-time buyers. Lebo had to navigate transfer duties, bond registration fees, and the reality that banks don't always make it simple. She learned to read every document, question every fee, and negotiate every rate.

The property in Protea Glen taught her three critical lessons. First, location matters — but not in the way luxury property marketers want you to believe. Emerging suburbs with infrastructure development often outperform established areas in percentage growth. Second, your first property doesn't have to be your dream home. It's a financial instrument first. Third, the tenant pays your bond — if you structure it correctly.

Today, that first property is worth more than three times its purchase price. More importantly, it gave Lebo the credibility and experience to help hundreds of South Africans navigate their own property journeys. The car she didn't buy would be worth almost nothing today.

If you're in your twenties and earning a salary, ask yourself: what will compound better over the next decade — a depreciating asset or an appreciating one? The answer usually points toward property.