Following a landmark 2025 that redefined the benchmarks of the South African property auction industry, In2Assets enters 2026 with a clear message: the commercial and industrial sectors are no longer just recovering, they are accelerating.

Building on the momentum of a year that saw the company secure five prestigious South African Auctioneers (SAIA) Awards, including the coveted Property Auction of the Year, In2Assets is positioning itself as the primary gateway for investors looking to capitalize on a resurgent South African economy.

From Strength to Strength: A 2025 Retrospective

The previous year was nothing short of phenomenal for In2Assets. Highlighting the company's dominance was a record-breaking R 120 million industrial park. This success has fueled a surge in "auction-first" strategies among corporate sellers and institutional funds, who now view the transparency and efficiency of the In2Assets platform as the gold standard for liquidity.

"Our performance in 2025 proved that the market has a deep appetite for quality assets when presented through a transparent, high-tech platform," says Hein Hattingh, CEO of In2Assets. "As we move into 2026, we are seeing a fundamental shift from defensive holding to strategic acquisition."

KZN: The Epicentre of Development

A significant portion of this renewed optimism is centered in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where a "wave of capital" is being deployed into transformative projects.

• Tourism Revitalisation: The sector is witnessing a bold new era with the launch of the Zimbali Marina and the Zimbali Country Estate, part of a massive R20 billion "Vision 2030" masterplan. These developments are set to redefine the North Coast as a global leisure destination. 
• Club Med scheduled to open its doors in July 2026, in Tinley Manor, just north of Ballito, is being hailed as the most significant tourism investment in South Africa since the construction of Sun City. For property investors and stakeholders, "The Club Med Effect" is already delivering tangible returns, driving up demand for land, retail space, and residential stock across the North Coast.
• Retail Resilience: Despite the rise of e-commerce, the KZN retail sector is expanding. Major investments in nodes like La Lucia Mall and the continued "Gateway effect" in Durban North are attracting national brands and international retailers.
• Industrial Dominance: Demand for logistics and warehousing remains at an all-time high. With national vacancy rates hovering near record lows of 3.8%, In2Assets is seeing unprecedented competition for industrial sites near the N3 corridor and the Dube Tradeport.
• Durban Port: The new co-appointment of one of the world’s biggest Port Operators who took office of the Durban Port late in 2025, already shows massive improvement in operations and timelines which predicts that the Durban Harbour has all the elements to become the Flagship of all harbours on the African continent.

Offices:

The demand for offices in the La Lucia/Gateway Precinct areas has exceeded peaks experienced prior to Covid. Massive International Corporates and Call Centres are already occupying large scale offices and demand almost exceeds supply at the moment.

The Residential Upswing: A "Semigration" Boom

2026 marks a definitive turning point for the residential sector. A combination of stabilizing interest rates and the ongoing "semigration" of families from inland provinces to the KZN coast has sparked a flurry of new developments.

Projects like Seaton Estate, Zululami Luxury Coastal Estate, and new upmarket offerings in Hilton and Umhlanga are meeting the demand for secure, lifestyle-oriented living. This residential growth is creating a "halo effect", driving further demand for surrounding commercial services and neighbourhood retail centres. Nationally, KZN offers some of the most prestigious private and public schools in the country.

Looking Ahead: Innovation in Every Bid

As In2Assets prepares for its first major auction cycle of 2026, the firm is doubling down on its technological edge. Its industry-leading livestreaming platform connects local assets to a global pool of bidders, ensuring that South African real estate remains a competitive asset class on the world stage.

With a pipeline of high-value industrial plants, retail centres, and prime development land already scheduled for the first quarter, the outlook for 2026 is one of undeniable growth.

About In2Assets:

In2Assets is a leading national property auction house specializing in commercial, industrial, and agricultural real estate. Headquartered in Durban and operating across all nine provinces, the firm is dedicated to transparency, market-leading research, and achieving maximum value through competitive bidding.