Penthouses at Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort rarely change hands. This immaculate home is well worth viewing!
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• Spacious 119m2, two-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment • Uninterrupted views of Table Bay greet you at the door • State-of-the-art kitchen with sea & mountain views • Tucked-away scullery and separate guest bathroom • Main bedroom with dressing room & generous wardrobes • Full en-suite with walk-in shower, double vanity, bath & loo • Spacious second bedroom opens onto the terrace • Storeroom & undercover parking bay included in the price
HOMEFRONT
Oasis offers 24-hour security, medical back-up from an on-site Care Centre, opulent Clubhouse with restaurant, coffee bar, lounge areas, bridge room, billiards room, gym and 25m heated indoor swimming pool.
13 OCTOBER 2016 WWW BDLIVE View a2021 video walkthrough on .our website:.CO.ZA WWW.BUSINESSLIVE.CO.ZA 5 FEBRUARY www.oasisretirementresort.co.za/resales
MUST-READ
A fresh take on winemaking PAGE 2
Retire here in resort style PAGE 3
Bow Tie, the smart-enabled Rabie Property Group development in Burgundy Estate, Cape Town
Where to invest this year 2021 property outlook PAGE 6
Residential property below R2m is the hottest investment asset right now. We look at what’s on offer where PAGE 4
Own Sandton from
R7 078 p/m
Studio, 1 and 2-bedroom lifestyle apartments from R9 12 900 114 Rivonia Road The depictions herein are for illustration purposes only and are subject to change without prior notice.
Where life happens Reimagine cosmopolitan living within Africa’s richest square mile. Wedgewood Sandton is a ground-breaking partnership with internationally award-winning property experts. These first-of-its-kind Balwin Lifestyle Apartments have been crafted around an engaged and accessible city lifestyle.
Fibre enabled
Smeg appliances included
24-hour security
only R20 000 deposit The depictions herein are for illustration purposes only and are subject to change without prior notice.
Training Science
Sports Facility
Register your interest www.wedge woodsandton.co.za | 087 350 1202
Rooftop entertainment area
HOMEFRONT LIFESTYLE
The vine hunter Damascene winemaker Jean Smit’s hands-on approach to bringing in the annual harvest shows that appreciating wine is much like appreciating art WORDS: DEBBIE HATHWAY :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Jean Smit has worked 13 harvests on four continents
I
’m not sure how I escaped a wine education in early adulthood. That changed when I relocated to Cape Town in 2006, a lifechanging move that swiftly exposed me to the bounty of the Cape Winelands. It’s almost a rite of passage if you want to be deemed a Capetonian. Over time, I became less intimidated by the swirling, sniffing, tasting, spitting analyses by apparent wine fundis and simply relished any opportunity to sample the tipple produced by skilled winemakers. In essence, appreciating wine is the same as appreciating art. Buy what you like. And what I liked then was Boekenhoutskloof’s The Chocolate Block.
In 2007 only 586 barrels were selected for the final Syrah-based blend from this Franschhoek estate. It was not widely available, but my sister knew of a limited allocation at specialist store La Cotte Inn, stockists of South African and international wines and imported French cheese, in Franschhoek. It was a thrill to drive out to collect a bit of both – a passion shared, as it turns out, by Jean Smit, who was the winemaker at Boekenhoutskloof from 2008 until he moved to Damascene in 2017.
LIMITED PRODUCTION La Cotte Inn is a pit stop favoured by Smit on his way home from work – the allure of its cellar is hard to
resist and has been known to delay dinner! The store also stocks Damascene wines, subject to availability, at R395 each. They all retail at the same price so as not to rate one better than the other. “If I put something in a bottle it needs to be the best, and I put my faith in every single wine,” says Smit. Late last year, I was delighted to be invited to an exclusive Damascene tasting at Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic in Hout Bay. The fine-dining restaurant offers a set menu of delectable contemporary tapas, including a legendary risotto. It is one of the few establishments that features Damascene wines on its wine list – while stocks last, as production is limited. The Moya Meaker Pinot
Noir (2,600 bottles) and Damascene Stellenbosch Cabernet Franc 2019 (1,616 bottles) were my favourites in a line-up that also included the Damascene Franschhoek Semillon 2019 (1,324 bottles), Damascene Stellenbosch Syrah 2019 (2,727 bottles), Damascene Cederberg Syrah 2019 (1,432 bottles) and Damascene Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (2,626 bottles).
A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN All these wines are 100% true to the varietal and location specified in their name. It’s the golden thread of Smit’s creations. “It’s not something I do differently. It’s about the site, the wine, the quality, the vineyards,” he says.
Experimentation is key. “Thirty percent of what we do is going into bottle, not because the rest is rubbish but because I want to push the bar with the remaining 70% to see what’s working where and to challenge myself. We sign vineyards long term so we can have consistency and we can grow slowly but surely. I couldn’t do that alone. That’s why David is backing me,” he says. He’s referring to his partnership with David Curl, former owner of Château Gaby in Canon-Fronsac, Bordeaux, and now of Moya Meaker in Elgin. Curl sold Château Gaby in 2017, which is when Smit came on board. Curl wanted to make wine in honour of his late motherin-law, Moya Meaker, who was crowned Miss South Africa 1959, and he needed a full-time winemaker to do it. “We just knew from day one that we wanted to do business together. I said to him, ‘We can do a Moya Meaker but I’ve got a lot of other stories I want to tell. And you’re the person I want to tell them with,’” says Smit. Three years down the line they are grateful for the results. “It’s about attention to detail; attention to farming; less cult, more cultivation – and that’s really what we want you to see in the wines,” he says. Once lockdown levels have been eased, private tastings will be possible by appointment. E-mail Smit at jean@damascenevineyards. com or jean@moyameaker. com for sales and wine tasting enquiries.
A
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David Curl, owner of Moya Meaker in Elgin
PUBLICATION ADVERTISING SALES Chantelle Balsdon
chantelle@augmentcreative.com
084 061 7888
FOCUS ON: OASIS RETIREMENT RESORT
O
ver the past 14 years, Oasis Retirement Resort has proved to be one of the most popular retirement resorts in the Western Cape. Consisting of six highrise apartment blocks with one-, two- and threebedroom apartments for independent living, the resort is centrally situated at Century City, near the Cape Town CBD and V&A Waterfront, with convenient access to the Southern and Northern suburbs. It is also within easy reach of many well-known beaches, wine farms and leisure spots. Century City is a “city within a city”, offering many shopping and leisure options as well as health facilities and professional services nearby. Intaka Island, a 16ha nature reserve comprising natural wetlands and manmade islands, is a unique feature of the precinct.
SALES SPIKE ADVERTORIAL
Perfect lifestyle, perfect price Choose from a selection of sectional title luxury resort apartments at attractive prices
WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
During the second half of 2020, Oasis Retirement Resort’s on-site sales team not only completed nine sales totalling R42,645,000, but also signed 12 leases and numerous lease renewals. Although the second wave of Covid-19 infections and the resulting lockdown slowed sales over December and early January, activity has spiked again. A number of beautiful apartments are available for sale at realistic prices, offering buyers very good value. With a spectrum of styles, sizes and views, these units would suit the pockets of a variety of buyers.
Set in pristine landscaped gardens with streams and lawns, the resort has magnificent views of Table Bay, Table Mountain, the Durbanville hills and the Hottentots Holland mountains. At the heart of this oasis is a state-of-the-art clubhouse, complete with a gym, a library, a restaurant, a coffee bar, a billiards room, a multipurpose function room, a lounge and private dining areas. The gym has a 25m heated indoor pool, the latest gym equipment and a sauna and steam room.
PHASED CARE The on-site Oasis Care Centre is a key factor for many would-be buyers. It provides four phases of care, namely a physical rehabilitation wing licensed with the Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa, assisted living, frail care, and Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Such top facilities in a five-star living environment are a rare find in SA. A primary healthcare service is also available to apartment dwellers in the resort. Oasis Retirement Resort benefits from a triple
Such top facilities in a five-star living environment are a rare find in SA layer of security. Century City has a 24-hour CCTV control centre and security patrols, whereas the resort has its own complement of guards and concierges at the entrance gates and at the apartment blocks.
LUXURY ENVIRONMENT Sales and rentals are strong because of the demand for safe, secure retirement options in a luxury environment that offers independent living with excellent backup systems in place. Covid-19 protocols and best practices are observed by management at all times. And thanks to the large variety of top facilities and club amenities, as well as lush gardens, water features and birdlife, residents are able to enjoy a peaceful lifestyle without having to leave the resort.
GET IN TOUCH OASIS RETIREMENT RESORT Tel: 082 495 7168 (Cindy), 082 785 6160 (Linda), 083 270 4755 (Lorenda) Facebook: Oasis Retirement Resort Instagram: @oasis_retirement_resort oasisretirementresort.co.za
Penthouses at Oasis Luxury Retirement Resort rarely change hands. This immaculate home is well worth viewing! • Spacious 119m2, two-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment • Uninterrupted views of Table Bay greet you at the door • State-of-the-art kitchen with sea & mountain views • Tucked-away scullery and separate guest bathroom • Main bedroom with dressing room & generous wardrobes • Full en-suite with walk-in shower, double vanity, bath & loo • Spacious second bedroom opens onto the terrace • Storeroom & undercover parking bay included in the price Oasis offers 24-hour security, medical back-up from an on-site Care Centre, opulent Clubhouse with restaurant, coffee bar, lounge areas, bridge room, billiards room, gym and 25m heated indoor swimming pool. View a video walkthrough on our website: www.oasisretirementresort.co.za/resales
HOMEFRONT
Balwin Properties’ Greenpark Lifestyle Estate in Boksburg
PROPERTY TREND
Sought-after property: where to invest in 2021 Residential property below R2m is the hottest investment asset right now. We look at what’s on offer where WORDS: MARLENE BOUWER :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
Arnold Maritz, co-principal, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty: Cape Town Southern Suburbs
Bruwer De Jager, national sales manager, Devmark Property Group
F
or the first time in almost a decade, agents are reporting a spike in enquiries and sales in many areas as a record-low interest rate and lower prices drive the first-time buyers’ market. According to Lightstone Property, Cape Town has had the highest number of these buyers investing in the R1.5m to R3m price band, compared with the other metros where the most activity is being seen in the R700,000 to R1m band. By the end of October 2020, 189 freehold homes and 40 sectional title units had already been registered. Langa and Belhar lead the list of top 10 suburbs for firsttime buyers with 112 and 91 purchases respectively in 2020. Plumstead, Wynberg,
Observatory, Kenilworth, Rondebosch, Claremont, Ottery and Sea Point are also popular. “Many of these buyers are looking for freestanding family homes and are often viewing higher-priced properties than they would normally look at in the hope that sellers will accept lower offers,” says Arnold Maritz, co-principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs. This agency’s sectional title specialist for the area, Dave Burger, says during lockdown he received 30% more enquiries for apartments in Mowbray and Rosebank, where beautifully renovated one-bedroom units can be found for under R1m. “Since the start of
Richard Day, CEO, Eazi Real Estate
Steve Brookes, founder and CEO, Balwin Properties
Level 4 restrictions, I’ve actually had an increase in buyer enquiries, especially from first-time buyers and investor purchasers anticipating a spike in student rental demand,” Burger says. Wellington in the Boland is enjoying a surge of market activity at entry to mid-level. “Despite Covid-19, the median sale price increased to R1.55m, with the sectional title median price also increasing in 2020 from R680,000 to R778,000,” says Chris Cilliers, CEO and co-principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in the Winelands. Richard Day, CEO of fixed-fee agency Eazi Real Estate, says: “In Cape Town’s southeastern suburbs and surrounds, including Grassy Park, Gilray and Belhar, several buyers are competing for the same properties, in some instances resulting in a higher-thanasking price being achieved. In October our median time to sell was only 11 days.” Day has noticed high demand for freehold properties below the R2.5m mark among those seeking a change in lifestyle or more space for their family, as well as extended families buying together. Mature buyers, too, are on
the hunt for smaller, lowmaintenance properties. “With dual living becoming more popular, properties with a flatlet for additional income or to provide space for adult children – university students or young professionals – or elderly parents are sought after. Generally we find that our sellers are prompted mainly by changing lifestyle needs rather than financial constraints, and are scaling up or down accordingly,” he says.
BIG SHIFT Savvy investors who want to grow their property portfolio and homeowners putting down roots are snapping up the more affordable homes on offer by SA’s leading developers. Devmark Property Group national sales manager Bruwer de Jager says the country is facing a big shift away from the traditional freehold neighbourhood segment to very secure sectional title schemes. “Owner-occupiers are happy to settle for smaller but newly constructed units with the peace of mind that comes with safety and convenience. And property investors spot the potential for asset appreciation in well-located sectional title
schemes, especially if they are able to secure units in the first phase of the development period under the R2m mark,” De Jager says. “The resale market in this price bracket will remain liquid in highdemand neighbourhoods due to affordability and a low interest rate.” The Glen, Devmark’s sectional title apartment block in Bellville in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs, comprises 64 sectional title apartments ranging from R640,000 to R875,000. The area has a family-orientated culture, with buyers seeking secure living as well as amenities close by. “Devmark Property Group took the initiative to support this community, which has long cried out for a good-quality sectional title scheme. Our product caters for those who wish to work and play close to their families and provides safe, affordable homes for those seeking independence,” De Jager adds. Meanwhile Bow Tie, Rabie Property Group’s arrangement of stylish apartments and townhouses in Burgundy Estate, attracts purchasers who want to be at the forefront of innovation. With Milnerton and Blouberg beaches to the west and the Durbanville winelands to the east, its location is just one unique selling point. Smart design, green building principles, high-speed fibre and verdant landscaping add to the appeal. Apartments with open-plan hosting areas start from R845,000, and threebedroom townhouses with private gardens from R1.88m.
RECORD SALES
The Glen in Glenhaven, Bellville, is a sectional title apartment block by Devmark
On site at Golden Grove Estate, the Amdec Group’s affordable housing project in Ottery
Along with enthusiastic buyers, Balwin Properties is celebrating unprecedented sales worth R1bn in seven weeks since November 2020 at Wedgewood Sandton, a lifestyle development offering studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments priced from R850,000, including bond and transfer costs. Balwin CEO Steve Brookes describes this achievement
as “a massive positive for this country and the property market as a whole”. The company is now also selling super secure, ultra-modern apartments from R499,900 for a onebedroom unit and R699,900 for a two-bedroom unit at Greenpark Lifestyle Estate in Boksburg. And in Tshwane it is launching Mooikloof Eco Estate, which comprises upmarket apartments and a net-zero six-star rated Edge-certified green lifestyle centre with a fully equipped gym, a communal swimming pool and a restaurant. The options range from one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments starting from R799,900 to three-bedroom, twobathroom homes from R1.69m. No bond or transfer costs apply. The Amdec Group has announced the development of a R500m affordable housing estate of 1,000 apartments in Ottery, Cape Town. The group is applying its experience in delivering high-end residential estate living to providing housing for lower-income citizens. Its philosophy is to create a sense of community among residents with greater consideration of lifestyle benefits. Golden Grove Estate will be developed on an 11ha site on the corner of De Wet Road and Elm Street. On offer are 24m 2 onebedroom units, 36m 2 twobedroom units and 54m 2 three-bedroom units, let to those with an employment history and a joint household income of no more than R22,000 a month. The rent will not exceed 30% of a tenant’s household income. The estate will include a convenience retail centre and laundry; communal gardens and a children’s playground; a creche, daycare and aftercare/ supervised homework facilities; an on-site furniture workshop where residents can build and/or assemble their own flat-pack furniture; five-a-side soccer pitches and basketball courts; and a communal recreational clubhouse for residents.
STANDS
3m18m
HOMEFRONT INVESTMENT UPDATE
2021 property outlook
Industry experts agree that opportunities for investment in properties priced below R2m will remain promising this year, whereas headwinds are expected in the midmarket sector
WORDS: DEBBIE HATHWAY :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED
T
he demand for homes priced below R2m is expected to remain very lively in 2021 as long as the interest rate remains at current levels. RealNet MD Gerhard Kotzé believes demand will be upheld by first-time buyers and repeat buyers who are downscaling. “However, we may see the number of transactions in this bracket start to slow as banks begin to lend more cautiously in the face of growing concerns about employment stability,” he says. On the other hand, Kotzé expects the second tier of the market (between R2m and R4m) to encounter headwinds and advises owners who need to sell their homes to list them as soon as possible. Chas Everitt International property group CEO Berry Everitt predicts the residential property market will start losing some of its 2020 momentum soon, but inflation will probably remain
depressed and the Reserve Bank is likely to keep the interest rate low until at least 2022. “Even though we expect demand to remain strong, especially at the lower end of the market, we also foresee that bond approval rates will decline overall and that demand will translate into fewer actual sales this year,” he says. Everitt notes, however, that the number of South African homeowners planning to emigrate is falling. This bodes well for smaller towns and coastal areas. Isolation induced by the pandemic and the consequent need to work remotely have freed people up to move wherever they want to. As a result, these locations are seeing a surge in executive semigration and a comparable decline in housing inventory.
‘ZOOM’ TOWNS In the Western Cape, the villages attracting increased attention from prospective homeowners
are Malmesbury, Rooi Els, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay, Kleinmond, Hermanus, Onrus and Gansbaai. “Since the lockdown began, buyers have seen the value offered in ‘zoom’ towns [small towns that are growing fast due to the rise of remote work], and are snapping up seafront properties,” says Nicola Lloyd, Pam Golding Properties area manager for Rooi Els, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond. “Generally, the major demand is for homes priced between R2m and R3m.” Says Annien Borg, MD of Pam Golding Properties for the Boland and Overberg regions: “In the small, scenic villages of Onrus, Vermont and Sandbaai, vacant land is priced between R600,000 and R3m. Apartments start from R1m, and homes range from R2m for a twobedroom house to R16m for a beachfront villa.” According to Hercules Weyers, Pam Golding Properties area principal for Swartland Junction
A Betty’s Bay home marketed by Pam Golding Properties for R2.9m
“The rate of sales at Wedgewood Sandton exceeds anything we have achieved within any of our projects to date” Steve Brookes, CEO, Balwin Properties
Priced at R2.85m, this Malmesbury home is marketed by Pam Golding Properties
Steyn City, Midrand and Mount Royal Golf & Country Estate in Malmesbury, vacant plots of about 720m 2 are selling for between R550,000 and R1m here, whereas the prices of completed threeto five-bedroom homes range from R2.5m to R4.5m.
MAGIC FORMULA
Balwin Properties’ Wedgewood Sandton apartment development
Property remains a safe investment in uncertain times and offers many opportunities for tax relief. According to a recent report by New World Wealth and luxury lifestyle development Steyn City, SA is home to more than twice as many high net-worth individuals (HNWIs) as any other African country. It ranks 30th in the world in this regard, ahead of Greece, Portugal and Turkey. SA is a global pioneer in estate living and boasts many of the world’s best lifestyle estates, such as Steyn City in Midrand and Val de Vie in Paarl. New World Wealth estimates
that more than 45% of South African HNWIs live or have homes on estates. An additional 30% of HNWIs have homes in luxury apartment blocks, which has been the fastest growing residential segment in SA over the past 20 years in terms of price growth. Most of them are based in Johannesburg (Sandton, especially), Cape Town, Umhlanga and Pretoria. Meanwhile, residential developments retain popularity because they cater for a broad range of buyers in various price bands. Balwin Properties’ Wedgewood Sandton lifestyle apartment development, for example, has been achieving record sales, with R1bn sold since 21 November last year – that equates to an unprecedented rate of R22.2m in sales daily, over 45 days. A contributing factor to this success is the building design, which ensures attractive purchasing
opportunities until the final apartments are sold. “Balwin is renowned for our fast rate of sales but this exceeds anything we have achieved within any of our projects to date,” says CEO Steve Brookes. Rainmaker Marketing director Stefan Botha says he is proud to be associated with the Wedgewood Sandton offering. According to him, it has proved that the market responds favourably when there’s an ideal combination of product, price, location, a low interest rate and a low deposit requirement. “We’re delighted that there’s such a healthy balance between investors and first-time buyers who will make Wedgewood their home,” he says. Wedgewood Sandton has studio, one- and two-bedroom lifestyle apartments priced from R850,000. All bond and transfer costs are included in the purchase price.
BOKSBURG | GAUTENG | SOUTH AFRICA
Purchase NOW with the FLISP SUBSIDY*
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AFFORDABLE PRICE FOR...
CONVENIENCE, COMFORT & CHARM NO BOND COSTS & NO TRANSFER COSTS* Perfect access to the N12 Highway Nearby Top Education Facilities & Schools Entertainment, Top Restaurants & Fast Food Outlets Close to OR Tambo International Airport
STUDIO from
R499 900* Fiber & DSTV Ready
Close to Major Shopping Centres & Retail Stores Exclusive Lifestyle Centre with Dog Friendly Park Outdoor Gym and Sports Field State of the Art Security
1 BED 1 BATH from
R609 900*
Swimming Pool
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Outdoor Gym
2 BED 1 BATH from
R709 900* Restaurant & Function Room
2 BED 2 BATH 3 BED 2 BATH from from
R864 900*
Children’s Play Area
Dog Friendly Park
R909 900*
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Sports Field
ON SHOW | 2-6pm | Wed, Sat, Sun & All Public Holidays
Raymond White
082 822 5462 raymond@balwin.co.za Cnr. Pretoria Rd & Sett Str, Boksburg www.balwin.co.za
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