Neighbourhood 1 DECEMBER 2019
PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE
A natural beauty Whether you’re a serious investor aiming for the luxury market, a family person or a first-time buyer, now is the time to buy in the Winelands, page 6
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FRANCLY, MY DEAR...
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TWIST THE TRUTH
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SUBURB FOCUS: WINELANDS
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HAPPY HOLIDAY HOMES
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NEWS & LIFESTYLE
1 DECEMBER 2019
Editor’s exclusive CARLA REDELINGHUYS
Neighbourhood
In your hood:
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KWV | 021 807 3094 | kwv.co.za Gabriëlskloof | 028 284 9865 | gabrielskloof.co.za Raats Family Wines | 021 881 3078 | raats.co.za
A little goes a long way W
e’ve adopted a firm “no presents for Christmas” stance in our household – except if you fall in the still-youngenough-for-a-bedtime-story category, of course. For me there’s nothing worse than that mall madness right before the festive days. I know, I could do my shopping earlier, but it seems after October there’s never a good time – as soon as the tinsel goes up in the shopping centres and the speakers start blasting Boney M, chaos ensues. If, however, the need to shop is just too strong, how about moving away from the mainstream (read: mass produced) and finding some locally produced gems from one of SA’s many small businesses across the country? This year, local point-of-sale payments provider Yoco is playing Father Christmas by buying their small business’s products – thereby exposing the brands to thousands – and giving away this amazing merchandise totally free. In partnership with VISA, @YocoShopTheStreets is the free Instagram shop that’s giving back this festive season – helping merchants to reach a much wider audience.
“Everything in the Instagram shop is free; you just need to follow and post about why you should win the merchandise or vouchers from one of the many small businesses in our community,” says CEO and co-founder Katlego Maphai. “We want to shine a spotlight on our merchants and their products this festive season. They believe Yoco’s platform enables growth and brings people closer together. This Instagram shop will showcase merchants nationally even if they’re in a quiet street in PE. It’s about harnessing technology for the greater good. For Yoco, this means building small business.” Some of the merchants include Tuka Bijoux and Blvckelement (from Joburg), Hero Hounds and Gwisgo (Pretoria), Blondie Brown and Conquer (PE), Zulu Brides and The Timeless Closet (Durban), and Ka Pa Tée and The Bar Liquor from the Mother City. Yoco’s instagram store, @YocoShopTheStreets will be open until 24 December. Help be the change.
Let’s be franc Cabernet franc, one of the classic cultivars of Bordeaux, is finally claiming its place in the limelight WORDS: RICHARD HOLMES
IMAGES: SUPPLIED
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ven if you’ve never heard of cabernet franc, chances are you’ve tasted it. Alongside cabernet sauvignon, merlot and – occasionally – petit verdot and malbec, it’s one of the five grapes that make up a classic Bordeaux blend, those bold red wines ideal for winter. But winemakers are increasingly tapping into South Africa’s potential for crafting great cabernet franc, bottled all on its own. “Cabernet franc is South Africa’s answer to Argentina’s malbec or Chile’s carménère; it’s a Bordeaux variety that actually does better outside Bordeaux,” explains Cathy Marston, WSETaccredited wine educator at Cape Town’s International Wine Education Centre.
to celebrating special sites; their Cabernet Franc 2016 coming from a 15-year-old vineyard on the mountain slopes of this Overberg estate. Bright, lively and with elegant tannins underpinning concentrated fruit, it’s a wine drinking beautifully now, but will only improve over the next five years. Last, but certainly not least, are the wines of Bruwer Raats. A specialist in cabernet franc, his wines regularly collect five stars from the respected Platter’s Guide. They’re not cheap, but the Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2017
offers superb value and an excellent introduction to the varietal. These few producers are just the tip of the iceberg, with the latest Platter’s Guide listing dozens of cellars bottling cabernet franc on its own, a trend that has increased over the past decade. “People are looking for something that’s a little bit different, and there’s a new movement towards freshness in wine,” adds Cathy. “That doesn’t have to mean unripe and low alcohol, just not big and bold. And cabernet franc is ideal for that.”
That’s largely thanks to South Africa’s warmer climate, Cathy says. “The signature of cabernet franc is a green leafy edge and herbaceous character, but because we have so much sunshine in South Africa we can ripen it more successfully. You get lovely ripe fruit flavours, without being jammy.” That’s certainly the case for The Mentors Cabernet Franc, a fine premium offering from KWV. The Mentors range celebrates the Cape’s diverse terroir, with grapes for the 2016 cabernet franc vintage from Stellenbosch vineyards. Expect bold fruit, subtle fynbos notes and smooth tannins. The Landscape Series from Gabriëlskloof is also dedicated
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1 DECEMBER 2019
NEWS & LIFESTYLE
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Cape Town CBD
Truth Café | 021 200 0440 | za.truth.coffee/pages/truth-after-dark
A twist of Cape Truth Coffee’s After Dark menu celebrates South African flavours in all their diversity with playful twists that turn tradition on its head WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK
IMAGES: CRAVE PHOTOGRAPHY
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ruth Coffee’s mad inventor, steampunk-inspired interior feels like a place where anything is possible. Their reputation for fabulous coffee and out-of-this world patisserie, courtesy of Parisian pastry chef Kamal Hamzaoui, is already established. Now the After Dark dinner menu, running from 6pm till midnight, complete with matching cocktails, adds a new dimension to the food offering, channelling Truth’s irreverent creativity into a tonguein-cheek “gastro Kaap” celebration of favourite “Sowf Effrekin” classics. Sophisticated and playful without losing that down to earth accessibility that’s at the heart of South African food tradition, the short menu exudes fun from start to finish. Appearances are usually deceptive – a simple Oros bottle holds a complex bloedlemoen gin-based Orosie cocktail – the Blikkie Vis tin of pickled fish comes with salty “crackers” of crispy fish skin, and frikkadels are actually a rich creamy yellowtail pâté.
Total liberties may be taken with the presentation but flavours ring true. Similar twists of perception in the mains focus on meaty braai heartiness. Pap and wors – a lush beef sausage tucked into chicken breast and doused in chakalaka jus, comes on cauliflower “pap”, irreverent, yes, but totally delicious, as is the lamb bunny chow – “a classic done so wrong, but tastes oh so right,” as the menu says. Luckily there were four of us, so we could try almost everything on the menu – a lekker mixed grill of succulent lamb cutlets, lollipopped chicken wings, and juicy boerie with spicy mfino, a tower of the best vegetable sosaties we’d ever tasted – and all beautifully presented. It’s not often that each course raises the stakes and outshines the last… We enjoyed the starters, loved the mains, and then rhapsodised over the swoon-worthy desserts. Kamal and his team have really gone to town on capturing the spirit of old family recipes in a completely different format. Malva pudding had not a shred of actual pudding, but was a luxurious froth of Amarula-laced creaminess that we fought over; peppermint crisp tart, an irresistible sculptural creation of salted caramel, chocolate ganache and fresh mint ice cream; melktert, an intricate Fabergé egg of white chocolate shell hiding superb coffee ice cream, mango crèmeux and milk tart custard. Definitely save room for dessert! After Dark makes a fun and accessible foodie night out for locals, and gives overseas visitors a memorable taste of the “Sowf Effrekin” sense of humour and flavours.
TOP RESIDENTIAL ESTATE IN SOUTH AFRICA 2015-2019
784m² - 907m² STANDS FROM R2.25 MILLION (INCLUDES VAT, TRANSFER FEES, FIRST 12 MONTHS' LEVIES AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN ACCORDING TO BUYER'S SPECIFICATIONS)
TWO OF THE LAST REMAINING STANDS IN LA VUE ON VAL DE VIE ESTATE ARE SET IN PICTURESQUE SURROUNDINGS ON SOUTH AFRICA'S NUMBER ONE LUXURY WELLNESS ESTATE
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PROPERTY NEWS
1 DECEMBER 2019
Neighbourhood
Suburb focus
Winelands developments Despite the current slow buyers’ property market, the various towns and surrounds that make up the Winelands have several aces up their sleeve that keep the market relatively active WORDS: KIT HEATHCOCK IMAGES: SUPPLIED & SHUTTERSTOCK
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he Stellenbosch Winelands really has it all: beautiful scenery, small town communities and an enviable lifestyle. And semigration, foreign swallows and the constant demand for estate living mean that although there’s a slow-down and the market is price sensitive, there’s still movement in this area. New developments are being launched, current developments are still selling and proving to be reliable investments, according to local agents.
Current market “The market under R3m is still fairly active and banks are keen to fund these buyers,” says Chris Cilliers, CEO and principal, Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty. “However, above this mark the market becomes increasingly sluggish the higher the price. There are still keen buyers, but they’re now spoilt for choice with value for money being the order of the day.” Dinis Martins, Seeff licensee, Somerset West agrees. “This year Seeff has sold a couple of properties above R10m, so there’s certainly demand for the upper end of the market, provided the property is well priced. The luxury segment currently offers great value as many prices have been adjusted to the current economic climate.” Another factor driving the top end of the market in the Helderberg area is that Somerset West is establishing itself as a burgeoning economic and investment hub and attracting more industry leaders according to Louise Varga, Pam Golding Properties area manager.
Pricing THE JADE, SOMERSET WEST
New developments currently attracting most sales are those that are competitively priced. “We can see improvement in enquiries whenever
we list a better priced product in the various developments. Buyers are price conscious and looking for the better deal or more value for money,” says Jan Myburgh, principal, Harcourts Platinum. “All developers we partner with have, in consultation, redesigned at least one new product or offering that allowed for more competitive pricing to meet market demand for lower prices.” These include Cedar Hill in Parel Vallei with a new product under R7m, Central Park with offerings between R2,3m to R3m, and Hathersage R2,55m to R4m. Seeff is seeing considerable interest in a new development of townhouses at 28 on St James in Somerset West priced at R1,795m to R2,35m, says Martins. “An astute investor buyer has the opportunity to lock in 2019 prices, but only has to take transfer in 2020. These homes are also likely to offer good capital appreciation over the next few years.” In Stellenbosch, Seeff agent Leon Vermeulen is seeing most demand in student housing and developments that offer more affordable pricing, such as apartment complexes like Stellar, priced from R2,65m, and 95 on Bird.
Semigration “The move away from the urban hustle and bustle has been a growing trend for a number of years now, especially for families with school children who are looking for a more tranquil lifestyle,” Cilliers says. “More recently, in addition to families, we’ve also been fielding more enquiries from professionals who predominantly work remotely or from home and empty-nesters looking to ease more gently into their golden years.” In the Paarl area she cites Boschenmeer, and Val de Vie as estates with high demand in this category and De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate outside Stellenbosch. “Val de Vie in Paarl has catered specifically to this growing trend by building office blocks on the estate which residents can rent and,
for those who need a less formal space, they also have a shared office facility.” Clive Hartman, Seeff Paarl, says they’re still seeing an influx of semigration buyers from the Cape Metro as well as upcountry. New developments include “hot off the press” Wildepaarde Estate, across the road from Boschenmeer, with 118 plots and a choice of three- or four-bedroom house options. Another new development in Paarl benefitting from the semigration trend is Le Parc, Paarl. “We’ve noticed the decline in the overall general market, and are happy that we’re still trading a fair amount of property even in times like these,” says Martin van Rooyen, Matterhorn Property. Estate security, quality of finishes and the offering of an on-site preschool are the elements that set them apart, he says. In Somerset West, popular developments include Sitari Country Estate, The Jade, and The Huntsman.
Launching in 2020
Despite the slow-down there’s a fair amount of optimism going into next year. Harcourts is involved in planning four new developments launching in the next three to six months, ranging from sectional title units in central Somerset West to a freehold secure estate with 16 properties in Parel Vallei. In the Stellenbosch area Pam Golding Properties will be launching Longlands next year, a village of 320 residential properties with communal facilities 6km from the town. “Don’t waste a crisis or opportunity; create wealth by buying in a slower market,” suggests Martins. “When the market improves – which it will as the property market is historically cyclical – then those buyers will be rewarded for acting now and identifying the good buying opportunities.”
1 DECEMBER 2019
Neighbourhood
PROPERTY NEWS
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Better pricing and buyers looking for value for money, are the driving force behind current sales. Demand for estate living is still clearly on the increase and estates in general are giving a better return on investment than freestanding property JAN MYBURGH, PRINCIPAL, HARCOURTS PLATINUM
LE PARC, PAARL
VAL DE VIE,PAARL
THE HUNTSMAN, SOMERSET WEST
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PROPERTY NEWS
1 DECEMBER 2019
Festive cheer What can you do to make your home feel like a holiday? Plenty. WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
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ou may celebrate Christmas, you may not. You may simply enjoy the idea of giving your home a holiday facelift, so everybody feels like they’re on leave when they step inside. There are oodles of cost-effective ideas for those who are prepared to roll up their sleeves, and the retail world is laden with gorgeous decor items for those who prefer to wield a credit card.
Where to start?
Stacey Cowden is black + WRIGHT interiors. She suggests starting with a concept. It could be “nature” or “natural” or “island life”, then gathering materials around that, and selecting pleasing or appropriate colours. If you’re a visual person, source images of what you’d like – Pinterest is wonderful. Stacey usually begins her story with materials like dried plants, sticks and flowers, then chooses a colour scheme. “It could be blue, black & white, naturals… and don’t be afraid of bling – gold, silver, and rose gold will give your home that sparkle.” She advises not to scatter bits and pieces throughout the house, to cluster rather than clutter. It has far greater impact that way. “Create stories. Look at each space – your entrance, front door area, fireplace, staircase – and bunch things up to create a story, instead of spreading it thin all over the house.”
Decor and placement
Whether it’s Christmas or festive decor, there’s so much that’s cost effective. So, if it’s “natural” you want, source your plant material. “Go on a family expedition and find branches, grasses, cones, acorns, berries and a range of greens, big and small. Eucalyptus lasts a few days without water; for other greens, tie a little plastic bag of water on the end with an elastic band to help keep it greener for longer. Drape the greenery on and hanging down a mantelpiece, lie it along your table as a centre piece – or as a table centre piece when entertaining – and add a snippet or two to your gift wrappings.” For those who want to create a “tree”, use alternative materials to form the tree – lanky branches, tall bleached sticks, long stems with oversized leaves – put them in a basket or an oldfashioned metal bucket. If you’re going natural, and have an existing indoor tree or two, put them in baskets on bricks,
and add some dried flowers (white looks pretty) instead of tinsel or lights.
Hanging holiday decor
For a blank wall or section of a wall, hang a holiday “curtain”. Cut out little squares, circles or shapes like trees or umbrellas from coloured card, punch out two little holes – one top and one bottom of the shape – and thread string through a line of them. Hang down these decorative strings from the ceiling to the floor or ledge, about a couple of centimetres apart. Stacey loves bells. “They’re fabulous decor, whether they’re metal or any other material. Dip them, spray them, paint them, all the same colour, or half and half. Use natural rope or string, leather or ribbons to change it up and display them in different ways.” She suggests sticking to one kind of string. “This helps keep it tidy, and uniform. Add a string to each one, hang them in clusters, or drape them along a string inside or outside the windows.
Candles
It’s not possible to have too many. Cluster them, put elaborate candelabra or glass candle holders in among your greenery on a table, let them swing in lanterns at night, and let them reflect off old glassware. Be bold, and use black – which looks superb with dark greenery – or use white with wheaten coloured grasses, or shades of blues to celebrate the coast.
Dolly up your entrance
Wreaths are timeless, beautiful and elegant. To make your own, use a simple hoop (hoola or crochet) and string, then, up to you – wrap paper, fabric, greenery, tinsel, fairy lights, bells… and hang away! They’re so welcoming on a front door. You can also use them as wall decor – fit on the wall a long thin branch or cable as a “wire” to hold them, then hang off that five or six small wreaths of different sizes with fresh or dried leaves and berries.
Paint
Spray paint, gold leaf and even normal acrylic paint with a clear laquor spray; it works wonders on old tired holiday decor items. Reuse, recyle, repurpose. If you’re using an old basket, spray the lower half black or white; leaves, branches and berries can be sprayed silver, gold, or even black and white. There’s not much which can’t be given a holiday lift with a coat of paint.
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PROPERTY NEWS
1 DECEMBER 2019
Amdec expands its WC property portfolio T he Amdec Group has recently acquired the multi-award-winning Sitari Country Estate outside Somerset West in the Western Cape.
According to James Wilson, CEO, Amdec Group, “The Amdec Group focusses on large-scale projects within thriving metropolitan areas, so the scope and scale of Sitari Country Estate represents a compelling investment. It provides us with a well-established lifestyle brand in an outstanding location and adds to our prestigious portfolio of premium real estate assets that include Melrose Arch in Joburg, The Yacht Club and Harbour Arch
in Cape Town, Evergreen Lifestyle Retirement Villages, Val de Vie and Pearl Valley outside Paarl, and Westbrook in Port Elizabeth,” he says.
It also boasts orchards, vineyards, play areas, and a 22ha wetland, interspersed with high-quality contemporary rural architecture.
Sitari Country Estate is located within the picturesque Helderberg. The central location means residents have quick travel times to Cape Town, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Overberg and Cape Town International Airport.
Sitari Country Estate was launched in 2014 and is well established, with all primary infrastructure substantially complete and operational. There are 3,150 residential opportunities within the estate, including a mix of freestanding erven and sectional title apartments. More than 1,700 units have been sold to date. The remaining 1,450 development opportunities will all be sold as completed houses or apartments, further expanding the estate. Sitari Country Estate also offers a select number of offices for rent, giving residents the option of working within walking distance of their homes. The estate will feature discreet security that includes CCTV cameras, a control centre on-site, movement sensors, infrared beams, and biometric access control.
The estate spans 190ha and offers a range of premium and luxury apartments, village and country-style homes, as well as an Evergreen Lifestyle retirement village, Curro private school, and a large neighbourhood retail centre.
According to Wilson, “This acquisition provides the Amdec Group with a variety of accommodation options in an estate that caters to a broad spectrum of the population. From young professionals and families through to empty nesters and retirees, residents will enjoy an active, convenient, safe and secure lifestyle within a world-class country estate.” “Investors can also look forward to the prospect of strong rental returns given the influx of people to the area, along with the schools, shops and other facilities on offer. The area is also home to a high concentration of hospitals and medical facilities, providing the assurance of expert medical care, irrespective of your life stage,” he concludes.
Start creating wealth today
T
he improvement in home loan approval rates and the current “buyers’ market” have seen more first-time buyers entering the property market. Stian Senekal, Just Property Midrand, says, “It’s definitely easier for buyers to qualify for home loans at the moment. We’ve noticed an estimated 80% success rate in our buyers’ bond approvals this past year and see a trend in clients qualifying for 100% bonds and many at an interest rate close to prime or even below the prime rate in some cases.” Senekal believes the costs associated with buying a home, which in the past put many first-time buyers off purchasing, are what have motivated banks to start offering products that assist some buyers to qualify for more than the asking price on the property. As a result, he has noticed that more and more of those looking to buy a property these days are first-time buyers. Nevertheless, Senekal advises that even if a buyer qualifies for a 100% bond, having a reserve of funds in place before buying is an astute move for two reasons. “When authorising a bond, the banks definitely look at what and how you spend your money. Do you have any excess disposable income each month and are you saving some of it? It’s important that you can show them you know how to save.
It’s also always better to put a deposit down on your home purchase.” Other elements that banks look at are job security and how long you’ve been with your current employer, which can make securing a home loan difficult for freelancers, the selfemployed and commission earners. “Because there’s no set income to gauge, banks will probably look at a stricter qualification process,” he warns. “The best advice is to prepare in advance. Take some time to save up a larger deposit, and to ensure that you have proof of monthly income that is fairly stable for a good six months before you apply. Pay your accounts on time and make sure your financial statements and SARS profile reflect a positive outlook.” So which banks should first-time home buyers approach? Senekal feels strongly that getting a trusted bond originator to help with the application will secure the best possible home loan and interest rate. “In my experience, bond originators have a far greater success rate than buyers who apply for themselves. The originator will fight for the best deal – which sometimes is not from the buyer’s preferred or personal bank.” Just Property Midrand franchisee Brian van Wijk notes that buying a property is often the first step in the wealth creation journey.
“A wise investment now will be the basis for growth and wealth creation in the future,” he says. “The first-time buyer should therefore acquire as much understanding about buying property and the property market as possible.” To help with this, Just Property has developed a publicly available resource called Your Property Journey, which can be found on www.just.property. Van Wijk advises researching areas where there’s growth in property values or where there’s a potential for growth when the market recovers. “And try to purchase a property that will suit your needs for at least ten years, so that you can take advantage of the capital growth,” he adds. Just Property CEO Paul Stevens warns against rushing into an emotional purchase. “Take your time. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of buying sectional title or freehold, as this will have a big impact on the future growth plans you may have.” Shaun Dubois, franchisee, Just Property Pietermaritzburg, agrees. “The cost of purchasing and transferring a property, moving costs and opening utility accounts are expensive. The aim should be to avoid moving and incurring those costs again in less than seven to ten years. Work out what will give you the best capital appreciation and remember that this is a long-term investment.”
Neighbourhood
Countryside revival drives demand for commercial property
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mall-town living is making a comeback and with that there’s been a revival of small industries according to Richard Pratt from Seeff Struisbaai. For some, it’s the opportunity to open an art gallery or craft shop while others may look into organic farming or homemade produce, and there are often plenty of opportunities to serve local farming and town communities, he says. Look at an area such as Struisbaai for example. It’s just two hours from Cape Town and a popular weekend and holiday destination with a bustling local community and a host of business opportunities. The town is growing and demand for commercial property and vacant land is high despite the economic challenges. He says there are several commercial property buyers looking to invest and start their own businesses and it’s fairly easy to find tenants since demand is high. Rental income is affordable
which is great for an entrepreneur setting up shop and most are looking for small business opportunities ranging from carpentry to steel works. Belinda Willemse, also from Seeff Struisbaai, says that she’s beginning to see an influx of younger people looking to set up a business. Where the Struisbaai and Agulhas area was mainly known as a coastal town for retirement or holidaymakers, the high crime rates and intensity of city living is driving younger couples with their children to relocate to smaller towns for a better quality life. This in turn is driving demand for commercial property. Prices of commercial property ranges from R2,5m to R5m while rentals are generally in the R4,500/m2 to R8,000/m2 range depending on the location. She says good opportunities include a reputable food store (such as Woolworths), medical suites and an electronic store for computer equipment, cellphones and accessories.
Trade boost for Joburg luxury market
T
he luxury homes market in Joburg has taken off over the past three months as high-end buyers from other African countries as well as China, India and Russia have been active in the sector. Rory O’Hagan, CEO: luxury portfolio division, Chas Everitt International, attributes some of the residential market movement to the implications of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) becoming apparent to local and foreign investors. “Most of these buyers are looking beyond the state of the economy and moving fast to secure a residential base in Joburg,” he says. “The city is recognised internationally as the most industrialised and financially sophisticated in Africa and is best placed for access to opportunities.”
O’Hagan says Chas Everitt’s Sandton and Hyde Park sales team in particular has noticed a turnaround in luxury home sales. “In the past three months we’ve been selling luxury apartments and houses worth more than R100m every month in the northern heritage suburbs. That’s quite a contrast to the first half of this year, when the market was oversupplied and sales were really sluggish.” Demand is shifting from traditional sources of foreign buyers from the UK and EU to those from countries with better-performing economies. “High-end buyers and corporations line up to buy luxury apartments in Sandton and surrounding areas such as Melrose, Rosebank and Hyde Park to give themselves or top executives a base of operations for future business in Africa,” he says.
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