Business Day Homefront - 7 July 2023

Safety in numbers

WORDS: DEBBIE LOOTS :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

South Africa has a large young population needing a ordable homes. Accommodation in the country’s major metros come at a premium but some developers are o ering a ordable solutions.

Chief executive of the Pam Golding

Property group Dr Andrew Golding says while estate living was initially seen as an option only the wealthy could a ord, it is becoming more accessible to a broader cross-section of home buyers.

“Developers realise the potential of including sectional title and retirement homes in developments, which broadens the appeal of this convenient way of living.”

He says the property market is also showing signs of favouring sectional title homes. “Currently, a desire for security and a shift towards a lockup-and-go lifestyle, coupled with changes in the way we view retirement, is seeing an uptick in interest and demand for homes in secure estates.”

MORE PEOPLE LIVE IN ESTATES

Research analyst for Pam Golding

Properties Sandra Gordon says that in 2010, about 13.1% of all properties sold in SA were in estates. “While it increased in the following years, by 2019 about 13.7% of all homes sold were in estates. However, this changed abruptly in the wake of the pandemic, rising to 15.4% in 2020 and remaining elevated. In 2022, 16.4% of all homes sold were in estates.”

She expects this trend to continue as people prefer the security and convenience of living in an estate, especially as developments become more energy and water

e cient and more a ordable.

Recent Lightstone statistics show that estates make up only 7% of SA’s more than 7-million registered residential properties, but account for 17% of the total market value.

It is estimated that there are currently about 440,000 properties in more than 5,000 estates across SA. And, although residential sales fell during the fi rst year of the pandemic (2020), the recovery in sales thereafter was driven by both sectional schemes and estates.

According to Golding, statistics show estate sales in the Western Cape are increasing, which may be due to the influx of a uent upcountry buyers.

WESTERN CAPE LEADS

According to Lightstone data more new estates are being developed in the Western Cape than anywhere else, followed by Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Gauteng and the Western Cape account for 70% of all estate homes sold in SA and have consistently accounted for more than 70% of all estate sales since 2010.

However, the tide has since turned, with the Western Cape accounting for a larger share of total estate sales.

“While Gauteng is home to the most homes in estates, the Western Cape has more high-value estate homes with sales mostly in the R3m price band.

“In 2010, Gauteng sold twice as many homes in the R3m price range than the Western Cape (1,060 vs 488) according to Lightstone,” says Golding. “By 2022, Gauteng registered just 13.3% more estate homes in the R3m price bracket than the Western Cape – highlighting

the far stronger growth in the top end of the estate market in the Western Cape.”

AFFORDABLE VALUE

Lightstone data shows a change in the market during the past two decades with less expensive homes comprising a substantial portion of estate properties at the end of 2022. This was not the case when estates were fi rst developed – when homes were almost exclusively larger, expensive freehold properties.

At the end of 2022, nearly 190,000 estate properties were valued at less than R2m, while 196,000 were valued at between R2m and R5m. Almost 35,000 were valued at more than R5m.

Cosmopolitan Project’s Leopard’s Rest and Lion’s Pride are just two of its new large developments in Johannesburg that o er average South Africans a ordable homes in a security estate with all the mod-cons usually only accessible to the upper end of the market. For example, in Leopard’s Rest a threebedroom home with top-of-the-range fittings sells for R1.26m and in Lion’s Pride an 89m² home consisting of three bedrooms sells for about R1.6m.

POPULAR NORTH WEST

Value is also found a little further outside of Gauteng’s borders in the North West, an area known for its natural beauty and rich cultural history.

Mining is an economic driver here where 94% of SA’s platinum is produced – no wonder North West is also known as the Platinum Province.

According to Lightstone, the province is growing faster than six other provinces in SA, with only Gauteng and the

Western Cape showing more expansion. North West’s urban areas are home to 53% of the population.

WHY LIVE HERE?

Apart from its growing population, four other factors contribute to the province’s housing market: proximity to Gauteng (homes around Hartbeespoort Dam are within Gauteng’s commuter belt); the tourism industry (Pilanesberg National Park and Sun City are draw cards); the mining sector (it generates more than 50% of the province’s GDP and employs a quarter of its workforce) and the government’s housing policy.

“A growing population has an appetite for housing,” says Hayley IvinsDownes, head of digital at Lightstone Property. “So we have considered all the numbers to determine the state of the housing market here.”

Looking specifically at estates – the province has 235 security estates o ering 32,000 residential units. There are 57 luxury estates (the average value exceeding R2m for a home) with more than 10 properties per estate. Luxury estates account for 11,500 properties.

NATURE AS GARDEN

The province’s leading estates include Schoongezigt Estate and Waterkloof Hill Estate in Rustenburg, Pecanwood Estate Golf and Country Club in Hartbeespoort and K’Shane Lake Lodge & Eco Estate in Kosmos.

Kosmos and Hartbeespoort are two scenic towns on the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam where the average

property value is about R2.4m.

“Kosmos has a unique village atmosphere,” says MD of Engel & Völkers Hartbeespoort Dam Cherry Grobler. “Here quaint cottages rub shoulders with modern executive homes and there are breathtaking views all around.”

Popular security estates are also huddled all around the picturesque dam with the Magaliesberg mountains as backdrop.

One of these estates is K’Shane Lake Lodge & Eco Estate with 47 freehold properties that’s part of the Magaliesberg Protected Natural Environment.

“With its indigenous trees, variety of flora and birdlife, and free-roaming game you may as well be in a bushveld game reserve,” says Engel & Völkers Hartbeespoort property practitioner Maryka Kruger. K’Shane residents also enjoy amenities such as a clubhouse and pool, bush bomas, tennis court, boating facilities and helipad. Urban amenities close by include schools, shopping centres, restaurants and tourist attractions. House prices in K’Shane start at about R5m.

The luxury of living in a security estate is a dream few South Africans can a ord, but with new developments now o ering value and a ordability, it’s become a possibility for a cross-section of people

Arabella Country Estate, Western Cape

Glen Navar estate is situated on the east coast outside East London

K’Shane Lake Lodge & Eco Estate in Hartbeespoort, North West

ORGANIC GROWTH COMES WITH EXPERIENCE. EXPONENTIAL GROWTH COMES WITH RENEWED ENERGY.

AHPROP.CO.ZA

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HERE’S TO THE NEXT 32 YEARS!

A new journey into maturity

At Circle Senior Living’s luxurious new development in Sandown, your every health need is personally taken care of so you are free to thrive in all areas of your life

WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Circle Senior Living is breaking new ground in the retirement space. Their unique model – based on the philosophy of adapting care as a person’s health needs change – ensures retirees enjoy a life of ease and joy.

Setting their concept of “age in place” further apart from other o erings is their focus on home tailored care – once you’ve bought an apartment, you will never have to move again. Whether that means your apartment needs to be modified or you need a di erent level of personal attention, every single aspect of care will be brought to you – so you can live a life of independence and dignity, for the rest of your life.

WHERE CARE IS PERSONAL

Co-founder of Circle Senior Living

MAKING FUTURE MEMORIES

Corene Breedt-Remmutla is passionate about introducing the industry to a new way of thinking about retirement and driving real change.

“We have no desire to operate the current vanilla model that is out there in the market,” she says.

“We are often asked what makes us di erent, and our core principle is that everything we do must be done through the lens of personal care; from independent living to assisted living, frail care, memory care, respite care, palliative care, rehabilitation and home-based care.”

Circle Senior Living caters to active urban seniors in the 70-plus age range who are still physically and mentally fit.

“It’s important for us to ensure residents remain as independent as possible for as long as possible,” says co-founder Michael Sie

Circle’s beautiful new apartment complex in Sandown will make residents feel at home, right from the word go.

Especially if they have been living in the greater Sandton area and are still part of community activities or want to be close to the places where special memories were made.

The contemporary apartments with their hi-tech fi xtures and fittings are light and bright and have all-round gorgeous views – they exude a sense of penthouse-style living rather than being part of a retirement facility.

Initially built to be a boutique hotel, the luxury lounges and children’s play area are the perfect places to entertain all generations of your family and friends – here joyful family conversations and children’s carefree exuberance

are all welcome, making more memories to treasure in the future.

PEACE OF MIND

Circle understands the inherent strength of family bonds and relationships and therefore include adult children in all discussions, especially if they are concerned about the wellbeing of their elderly parents.

It is imperative to the Circle team that families have peace of mind about their loved ones and trust that they are always in the most compassionate and caring hands.

Circle’s care facility is really an extension of the love and care the children have for their elderly parents.

The team of care experts is dedicated to provide personalised support in a nurturing environment where the elderly’s dignity, care

and wellbeing are top priority.

As a trusted partner of the children and family of its elderly residents, the team is always ready to communicate and collaborate with them.

Circle understands the weight of the decision on children when the time comes for their parents to choose a facility and they prioritise open communication and collaboration with families. They work together to create a personalised care plan that reflects all loved ones’ preferences and values.

DELIGHT IN COMMUNITY Community is another important pillar of the Circle philosophy. The other holistic elements are care, choice, personalisation, safety, expertise and, above all, joy.

It was therefore important to create a variety of communal spaces where people can socialise and also have

FOCUS ON: CIRCLE SENIOR LIVING

a quiet time without feeling isolated. These spaces are important – research shows that social interaction promotes wellbeing and longevity in seniors. Sandown o ers a variety of social activities for men and women, as each has their di erent expectations and entertainment needs, and a special community calendar shares details of events. Facilities such as a yoga room, co ee shop, restaurant, pool area, party venue, retail section, spas and an on-site cinema all o er residents a wide variety of socialising options. A business hub and assistant concierge are also available.

DESIGNED TO THRIVE

Throughout the building, beautiful interiors are combined with practical considerations such as lots of natural light, ample interactive spaces and

sound-sensitive surfaces. Ergonomics were pertinent considerations too with chairs o ering fi rm support and the correct height, fabrics soft and colours harmonious.

In the apartments, sliding doors are reinforced with aluminium frames for extra stability. Cupboards and drawers are all easy to close with inside lighting. The garden has also been thoughtfully designed with plants that produce lovely year-round aromas.

Phase 1 of 9 Adrienne Street o ers 18 apartments, and Phase 2 a further 27, which will be ready for occupation by September 2024. Phase 3 and 4 will take the complete development to 100 units.

A mix of sizes include single bedroom, one-and-a-half bedroom and two-bedroom units. Apartment prices range from R945,000 to R7.59m with various fi nancing options.

GET IN TOUCH

Book an appointment: Email sales@circleliving.co.za

Call 063 798 2566

Because it’s personal

Happening during Women’s Month in August, Decorex Joburg, 100% Design Africa and Design Joburg honour

SA’s

talented women in design for their exceptional creations and contribution to the industry

WORDS: DEBBIE LOOTS AND SUPPLIED :: PHOTOS: JUSTIN PATRICK AND SUPPLIED

Coinciding with Women’s Month, the country’s leading decor and design events – Decorex Joburg, 100% Design Africa and Design Joburg – will take place from August 3–6 featuring a host of powerful female designers.

While Women’s Month celebrates the strength and accomplishments of women in the face of inequality and suppression, hosting these design events during this significant time is an opportunity to celebrate the talent of the women in our design industry. They will be putting on a vibrant

WOMEN IN THE

display of creativity at the shows, alongside many other exhibitors.

LOOK OUT FOR:

THE MATRI-ARCHITECTS

and refuse — for both Decorex Cape Town, which took place in

Bespoke home designer Kristin Hulda will be at 100% Design Africa to demonstrate how a space can be transformed by adding custom design elements, while Distinguished Living, an interior design brand headed up by Boitsheko Ganyane, will be creating a “Room Set” that shows off her creative prowess.

Ronel Jordaan is a multiple-award-winning textile designer. Her hand-felted decor pieces and accessories, produced as part of a job-creation project she runs, are exported all over the world. You’ll find them, and her, at 100% Design Africa.

Exhibiting as part of the Clout/SA stand at 100% Design Africa is promising newcomer Nindya Bucktowar, one half of Durban-based bespoke ceramic studio Kalki Ceramics. In October 2022, she and her partner Nikhil Tricam were announced as the winners of the annual Nando’s Hot Young Designer Talent Search for their “Cactus” server.

Future of Design is a fusion of physical and digital exhibits, interactive workshops, live demonstrations and presentations by top SA design authorities, who will be speaking about current and future issues facing the design industry. Expect insightful talks from Hannerie Visser, the owner and creative director of food-focused design and brand consultancy Studio H; Tracy Lee Lynch, the designer behind Studio Lee Lynch and creative director of Clout/SA; and Georgia Black, the founder of micro festival producers Littlegig. Catch Decorex Joburg, 100% Design Africa, and Design Joburg at the Sandton Convention Centre, sponsored by Samsung, Plascon, Sanlam Private Wealth and Lexus.

Tracy Lee Lynch

quality-oriented

and designer behind Fatso Interiors, an emerging

Hannerie Visser Georgia Black

FRANKIE BELLS LUXURY REAL ESTATE

Realtors You Can Trust

PROPERTY SALES

Whether you are looking to buy or sell, our sales team are skilled in all aspects of the sales process. Remember, no one sells like Frankie Bells!

PROPERTY RENTALS

Quality rental services have been the core of our business since 2004. As a specialist rental company, our focus is always on finding the best tenant possible to meet your needs.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

We believe that managing a rental property is an area of expertise. Our team are dedicated to ensuring that your lease is managed efficiently, effectively and with good governance.

As a luxury real estate brand, our commitment to exclusivity means that your buying or selling decisions will always be facilitated by an experienced agent who understands the property market, has great attention to detail and a strong network of connections.

ADVERTORIAL

Get ahead of the

In May Central Developments launched the last phase at Leopard’s Rest Lifestyle Estate o ering buyers and investors competitively priced, secure and modern family homes where load-shedding is a distant memory, children have space to play and your investment keeps on growing

WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

The fi nal phase of Leopard’s Rest Lifestyle Estate in Alberton has just launched and this exciting new development not only o ers 527 new modern homes for young buyers and savvy investors, but Leopard’s Rest’s properties have also seen steady capital growth of 9.4% per year since the fi rst houses were sold in 2015. A 70m² house that sold for R686,000 in 2015 is now selling for R1,409,500. Do a little comparative homework between Leopard’s Rest Lifestyle Estate and any other similar property

internet and top-of-the-range fi xtures and fittings for R1.26m.

And best of all, load-shedding is a thing of the past – houses are fully equipped with electrical battery backup systems, gas stoves and solar geysers.

Peace of mind is also a top priority at Leopard’s Rest – the estate is gated and enjoys 24-hour security, which makes for a carefree lifestyle

with parks, children’s play areas and an a ordable and established private school that opened in 2016.

AHEAD OF THE GAME

Central Developments, renowned for putting their heart into building dream homes for the everyday South African, started developing the fi rst phase of Leopard’s Rest back in 2015. The last of the estate’s original 1,960 houses sold out in 2021 and this fi nal phase of 527 houses will increase the number of the greater estate’s homes to 2,487.

“We may be seen as one of the

pack

largest residential property development companies in SA,” says director Kgothatso Meka. “But we actually stopped being property developers about fi ve or six years ago and changed our strategy to really developing holistic communities. And at the heart of that is people.”

ALL-ROUND BENEFIT

Besides the consistent 9.4% capital growth per year, more good news for investors is that this expansion of the estate will see even further development and improvement of the surrounding area resulting in an estimated 10% property value increase of the existing houses at Leopard’s Rest.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

Installation of the new phase’s civil and electrical services started last year and construction of the fi rst houses started in May. The fi rst 60 houses will be built by November.

Four beautiful new show houses (59m², 70m², 103m² and 125m²) recently opened their doors to welcome visitors for a walkabout to enjoy the stylish home designs. The homes are available in configurations of either three bedrooms and two bathrooms or four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Show house viewing times are from 9am to 6pm daily.

Leopard’s Rest Route 82

Route 82 Apartments

BEST INVESTMENT

If you are a savvy investor considering your property purchasing options, buying a unit or even two at Route 82 Apartments is a wise move. An investment of as little as R770,000 (equalling a monthly bond repayment of about R7,800) makes you the owner of a quality apartment consisting of two bedrooms, one bathroom and a carport. This makes it possible for lower income earning South Africans to enjoy a secure and peaceful lifestyle in a home that is

FAMILY FRIENDLY

At Route 82, life is carefree for children as much as for their parents. Here kids are free to play outside in the many play areas or on the soccer field where they can kick a ball around with dad – a perfect way to burn o some excess energy!

For the young professionals the convenient amenities on site – such as a grocery store where they can quickly stock up on daily essentials, or have their car cleaned at the car wash while having their weekly laundry done at the laundromat – make their busy lives so much easier.

For any other shopping or entertainment needs, Route 82 is also just a quick 10-minute drive from both Southgate Mall and the Mall of the South.

FOCUS ON: LEOPARD’S REST LIFESTYLE ESTATE

Other developments by Cosmopolitan Projects and Central Developments

Lion Pride Lifestyle Estate

NO MORE LOAD-SHEDDING

Near Fourways | Johannesburg Houses selling from R1.62m 3 bed, 2 bath and 4 bed, 2.5 bath

Houses equipped with gas stoves, electricity backup systems and solar geysers

A new private school is opening at the beginning of 2025, a shopping centre is also opening in 2025 and there are playparks and jogging and hiking trails around a 17ha eco-park

Scan to learn more or enquire

Masai Lofts Apartments

NOW ALSO WITH BACKUP POWER

Near Fourways | Johannesburg Apartments selling from R995,000 2 bed, 1 bath and 3 bed, 2 bath

High-end finishes, fibre internet connectivity, 24-hour security, a playpark and pre-paid utilities

Scan to learn more or enquire

Milano Security Estate

BEST VALUE-FOR-MONEY SECURE LIFESTYLE ESTATE

Sky City | Alberton Houses selling from R1m 3 bed, 2 bath and 4 bed, 2.5 bath

Houses equipped with gas stoves and solar geysers 24-hour security estate with fibre internet, lifestyle amenities, mall and private school

Scan to learn more or enquire

The Bronx Apartments

SAFE, CONVENIENT AND AFFORDABLE LIVING

Sky City | Alberton

Apartments selling from R615,000 2 bed, 1 bath, 1 carport

24-hour security estate opposite Sky City Mall with fibre internet, play area, mini soccer field and prepaid utilities

Scan to learn more or enquire