Seeff Magazine December 2017

Property Pages EXCEPTIONAL WINE ESTATE LIVING OUR STORY HOLDS YOUR FUTURE

PREVENT DELAYS DURING TRANSFER PROCESS EXPERIENCE HERMANUS LIKE A LOCAL

More than 50 exclusive properties to view

Hermanus | Edition 6 www.seeff.com

HERMANUS | VOëLKLIP | SANDBAAI | ONRUS | VERMONT

Go Further

FORD HERMANUS

Wikus Niemand 18 Arum Street Hermanus Tel 028 312 3704 | 072 592 8029 wikus@fordhermanus.co.za

Seeff is honoured that for the past half a century hundreds of thousands of people have trusted us with their stories. Start your next chapter with one of our 1 200 property experts nationwide.

“With more than half a century of expertise in buying and

“With overproperties, half a century expertise buying and selling properties, selling weofunderstand it is more than just a wetransaction understand-itthis is more than just a transaction this is your story is your story - and we are honoured to and we this are honoured to write this-Samuel chapter with you.” - Samuel Seeff write chapter with you.”

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BUSINESS AS USUAL, BUT A PRUDENT OUTLOOK FOR PROPERTY

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hile it remains business as usual for the property market with plenty to keep it ticking over, we are seeing a progressive shift to a buyer’s market. Overall trading volumes are now down by 15%-20% from the 2015 highs, prices have flattened and serious sellers will need to focus on market related pricing.

Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba’s recent maiden mini budget pointed to a continued weak economic outlook with poor growth and investment confidence and rising sovereign debt levels.

The inevitable effect, is a prudent outlook for property throughout 2018.

We have seen a progressive shift in the property market in 2017 and expect this to continue in 2018. The continued economic and political instability, manifested in low

confidence and growth will remain an inevitable subduing factor for the market.

Property stakeholders should note the downgraded economic growth outlook to just 0.7% (from 1.3%) which is expected to only reach 1.9% in 2020. Inflation is likely to remain in the 5%6% upper target range and the currency will continue to be volatile.

Although no interest rate hikes are foreseen for the coming months, the rate is expected to remain flat.

The Seeff property group is looking forward to a busier summer, from a sales- and a rentalmarket perspective.

Regardless of the state of the economy, business continues and there will always be a level of buying and selling.

Sellers should note that prices have flattened considerably, stock levels are rising and they have

to compete with more sellers and a declining number of buyers. Many buyers are taking a waitand-watch approach.

While we expect the market to remain reasonably active, sellers will need to keep their price expectations in check.

The market is in transition with many areas reporting a shift to a buyer’s market. Importantly though, not all areas are experiencing the same degree of shift and there are marked area, city and

provincial differences.

It is therefore best to work with an area specialist who has been through the various market cycles and can best advise you on your selling, buying and letting decisions.

SAMUEL SEEFF Chairman, Seeff

“Investing in property to secure the roof over your head and providing a solid foundation to build a life, is always advisable. Whether a first home, relocation, upgrade or downgrade, there will always be buyers. Sellers who want to capitalise on this, need to note the market shift and keep their price expectations in check.” – Samuel Seeff

PUBLISHED FOR SEEFF BY THE VILLAGE NEWS EMAIL: DEWAAL@THEVILLAGENEWS.CO.ZA CELL: +27 (0)83 700 3319

LEGAL

HOW TO PREVENT OR AT LEAST LIMIT FRUSTRATING (AND COSTLY) DELAYS DURING THE TRANSFER PROCESS

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n any property transaction the purchaser of immovable property, to a large extent, holds the key to a swift and stress-free completion of the entire transfer process.

Unfortunately, should it be the intention, a purchaser is well positioned to delay the process if a deed of sale does not prevent, or at least limit, potential delaying tactics.

None of the actions required of a purchaser can take more than a couple of minutes. How long can it really take to fax or scan and e-mail a couple of pages in order to comply with FICA (1.1 below), or to pay the agreed deposit, or to read and sign standard transfer documents or to pay the relevant transfer costs?

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COMPREHENSIVELY DESCRIBE OBLIGATIONS The solution is of course to comprehensively describe the various obligations of the purchaser in the deed of sale and to ensure that it adequately empowers the seller to enforce strict compliance with each obligation within a specified time frame. Among others, it will be expected of a purchaser to take the following 6 (six) steps during the approximate 10 (ten) week process: 1.1 TO PROVIDE FICA DOCUMENTATION Despite the important prescriptions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No 38 of 2001 (“FICA”), a number of pre-printed deeds of sale currently in use still do not make provision for compliance with the said Act. The seller should insist on a clause being inserted in the deed of sale that provides for the required FICA documentation to be supplied by the purchaser within 3 (three) days from the date of having been requested by the transferring attorney.

1.2 TO PAY DEPOSIT A seller should insist on payment of a deposit by the purchaser, even if it is less than the usual 10% (ten percent). Provide for payment thereof within 3 (three) days from date of last signature of the deed of sale (acceptance of the “offer to purchase”), even if the mortgage bond still has to be obtained. In the event that the application for a mortgage bond is declined, the deposit with interest, if any, can

be repaid to the purchaser by the transferring attorney.

It can even be stipulated that the deed of sale is subject to payment of a deposit. In such an event the deed of sale will then only come into operation once the deposit has been paid, i.e, the suspensive condition has been complied with.

A purchaser’s failure to pay the deposit in time will immediately and without further notice render the deed of sale null and void.

This will most probably not be a condition favoured by the majority of estate agents but, on the other hand, it might ensure a quick resale of the property to an alternative buyer from which both the seller and the agent will benefit.

1.3 TO OBTAIN MORTGAGE BOND The final grant in respect of an application for a mortgage bond can be acquired within 14 to 21 days. Ideally the deed of sale should not provide for an automatic extension of the time period within which the purchaser is to acquire a mortgage bond once the initial 14 to 21-day period has expired. It should rather be left to the discretion of the seller whether to extend that time period or to enter into a fresh deed of sale with the purchaser.

1.4 TO SIGN TRANSFER DOCUMENTS AND

PAY TRANSFER COSTS Irrespective of whether a purchaser has to call at the transferring attorney’s office for signature of the transfer documents and simultaneous payment of the transfer costs or whether the documents and statement of account are posted, couriered or e-mailed to a purchaser, there is no reason why the latter cannot attend thereto within 5 (five) days.

Why not stipulate it accordingly?

1.5 TO SIGN BOND DOCUMENTS AND PAY BOND REGISTRATION COSTS The mere fact that in the majority of cases registration of the mortgage bond obtained by a purchaser is being attended to by a different attorney, does not preclude the seller from providing in the deed of sale that signature of the bond documents and

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payment of the bond registration costs should be attended to within 5 (five) days from date of it being requested.

1.6 TO PAY (BALANCE OF) PURCHASE PRICE

OR FURNISH GUARANTEE For this, a period of 7 to 14 days can be allowed as it will not adversely affect the process if it is requested in time by the transferring attorney.

2. NOTICE IN EVENT OF BREACH Provision should be made, where possible, for transmission by fax or e-mail of notices to the purchaser to remedy any breach as in such instances proof of delivery can be obtained electronically. Delivery can be deemed by the parties to have taken place on commencement of the first business day following the day of transmission of the said notice by fax or e-mail. Such a notice should not allow the purchaser more than another 5 to 7 days within which to remedy the breach.

It is important that the purchaser should be made aware of, and should actually agree to, the fact that notices in terms of the deed of sale will be delivered by e-mail or fax.

However, provision should still be made for a domicilium (physical) address where summons can effectively be served if it ultimately becomes necessary.

3. PENALTY INTEREST Serious consideration should be given to inserting a clause in the deed of sale that provides for payment of penalty interest by the purchaser, for the duration of any delay in the transfer process caused by the latter’s failure to abide by the conditions of the deed of sale. That would be fair considering the fact that the seller has to maintain interest payments on his existing bond, and/or is deprived of earning interest on the investment of the proceeds of the sale, until date of registration of transfer.

BENGUELA: WRAP YOURSELF IN LUXURY & VIEWS This is definitely wine-estate living at its best!

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his home is dedicated to family and care-free living. The design manages to innovatively combine the natural beauty of the landscape and vineyards with the latest technology in your home, creating a modern upmarket living space.

The roof is insulated to minimise heat loss during winter and at the same time save on cooling costs during the summer months.

This roof and the solid-oak flooring improve the acoustics of the living areas through the Marantz sound amp and piped sound system.

The house is equipped with a 7.4 kw photovoltaic electric system. The TV and braai areas are large enough to ensure easy entertainment where one will be able to create great family memories. Cleaning up is a breeze with the central vacuum system. The 4 spacious bedrooms have full en-suite bathrooms. There is a separate study for conducting business, made easier with fibre optic internet.

The main living area has two separate wood fire places. In addition to the Samsung digital inverter technology air-conditioners in every room throughout the house. Perfect evenings alongside the lagoon are enhanced by the delectable bottles of wine which are annually allocated from the estate to each home owner and which you could store in your own wine cellar. With the built in Miele oven set, the kitchen is perfect for those who enjoy cooking or baking. The gas hob is situated in the centre island of the kitchen where one is able to enjoy the view while cooking.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is a 200ha security estate situated on the banks of the Bot River Lagoon. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and mountains it is surrounded by the natural beauty of fynbos, vineyards, olive trees and lavender fields. This exclusive estate has strict aesthetic controls for the construction and design of houses where the lay-out of the stands has been completed by considering all aspects of the surroundings to optimize on views and privacy. Benguela Cove Estate is a fully functional wine farm and winemaker Johann Fourie has already produced multiple award-winning wines.

Situated on the lagoon where a launch pad and jetty are for the exclusive use of the residents, makes it an attractive option for anyone who enjoys water sport or sunset cruises to the beach. The lagoon is teeming with fish including cape stumpnose, white steenbras and elf. Bird lovers will have a great time with the resident blue crane, fish eagles and flamingo to name but a few, as a huge variety of birds flourish in the fynbos-rich area.

As part of expanding the estate, the following are currently under construction: a finedining restaurant, a gift shop, bistro, deli and a new wine-tasting and function venue.

PHOTOS: Hesterki Range - The Shooting Range

PRICE: R17 000 000 WWW.SEEFF.COM WEB REF: 440751 FEATURES: 5 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms PROPERTY SIZE: 3 914 m² | BUILDING SIZE: 726 m² AGENT: Karin Engelbrecht | karin.engelbrecht@seeff.com [O] +27 (0) 028 316 3171 | 060 070 1977

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t is always the biggest challenge to create the illusion of a big space from a small area. When I first walked into this townhouse my thought was, how will I change this tiny space into an area that feels spacious and livable, so that one doesn’t even realise the size.

Through years of experience, I found that using larger furniture, you are able to create the illusion of a bigger space. People always tend to go for the smallest furniture pieces in tiny spaces, which I think makes the space even look smaller in comparison to the actual size. I also found that through the use of lighter colours, you are able to create an open airy feel.

When you start designing the space, a proper floor plan is crucial in the initial planning phase. You are then able to structure and adjust your furniture properly and prevent any room for mistakes on size proportions and layout. We also do a concept design with proposed furniture, materials, textures and accessories and this way the clients know exactly what they will be getting, once the project is completed.

In this brief, the main aim was comfort and easy maintenance for short-term rentals. With the client staying overseas, this townhouse has to be turnkey ready for him to walk in for the first time.

It is always the greatest feeling when, the first time, your client walks into a space that you have designed and they get tears of joy in their eyes. that makes me realise that I have the best job in the world.

If you need assistance with any interior design, space planning or turnkey property setup, please feel free to contact us on 083 235 2240 or on liezel@ldinteriors.co.za to get a quote for your interior project.

Experience

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ermanus has been a popular holiday destination for more than a hundred years. Drawn to the peace and quiet, the natural beauty and ‘champagne’ air, the town hosts visitors from all over South Africa, as well as tourists from around the globe, including Europe, America and Asia.

While Hermanus has shown tremendous growth, especially since the start of the new millennium, the town has managed to retain its village atmosphere and is home to a caring community that takes an active interest in the conservation and management of its unique assets. New developments are questioned and often vehemently opposed, while several groups and organisations act as watchdogs of the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

Hermanus is a town with ‘soul’ – and there is no better way to experience it than by browsing the back streets and alleyways of the town centre and popping in to the many art galleries, bookshops and coffee shops. This is where you will find local entrepreneurs and residents going about their business – and they are a friendly and approachable bunch of people who are more than happy to engage with visitors.

Museums, Art Galleries & Bookshops Start on Market Square and visit the De Wetshuis Photo Museum to marvel at the historical photographs and get a vivid sense of the history of the town. You can also pop into the Whale Museum next door to learn more about the area’s marine life, especially the southern right whales that annually visit Walker Bay to mate and calve in its secluded bays.

Then head off to Harbour Road and pop in to any of the art galleries to pick up a Hermanus First Fridays (HFF) Artwalk map, which will show the way to 18 art galleries and studios in the town centre. These galleries all participate in the HFF Artwalk on the first Friday of the month, but you can visit them at any time.

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Hermanus like a local Many of the galleries double as artists’ studios, affording visitors the opportunity to meet and talk with the artists themselves.

In Harbour Road alone there are several, including Rossouw Modern and SPACE, Originals, Lembu, Forty X 40, Malcolm Bowling Gallery, Kunskantoor and Geta Finlayson Studio. Other galleries can be found in the Village Square (Bellini), Main Road (Pure South, Walker Bay Modern, Charmaine de Jongh Gelderblom) and High Street (Jenny Jackson, Art Thirst and The Art Gallery).

Among all the galleries in Harbour Road you’ll also find Hemingways Bookshop, which has been run by the colourful and flamboyant couple, Noel and Beth Hunt, for more than 20 years. Step into a different era as you browse the shelves filled with rare Africana, collectable and out-of-print books and other quality used books in all genres. As the author of an attractive and highly informative coffee table book titled Hermanus – Whales, Wine, Fynbos, Art, Beth is an authority on all things local and is always more than happy to engage with visitors.

There are two other second-hand bookshops in Hermanus where you’ll be tempted by an astonishing selection of quality books in all genres, ranging from fiction to crime, science, art, history and politics. The Book Collector in the Royal Centre on Main Road (behind KFC) is owned by a super-friendly couple, Benadé Kruger and Chris Steyn, who love nothing more than striking up a conversation with their customers. They offer daily specials with selected books for sale at only R10, R20 and R50.

Quirk & Leopard is next to Oskars Café & Bakery in The Carriages Centre at the bottom of High Street. Owner Dee Anderson has a penchant for the quirky and her motto ‘Interesting, Beautiful, Strange’ is borne out by the eclectic selection of weird and wonderful books at this veritable Aladdin’s Cave where

book lovers will discover long-lost treasures as well as inspiring new ones.

Other bookshops include The Book Cottage in Long Street, which has been a favourite destination for bibliophiles for more than two decades. Known as ‘the village bookshop with a city selection’, The Book Cottage is run by owner John Morris whose other great passion is music, which is evident from the cosy music room where lovers of classical works can browse, look and listen to their heart’s content. The welcoming atmosphere and excellent collection of books and music make this a place to linger – and revisit time and time again.

The other independent bookshop in Hermanus is bookmark in Main Road, right next to one of the art galleries. It is owned by an independent Scotswoman, Corinne Hendry, who describes Hermanus as “a place as near to heaven as one could find”. This intimate little bookshop stocks an excellent selection of the latest titles. Both bookmark and The Book Cottage regularly host book launches with popular authors in attendance, so make sure to inquire about their upcoming events.

Bistros & Coffee Shops Some of the best daytime eateries and coffee shops in Hermanus are tucked away in side streets and visitors need some inside knowledge to track them down. When you’re walking around the town centre, Betty Blue Bistro on Main Road is easy to find. Ownerrun by long-time Hermanus residents and restaurateurs Rayno and Celia Rabie, Betty Blue has become one of the most popular spots in town. Not only do their local supporters meet here for coffee, breakfast or lunch – foodies flock to Betty Blue from all over the Western Cape.

Along with colour-coded breakfasts, salads and fresh juices (red, yellow and green), you

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will also find a great selection of delicious coffees, creative sandwiches, burgers and light meals. But what takes pride of place on their menu is their ‘Pancake Obsessions’ with anything from a folded pancake topped with eggs benedict or a lacy pancake with smoked salmon, pea cream cheese and pickled red onion, to a folded pancake with ginger beerbrewed pulled pork and a mint cream sauce, or a rolled pancake with peanut butter mousse, banana and ice cream.

High Street runs parallel to Main Road and here you will find another local gem, CanD’s Kitchen, owned and managed by a young couple, Candice and Daniel Bradley. Honest, home-made comfort food and a daily harvest table with fresh salads can be enjoyed here in a very laid-back atmosphere. The coffee is excellent and so are the breakfasts and homebaked goodies, including lip-smacking cakes and cookies.

Talking about baked goods brings us to Oskars Café & Bakery at the bottom end of High Street (opposite Woolworths). Here the mother-and-daughter team of Sanmarie Swanepoel and Lizanne Olivier has created a homely atmosphere filled with the aroma of freshly-baked bread, pastries and cakes. You’ll spot locals sipping Oskars’ delicious artisanal coffee while reading the paper or chatting to the owners. They serve fabulous farm-style breakfasts, light meals and there is a daily harvest table.

Tucked away in an alley between Main Road and Long Street is an unpretentious eatery, simply named The Eatery, where local chef Madré Malan serves innovative meals prepared from fresh, local produce. This is another favourite hang-out among the locals, whether for coffee and sweet treats, breakfast or lunch. The Eatery also has daily blackboard specials and they stock a great selection of local wines.

– Hedda Mittner

10 Top things to do in Hermanus

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hether you are a visitor or a resident, there are 10 things that you simply have to experience during your time in Hermanus. In a town that offers so much, it might take several visits (or several years of living here!) before you can tick them all off your list, so get cracking without delay. You will be so thankful that you did!

1. Hermanus Cliff Path The 11 km Cliff Path is one of the most unique attractions of Hermanus. It mean-ders along the rugged coastline all the way from the New Harbour in the west to Grotto beach in the east. The path is accessible from various points, so you can walk for as long as you like or you can break it up into sections and do several walks on different days.

The Cliff Path provides glorious views across the wide expanse of Walker Bay and is popular for land-based whale watching during the whale season, which is now coming to a close as the southern right whales start their return journey to Antarctic waters. The mountain vistas and views of the town are quite spectacular too, as are the many species of fynbos and the forests of milkwood trees found along the path.

To ensure protection of its fragile ecosystem, the Cliff Path and the fynbos vegetation through which it passes was incorporated into the proclaimed Fernkloof Nature Reserve in 2000.

2. Hoy’s Koppie Also incorporated into Fernkloof Nature Reserve is Hoy’s Koppie, the lone hill that rises above the town. It is a fascinating geological landmark, believed to have been formed approximately 440 million years ago by wave erosion before the shoreline receded over time and only the core of hard sandstone was left standing.

From the top of the koppie you can enjoy wonderful views of the town and the ocean beyond, and the cave is also well worth a visit. Middle Stone Age artefacts and debris found there by two archaeological expeditions put the age of the cave between 50 000 and 250 000 years old. The wide variety of shells and shell fish unearthed, testifies to the proximity of the cave to the sea in earlier times and the seafood diet of its early inhabitants.

Previously known as ‘Klipkop’ (stone head)

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the koppie was renamed after Sir William Hoy, one of the most charismatic figures in Hermanus history. Sir William was the Scottish-born head of the Cape and South African Railways in the 1920s. He fell in love with Hermanus and visited the village repeatedly for the fishing and the relaxed and restful lifestyle. Sir William and his wife Gertrude’s graves can also be visited at the crest of the koppie.

3. Country Market This laid-back, family-friendly country market has been flourishing for 10 years and is a favourite destination among the locals on a Saturday morning. During the summer season, the market also trades on Wednesday evenings. The stalls offer local produce and merchandise, most of it handmade, including delicious artisanal eats, coffee, craft beer and wine, sweet treats, fresh vegetables, plants, clothing, home décor and all manner of arts and crafts.

Children enjoy playing on the sturdy jungle gyms and riding the Whale Train while the grown-ups socialise. Mellow tunes by local performers add to the relaxing ambience and even dogs are welcome. With more than 80 traders offering unique products, this is a

wonderful place to do your Christmas shopping.

4. Fernkloof Nature Reserve This botanical gem in the heart of Hermanus covers approximately 1 800 hectares, stretching from the Kleinrivier Mountains that form the backdrop of the town, plunging through rich, indigenous forests and across golden beaches into the Atlantic Ocean.

It is home to a flourishing and diverse plant life, including 1 250 different species of indigenous fynbos, of which many grow nowhere else in the world. This biodiversity hotspot comprises only 0,002% of the Cape Floral Kingdom, but contains 18% of its plants in just 18 square kilometres.

A 60 km network of colour-coded hiking trails runs through the reserve and can be enjoyed all year round. Take the family along for a leisurely walk and a picnic in the beautifully landscaped gardens, and learn more about the reserve’s treasure trove of fynbos at the Visitors’ Centre and the arboretum, situated at the lower end of the garden.

To appreciate the magnificent views across Walker Bay, choose one of the many hiking trails that traverse the reserve or book a guided walk. Maps and brochures are available at the Visitors’ Centre or the Fernkloof Nursery, and if you follow the trail up to the three dams, you can finish off with a

refreshing dip. Dogs on leashes are permitted on the lower paths, the blue and yellow routes.

5. Rotary Way If you want to enjoy extraordinary views without a strenuous hike, simply drive up Rotary Way for a bird’s-eye view of Hermanus and the whole of Walker Bay, from Danger Point Lighthouse near Gansbaai in the east to Cape Hangklip in the west. There are two look-out points and unspoilt walking trails of about 4 km.

From the second look-out the views extend to the beautiful undulating curves of Mount Babylon and the lower Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley, including the vineyards of Newton Johnson, Hamilton Russell and La Vierge. Along with the scenic views come great sunrise and sunset photo opportunities.

6. Wine Hoppers Wine Tour There is no better way to explore the Hermanus Wine Route than with the local Wine Hoppers. Similar to the Franschhoek Wine Tram, these safari-style vehicles allow you to enjoy the wineries of this picturesque valley at your leisure – and everyone can join in the fun as there is no need for a designated driver.

The starting point is at the Wine Hoppers office on Market Square in Hermanus and

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the vehicles follow a set route, stopping at the various wineries along the way. You can hop off wherever you want to enjoy a wine tasting or a meal, as most of the tasting rooms have restaurants or offer tasting platters, and then hop back on again when the next vehicle comes along, approximately every 30 minutes.

7. Beaches Hermanus’s beaches are legendary and have provided happy holiday memories for countless visitors over many decades. The finest of all is probably the Blue Flag Grotto beach with its endless expanse of powdery white sand which stretches all the way from the ancient milkwood forest of Piet-se-Bos, past the Klein River lagoon and Die Plaat, to the town of De Kelders just before Gansbaai.

Smaller beaches and sheltered coves that are also popular include Voëlklip beach, Kammabaai, Langbaai, Sandbaai, Onrus beach and Brêkfis Bay. Strong currents can prove treacherous at some of these beaches, where life guards are on duty during peak seasons. Onrus beach, which is popular among local surfers, is also ideal for children who enjoy playing in the lagoon’s shallow water. Voëlklip and Kammabaai have lawn areas and are popular among the young crowd, while the secluded Skulpiesbaai in Kwaaiwater and Brêkfis Bay in Vermont are most idyllic spots for a romantic sundowner picnic.

8. Boat trips While the southern right whale-watching season is coming to a close, there is still plenty of other marine life to be seen in Walker Bay during the summer months, including bird life, dolphins, seals, Bryde’s whales and great white sharks. Several boat operators depart from the New Harbour and Kleinbaai, and there is no substitute for seeing these animals up close in the ocean.

For adrenalin junkies, shark-cage diving offers the ultimate in goosebump thrills, conservation education and exhilarating nature adventure. You’ll be in the company of expert crew members and qualified marine biologists, but if it sounds like too much to handle, stay on board and enjoy a relaxing trip while taking in the scenery and learning more about the area’s incredible marine life. Either way, it is by all accounts a life-changing experience.

9. Adventure Activities Hermanus offers endless possibilities for funfilled sporting and adventure activities suited to all ages and levels of expertise and fitness.

Among the most popular sports are golf and mountain biking. The pristine 27- hole course at the Hermanus Golf Club is in great condition, and is surrounded by indigenous wetlands and fynbos along the foot of the Klein River Mountains that border Hermanus.

Non-members are welcome to enjoy the course but booking is advised during the peak holiday seasons.

The Hermanus MTB Trail is the favoured option for mountain bikers in the area, starting at the Hemel-en-Aarde Village and giving riders four options of varying length and difficulty to choose from. These wellmaintained routes take riders deep into the valley where the picturesque views are an added bonus. Permits to ride the trails can be

purchased at Euodia Cycles or Wine Village Hermanus.

Water sports include sea-kayaking trips from the Old Harbour or kayaking on the Klein River Lagoon; and boating, sailing or kite-surfing on the Klein River and Bot River lagoons. Other outdoor adventure activities range from tree-top zip lining, to quad biking, sandboarding, horse riding and paragliding.

10. Eating out The restaurant scene in Hermanus is vibrant and diverse, with many fine dining chefs plying their trade at establishments in and around town. Those for whom fine views are as important as fine wining and dining, Harbour Rock at the New Harbour and La Pentola at the Village Square offer most romantic views of the sea. If you’d like to get even closer, head down those steep stairs to Bientang’s Cave next to the Old Harbour and enjoy your food mere metres from the sea lapping on the rocks.

If mountains and vineyards are more your scene, head up the R320 to Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, where you can enjoy breath-taking views from B’s Restaurant at La Vierge. A little further, on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, the Creation tasting room offers delicious food and wine pairings, platters and an à la carte menu, to be savoured as you look out over the vineyards, the dam and majestic Babylonstoren. Other restaurants on the Wine Route that are well worth a visit include Spookfontein, Newton Johnson and Mogg’s Country Cookhouse. And if you prefer stretching out in the shade of a tree on the banks of a dam with heavenly views all the way across the valley to the ocean beyond, order your bottle (or two) of wine and a tantalising platter at the Sumaridge tasting room. Life doesn’t get much better than that!

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UNEQUALLED IN ITS UNIQUENESS – NEW SECURITY ESTATE AT THE FOOT OF THE HEMEL AND AARDE VALLEY

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he beautiful coastal town of Hermanus is soon to be home to a first of its kind, a 39 ha mixed-use estate, to be developed at a cost in excess of R1bn. Amazingly, although regarded as the biggest in the Overberg, entry level prices will start at under R1 million.

Located at the foot of the fabulous Hemelen-Aarde Wine Valley, the estate brings a whole new lifestyle to the Hermanus experience. Aside from a stunning location on the left bank of the Onrus River, surrounded by beautiful nature with the mountains as a backdrop and easy access to the white sandy Onrus Beach with blue ocean, you will have everything you can wish for on your doorstep.

Excellent security and strict access control will ensure peace of mind. The estate will have an impressive appearance, reminiscent of traditional Hermanus- architecture. There will be plenty of greening, landscaped gardens with herbal and/or vegetable back gardens, ample room for walking and exercising, children’s play areas and facilities for communal activities.

BEACHES, NATURE, A CURRO PRIVATE SCHOOL AND CONVENIENCE SHOPPING ON THE DOORSTEP To add to the fabulous lifestyle, the development encircles Curro Private School and includes convenience shopping. The footprint contains more than 1 000 new

residential opportunities, catering for a full mix of lifestyles, from entry-level apartment living to free-standing villas on private plots and slow-living retirement units.

Property options include reasonablypriced sectional title units offering one to three bedrooms, as well as full-title properties with three and more bedrooms and luxury villas with a range of layouts to choose from. The slow living retirement facility will be complimented with frail care and assisted living.

Situated along the Onrus River at the bottom of the fabulous Hemel en Aarde wine route, you will enjoy easy access to the sought-after Onrus Lagoon and Beach, arguably the geographic epicentre of Hermanus and its amenities. You are also close to other Overstrand areas such as Kleinmond, Arabella, Benguella Cove, Stanford, Kelders and surroundings. For those who prefer to commute, you are within an easy 90-minute commuting distance from Cape Town and its International Airport to the west and Africa’s most southern tip at Cape L’Agulhas and Struisbaai to the east.

AN EXCELLENT INVESTMENT Hermanus property is widely regarded as exceptional investment value in current market conditions with values growing year-on-year. Aside from residential,

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retirement and holiday living, Hermanus has a dynamic growing rental market, with holiday and residential rentals in high demand, making it an ideal investment opportunity. A property acquired for later retirement purposes could earn useful income in the interim.

It now ranks with places such as Plettenberg Bay, George and Knysna as high-demand coastal hot spots, not just for residential buyers, but also for a second home or solid property investment. Important contributing reasons are the superb climate, healthy lifestyle and excellent medical facilities.

Hermanus enjoys one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country with the town lining the coast of the stunningly-beautiful Walker Bay, home of the southern right whale and heart of the Whale Coast. From here, you can enjoy an array of water- and land-based adventures and leisure pursuits.

The nearby new Whale Coast Mall that opens in December 2017 is the first Regional Mall for the Overstrand and set to be another game changer, adding to the existing superb educational and medical facilities.

The estate will offer a lifestyle without compare. It is launching in early 2018.

Contact Susan McCarthy at susan.mccarthy@seeff.com

RECIPE

WATERMELON GRANITA The perfect summer refresher...

1 kg watermelon flesh, seedless handful of mint leaves juice of 1 lime Blend all of the ingredients in liquidiser or food processor until smooth.

Place in freezer-safe dish. Freeze for 30 minutes. Stir and combine well to break crystals.

Repeat again after 30 minutes.

Leave to freeze and when required, using a fork, scrape ice and serve watermelon granita in cocktail glass with or without, a measure of Vodka.

BAKED RICOTTA 250g Ricotta Cheese 1 small egg, beaten 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt 1 desert spoon thyme, chopped 1 desert spoon smoked chilli flakes rind of 1/2 lemon 1 tablespoon olive oil Heat oven to 200 degrees Celsius In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with the beaten egg, salt, lemon rind, half of the Thyme and half of the Chilli flakes.

Mix well and spoon into 3-4 small ramekins which have been lightly greased with a little olive oil.

Divide mixture between ramekins.

Top with remaining thyme & chilli.

Spoon olive oil over each and bake for 25 minutes until slightly raised and golden on the top.

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Get hooked on shopping at the Whale Coast Mall

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esidents and visitors welcomed the opening of the Whale Coast Mall on 30 November.

The mall, the single biggest privateproperty investment in the region, will offer a one-stop shopping experience with its more than 80 stores spread out over 30 000 m². It is expected that, in the first year, on average between 300 000 and 400 000 people will visit the mall monthly.

During construction 2,5 million bricks were used. If you line them end-to-end it will cover almost 600 km. Some 13 000 cubic metres of concrete was poured, enough to fill 5 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

According to Jannie Kruger, director of developers Dorpstraat, a lot of effort went into realising the mall and they are excited about the completion of the project.

“It has taken eight years to get the planning, environmental assessments and rezoning done, and construction has lasted two years. Now we are ready to offer residents and visitors a unique shopping experience.”

Jannie says that apart from the 560 temporary jobs created during construction

it is expected that more than 500 permanent jobs will be created once the mall is fully operational.

The mall boasts a maritime theme that runs from the whale tail shaped entrance through to the interior where part of the roof has been modelled to resemble the underside of a boat.

Mall Marketing Manager, Andrea van Rensburg, says they are expecting brisk trade after the mall opens, especially during the high season. “During the holidays trading hours at the mall will be until at least 20:00 to make Christmas shopping easier. The ample free parking and easy access will make your shopping experience at the mall all the more enjoyable.

While we are not out to compete with the unique offering of the shops in the CBD there is a huge need for shoppers to have a place where they can do their monthly shopping in a one-stop area.

“Whale Coast Mall aims to attract a broader base of consumers, particularly those looking for national retail and ‘bigger box’ value chains such as Dischem. It won’t detract from the

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Hermanus CBD offering, but rather retain those customers who head over the mountain when they want to peruse the larger malls,” she says.

The mall boasts a diverse and exciting tenant mix, including retail giants Checkers and Woolworths. Other stores such as Dischem, Clicks, Mr Price Home, Mr Price Sports and Due South will also feature, as well as food chains such as Spur, Daily Coffee, Melissa’s and Mugg & Bean. Fashion tenants include a large Foschini and Truworths, as well as Markhams, Donna Claire, Ackermans and Cape Union Mart, to name but a few.

“In addition, the Whale Coast Theatre will open soon after the launch of the mall and will add that unique entertainment experience with movies, regular theatre productions and live music shows currently lacking in the area,” says Andrea.

According to her, the marketing strategy for the mall aims to support local events and take hands with the community in joint initiatives. “The mall will also provide local businesses a platform to expose their brands to a captive audience.”

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Top 10 tips for a crime-free festive season

G

etting things in order ahead of the festive season is the best way to avoid the last-minute rush and resulting mishaps.

Every year there is an increase in incidents of house and vehicle break-ins just before the festive season and we are already seeing this trend. Not only that but we also see incidents throughout the season so it’s important to get your security in order, to take certain precautions and get organised.

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Here are the top 10 security tips to get you started: •

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Ensure that your alarm is in working order. December is traditionally a busy period for security companies so homeowners should test their alarms at least three weeks before going on holiday and should the system require servicing this should be arranged as early as possible.

Ensure there are no gaps in your fence

•

•

or unintentional points of access to your home which may need additional security.

Connecting outdoor lights to timers and motion sensors act as an additional deterrent.

Two weeks before you leave for your holiday, advise your security company of your holiday plans. Should an incident happen while you are away, it is essential that they have the following updated information: o all keyholder information o details of domestic workers, gardeners or housesitters who may be staying on the property while you are away Inform your neighbours and Neighbourhood Watch of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property while you are away.

Stop all newspaper and other deliveries (if applicable) and arrange that someone collects your post while you are away – a bulging post box is a

• •

•

clear indication that you are not home.

If you have hired a housesitter, teach them how to use your alarm system correctly.

Make sure that all bushes or trees close to your doors and garage are trimmed, to avoid the possibility of intruders hiding behind them Do a quick once-over before you set off.

Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors – sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail. Don’t leave ladders, spades or tools outside as these can be excellent breakin tools. Ensure that cell phones, valuables and remote controls for automatic gates and garage doors are not left lying around.

The festive season should be a time of relaxation and giving, so don’t let security be a concern. If you get organised early, you can head off with peace of mind.

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UNDER OFFER

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You are in safe hands... we will guide you!

“If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest” ~Benjamin Franklin

W

ith Seeff being a leading real estate agency in South Africa, we recognise that clients entrust our agents with probably one of the largest estate planning decisions, being their properties – whether buying or selling it.

Seeff’s core purpose is to empower people to prosper through property and have expertise in this area built through generations of trust. Because we care about you and want all our clients to prosper and create wealth, Seeff Hermanus has partnered with attooh! and Trusteeze. These two dynamic companies are highly respected and successful in their various fields of expertise.

It is estimated that the average person spends 76 800 hours to build his/her estate, yet very few people spend any time ensuring that their estates are not diluted by more than 30% upon death, through death taxes. More emphasis is usually placed on investment strategies and the creation of wealth than on estate planning, despite the fact that estate planning forms one of the key supporting pillars of a sound financial plan.

It is understandable that people generally avoid discussing issues around death. It is therefore not surprising that many people die without wills and proper financial plans.

The result is that loved ones are often left destitute, after substantial portions of wealth are lost to death taxes. If only some of the 76 800 hours have been spent on protecting the wealth built during their lives, a legacy of love could have been left, instead of chaos and anxiety.

The attooh! Group of companies saw a need in the financial market to help clients organise and plan their lives so that they can have lasting peace. We are extremely

proud to introduce this dynamic company with its ground-breaking life planning and enablement tool, to you. The cornerstone and foundation of all the relationships that attooh! builds can be summarised in their core purpose defined as: “We make ordinary people Millionaires and make Millionaires Financially Independent” Trusteeze was borne from an outcry of trust “owners” who were disgruntled and were often financially at risk due to wrong advice and bad implementation of trust structures, by so-called professionals. The partnership with Trusteeze provides us with a means to assist our clients in protecting their assets in their trusts through proper structuring and implementation. They have developed a real-time, digital, seamless administration, banking, accounting and taxation system specifically for trusts to make compliance easy for trustees.

The team at Trusteeze can help you to draft your last will and testament, making sure that it meets all legal requirements, in alignment with your estate plan, and more specifically your trust/s.

Both attooh! and Trusteeze embrace an approach of educating individuals in order to empower themselves to take charge of their financial destiny.

Attooh’s 14-day Financial Freedom Challenge was designed to give any person a fast-start plan that you can engage in and have a proven journey to set you up to achieve Financial Freedom.

Once done, your finances will be organised and you will have gained clarity into how simple it is to start investing.

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Trusteeze developed a reference guide to demystify trusts and communicates regularly with its clients in order to keep them up to date with relevant changes impacting their trusts and estates. For example, married couples have to start preempting the possibility of Government removing the roll-over provision, whereby, upon death of the first spouse, his/her assets are transferred to his/her surviving spouse, tax-free, and the estate only gets taxed upon the death of such spouse. The Minister of Finance indicated in this year’s budget speech that it may introduce changes in the way deceased estates are taxed in the following year. So in certain instances it may result in the executor of the estate having to liquidate the house you and your family live in, just to cover death taxes. One should consider structuring your assets in a trust or ensure sufficient life cover/other liquidity is in place in the estate to cover death taxes. We want to keep our clients up to date with relevant information that may impact their decisions when they purchase a house and other valuable assets.

The secret of a successful estate plan is to engage the services of aligned professionals, otherwise a conflict or gap may easily develop in your estate plan.

If you are interested to join the journey to financial freedom created through this partnership, contact us: [O] 011 888 9088 (https://johnassor.co.za/) or (http://www.trusteeze.co.za/)

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Purchase & reside in Malta through Seeff

www.seeff.com

Experience Hermanus like a local

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The cosmopolitan and historically rich Malta is just a few hours flying time from the majority of Europe’s main cities and large transport hubs to Africa, such as Istanbul and Dubai.

There are frequent daily ferries and high speed catamarans to Italy.

While a busy hub of international activity, the lifestyle is laid back and easy going. It features magnificent views, world class beaches, world heritage sites and small harbour side restaurants all in one day. The traditional cuisine infuses Sicilian and Middle Eastern flavours and the people are warm and friendly.

Malta has been a Member of the European Union since 2004, part of the Euro zone since 2008 and, part of Schengen since 2007. It offers a stable

political climate, safe living environment and very low crime rate. Likewise, Malta has become a perpetually growing international business hub, with a competitive tax system and strategic location. Malta registered the highest economic growth in the EU in 2014 & 2015, according to Eurostat and its’ economic growth is forecasted to remain robust.

With its location, advantageous tax rates and attractive lifestyle; it is no coincidence that you will already find a thriving community of English-speaking expatriates. Malta offers an attractive Residence and Visa programme, ideal for South African nationals interested in investing into an offshore holiday or retirement home with easy access into Europe included.

Location: Mediterranean Europe (Schengen nation) Official Languages: Maltese, English Capital: Valletta Time Zone: UTC + 1 Currency: Euro Government Type: Parliamentary Democratic Population: < 450 000 Nearby cities: Amsterdam 3h, Dubai 5h25min, Istanbul 2h30min, London 3h, Rome 1h30min.

Contact: Susan McCarthy 076 092 8447 | susan.mccarthy@seeff.com

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Negester Onrusrivier helps you make your ‘little house by the sea’ dream come true Onrusrivier, a charming Overberg coastal town just a stone’s throw from Hermanus, has become a preferred destination for fifty-plussers over the past few years.

The environment provides residents and holidaymakers with premier wine estates, beaches, golf courses, shopping centres, restaurants, a Mediclinic hospital and much more. With its ideal location, Negester Onrusrivier gives you the opportunity to settle down in this beautiful, safe environment, between the Groenberg Mountains and sea.

Your little house by the sea

Negester Onrusrivier’s timeless architecture and inviting Cape design elements, such as old-fashioned porches, low walls and landscaped gardens, instantly make you feel at home. The full-title homes, with their spacious living areas, high ceilings and large windows, are equipped with quality materials and finishes - with underfloor heating and a braai area as additional options.

This secure lifestyle estate consists of 125 properties and a variety of homes and plot-and-plan packages are available. The home sizes range from 135 to 205m² and prices start at R2 830 000. Since Negester Onrusrivier’s launch in November 2013, 85% of the properties have already been sold.

ATKV as development partner for peace of mind

About seven years ago the ATKV board adopted a diversification strategy to, among other things, be involved in the development of lifestyle housing for the fifty-plussers group. According to Schalk Cilliers, the managing director of ATKV-Sake, it was the strategy of ATKV-Sake to establish a secured lifestyle housing footprint in South Africa. Negester Onrusrivier, Negester and Klein-Kariba were the first steps taken towards implementing this strategy.

medical support and nursing services. They also have a practice num ber that enables them to recover costs from the medical aid on behalf of the residents in certain cases. Schalk Cilliers states that, “It is also our aim to provide home care at each Negester as a standard service op tion, and to build modern and well-equipped care centres that make provision for residents’ medical needs and in so doing ensure peace of mind.”

Shine bright!

Well-known Afrikaans author and poet, DJ Opperman’s poem, Negester en stedelig, was the inspiration behind the development of the Negester brand and slogan. The Negester vision expanded on this, namely the development and management of sustainable, secure and valued lifestyle estates where the total wellbeing of the fifty-plusser group is cherished.

And, as with Opperman’s poem, “always remember that to your deeds borders an eternity […] and may the Southern Cross and the Nine Star, whiter than the city lights, keep sparkling in your soul” (freely translated), Negester Onrusrivier believes that its lifestyle estate truly provides such a sustainable environment for its residents.

A sanctuary for gentle care

Negester Onrusrivier also has a modern, well-equipped care centre with 50 sectional title residential units. The care centre opened 6 December 2014 and three care packages are available: basic care packages from R8 800 p.m., assisted care packages from R15 400 p.m. and frail care packages from R19 300 p.m. The modern en-suite residential units are all equipped with a kitchenette and spacious bathroom. The care centre offers a cosy dining room, living room with fireplace, ladies’ bar, small library, hair salon and clinic.

Home care is offered as a standard option by Medwell, the health care service provider. Medwell specialises in hands-on, valued, community,

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[O] 028 313 0390 ELMAR VAN TONDER 060 070 2010 elmar.van@seeff.com

UNDER OFFER

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Calling all developers! This new exclusive ecoestate will offer the discerning buyer the opportunity to develop 12 vacant stands in a secure private estate. This sustainable development is designed to be in harmony with nature and its large fynbos open spaces are next to a wetland. The estate is privy to beautiful mountain views which will remain yours forever. The entire area is surrounded by the impressive mountains of the Cape Overberg as well as hundreds of species of spectacular fynbos, that are endemic to this area. The breath-taking views combined with clean champagne air and natural surrounds make Vermont a sought-after destination for holiday makers and permanent residents.

A small population of Disa hallackii (Smallspot Disa), an endangered orchid, was spotted in Vermont by Dr Vic Hamilton-Attwell, in 2010 during a survey of plants to pick for the Annual Flowershow. The flower caused quite a stir at the flower show because the orchid is considered to be one of the most threatened orchid species in South Africa. A beautiful coastal path meanders along the coastline right to the magnificent sand dunes at Brekvisbaai (BrĂŞkfis Bay). One of the most undisturbes quaint beaches in the area. In keeping with conservation and creating harmony with nature, these homes will embrace the latest technology in security and harvesting rain- and grey water.

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The high-quality architectural designs (Cape vernacular) will yield timeless clean lines that blend with the horizon and environment.

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DYKES VAN HEERDEN GROUP OF COMPANIES professionals striving for excellence

From the Cape to Gauteng and back to the Klein Karooâ&#x20AC;¦

for the signing of all documentation we will drive to you.

ENTERTAINMENT

Conveyancing at your convenience Property Law specialists you can trust, do not hesitate to contact us.

www.dvh.law.za

Dykes van Heerden Inc E-mail: info@dvh.net.za Tel: 011 279 5000 Fax: 011 955 4799 Dykes van Heerden (Cape) Inc E-mail: admin@dvh.law.za Tel: 0861 110 210 Fax: 021 910 4911 Dykes van Heerden (KZN) Inc E-mail: thomas@kzndvh.za.net Tel: 031 903 1851 Fax: 031 903 1101 Dykes van Heerden Slabbert Hopkins Inc E-mail: admin@dvh.law.za Tel: 0861 110 210 Fax: 021 910 4911