Seeff Hermanus Local Lux Mag Dec 2022

"With more than half a century of expertise in buying and selling properties, we understand it is more than just a transaction - this is your story - and we are honoured to write this chapter with you" Samuel Seeff

Western Cape property, and the coastal areas in particular, remains a hot commodity as we have seen over the last two years. FNB also recently reported that the Cape real estate market is on a trajectory of its own compared to the rest of the country

There are various contributors to this, from effective local government and service delivery to safety and lifestyle which has become a key driver of buyer demand since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The upside of this is that coastal property is a good investment and despite the robust activity over the last two years, there is still excellent value to be had. Investing in coastal property is usually more about the lifestyle, the sunny weather and the healthier climate.

Hermanus also benefits from its close proximity to Cape Town. It offers a great cosmopolitan coastal lifestyle and excellent infrastructure. It is no surprise then that top-end buyers are now prepared to invest well into the upper millions for a property.

Aside from an increase in local demand and retirement options, we have also seen a resurgence in semigration to the Western Cape coastal areas in particular. This adds further impetus to the property market.

In terms of the broader market overview, after experiencing record sales performance over the last two years and into the first half of 2022, sales volumes are slowing. It was to an extent expected that the market would normalise, especially given the accelerated interest rate hiking cycle.

That said, while Deeds Office data shows that the overall sales volumes are down, the total value of transactions is still higher. This is due to increased activity in the higher price bands above R3 million since early this year.

Overall, the market remains active and well-balanced for buyers and sellers with some stock shortages in certain areas and price bands. Mortgage lending conditions are also still favourable for the market.

According to the latest market data, price growth continues its steady decline. It is expected to average at around 3.5% for the 2022 year, down from the 2021 average of 4.2%. The outlook for 2023 is around 3.4%.

FIt is still a great time to sell, but sellers will need to be aware that asking prices are coming under pressure, especially in the higher price bands. The realistically priced property continues to sell, but buyers are now looking for more negotiability, especially at the higher price bands.

Aside from lifestyle shifts, the return of tourism also supports coastal markets. As the pandemic continues to wane, more people are looking to invest in a coastal lifestyle and Hermanus is a hotspot for local and international buyers.

“Western Cape coastal property continues to be a hotspot for a variety of buyers, from retirees to semigration and second home buyers ”

Seeff Chairman of the Seeff Property Group

Samuel

TThis farm encapsulates an alternate world in which one discovers more and more wonderful surprises whilst driving around the farm In a nutshell, this could be the Lifestyle Farm you are looking for

Serenely situated between Kleinmond and Bot River adjacent to the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, this unique property (agriculturally zoned) offers many opportunities with breathtaking scenery of the indigenous area

The farm is a mere 20 km from Hermanus and 5 km from the N2 national road, making it easily accessible, as well as being only 100 km from Cape Town The North-East facing orientation of the farm ensures more than enough sunlight, especially during the colder winter months

The current tenant winemaker makes use of the cellar and tasting room and sells wine directly to the public from the farm In addition, there is an olive grove, 1 5 ha of essential oil plantings and a hectare of a variety of lemons

Apart from sufficient staff housing on the farm, there are 5 luxury income-generating villas (sleeping 32 pax in total) plus another 2 cottages in beautiful natural surroundings Each villa is equipped with its own braai area, private swimming pool and jacuzzi These are most popular with the tourism market and have been positioned to ensure privacy and breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside

The Caledon Hotel and Spa, with a casino and hot spring, as well as the Arabella Hotel, Golf and Spa, is a short distance from the farm, the latter literally up the road

Creating a Better Office Experience

The conventional wisdom that offices are critical to productivity, culture, and winning the war for talent is still applicable even after the Covid-19 pandemic. With this in mind, Seeff Hermanus embarked on a journey to improve our visibility and image and create an environment that is optimal for the motivation of our agents and employees. Big changes are being executed for the Seeff Hermanus offices.

To create a more powerful network between colleagues, and provide better assistance across suburbs for clients, Seeff Hermanus is creating one main office for all the agents to work cohesively – whether it be in finding your dream home, selling, or renting. We are retaining the ease of popping into your nearest office with a satellite office in each area, situated in a more convenient location for our clients.

But what is a satellite office? It’s a smaller branch of the main office. Each of these satellite offices will have a receptionist and duty agent, to assist walk-ins and handle documentation The agents that are not on duty will be working from one large hub office which is located at the current Onrus office This building has recently been purchased by Hermanus Licensee Paul Kruger

Seeff Hermanus

The first satellite office started with the relocation of our Hermanus office to better premises on Main Road, creating better visibility and convenience for our clients. We’ve acquired a satellite office for the Voëlklip area, dedicated to this pristine area. This office is situated at the Voëlklip circle at the Caltex Fuel Station. We are also investigating premises for our Sandbaai satellite office to follow suit

Be sure to pop in for a cuppa to discuss your property needs, or if you just want to say hello The main office in Onrus is on the corner across from the TotalEnergies Garage The building will also be home to Paul Kruger’s business partners Coastline Flooring Specialists, Renex Solar and The Marketing Desk – creating a one-stop to cover a host of needs

This means that in one building, we can now assist you with excellent new flooring by experts in the industry We can aid in your electricity plight with off-the-grid or grid-tied solutions We can also help you with your new business venture, ensuring you have a dedicated marketing team behind your brand

Here is a sneak preview of what we have planned

The Marketing Desk is a boutique digital marketing agency – working closely with our clients we become an integral part of the team Your brand is our brand and we will represent it with pride

Our experience and marketing skills make us a complete marketing solution for our clients. Our skill set includes strategic communication to attract f ll d b ild b nd awareness, strategies

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W I T H F A S T E R & S A F E R R E N T A L P A Y M E N T S

PayProp is an international rental payment platform with offices in South Africa, the UK, US and Canada.

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Comprehensive transaction reporting for landlords- the complete transparency this gives you is a cornerstone of our business.

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Swellendam is situated in the Western Cape province and connects the Overberg with the Garden Route and is an attractive town with the Koornlands River running through it. The area is botanically diverse with an abundance of wildflowers and fynbos Beautifully historic sitting at the base of the Langeberg mountains Swellendam is in the perfect location to explore and settle down