Business Day HomeFront 27 November 2020

Page 1 Template BD_Homefront straussv 12:41:18 13/10/16

HOMEFRONT

Steyn City is redefining luxury city living and will soon be launching it’s new superlative luxu walkways lined with cafe’s, restaurants and pubs. Add in convenience shopping and boutique pool and a heliport on its northern side. Restrict all cars to a three-tier underground basem movement. Finally, surround it by 2000 acres of indigenous parklands. There is only one pla

Call: 010 597 1040 | sales@steyncity.co.za | Mark: 559.BDLIVE 2989.CO | Leanne: 072 078 9562 13 OCTOBER 2016082 WWW .ZA 27 NOVEMBER 2020 WWW.BUSINESSLIVE.CO.ZA

Call: 010 597 1040 | sales@steyncity.co.za | Mark: 082 559 2989 | Leanne: 072 078 9562

KIDS & TEENS WONDERLAND | PRIVATE SCHOOL | SPORT & RECREATION | LEGENDARY GOLF | HOSPITALITY & RETAIL | LEIS

MUST-READ

WONDERLAND | PRIVATE | SPORT & RECREATION || LEGENDARY GOLF CITY LIVING | COMMERCIAL | INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTUREKIDS|& TEENS RETIREMENT | SCHOOL CONSERVATION SECURITY

CITY LIVING | COMMERCIAL | INNOVATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE | RETIREMEN

West Coast beach house PAGE 2

Gauteng’s buying hot spots PAGE 6

SIX ON N, a Sea Point development by Blok, will offer communal amenities including a deli

Sectional title holds steady World-class golf estate PAGE 9

Sectional title is still experiencing stable buyer momentum. These are some of the sought-after developments in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal

PAGE 4

where families come to grow up STANDS

3m18m +27(0)10 597 1040 sales@steyncity.co.za www.steyncity

HOMEFRONT INTERIOR DESIGN

A walk on the wild side

In the West Coast fishing village of Dwarskersbos, this dreamy beach house is an invitation to unplug and unwind close to the elements WORDS: SARAH MARJORIBANKS :: PHOTOS: HENRIQUE WILDING

GET THE LOOK “The family wanted a space that was beautifully decorated, without clutter and optimised as a holiday rental,” says Elsje Schonken of Schonken Interiors. She took inspiration from the surrounding fynbos and birdlife and the ocean.

“Ronelle Bester and I worked together closely to create a cohesive space, playing with a neutral palette and natural materials such as concrete, steel, rattan, grass and wood, and repeating these elements throughout the house.”

Each element was chosen with care, such as the framed wallpaper from Cara Saven that catches your eye as you walk into the kitchen.

Another favourite is the custom cabinetry made by Wood Artisan, with oak-framed doors and octagonal mesh rattan webbing inserts that let air circulate and linen breathe.

However, one space in the house is Schonken’s absolute favourite. “I love the master bedroom.

It is open, airy and a sanctuary on its own,” she says. “We made one focal point and that was the bed, an oak poster bed draped with botanical-printed linen

from Babylonstoren and hanging rattan pendants on either side.”

When it came to preparing the home’s interiors for the wild West Coast weather and elements, Schonken had a few tricks up her sleeve. Here’s her advice: Let the sunshine in If you want to control the amount and angle of natural light coming into your home to protect your furniture from sun damage (and allow yourself a bit of a lie-in), shutters are the way to go.

Sitting pretty Use furniture designed specifically for the outdoors – for Villa Kersbos she chose galvanised, powdercoated aluminium and treated cane furniture.

Invest in fabrics Make sure to use outdoor fabric for all exterior seating upholstery as it is stain, water and sun resistant. “We used the range from Hertex called Spring Break, which is fully rated for outdoors,” Schonken says.

Beware the sand “Sand is always a problem so close to the beach, so it’s a good idea to look at materials that are scratch resistant,” she says.

T

he Western Cape’s West Coast has steadily grown in popularity as a holiday destination, with many drawn to its unspoilt, rugged surroundings and windswept beaches that go on for miles. The Bester family’s recently finished beach house Villa Kersbos is a remote and luxurious escape that remains true to its environment, connecting with the sea, dunes and natural vegetation.

TRADITION WITH A TWIST Architect Charl Marais of

CFM Architects took his cue from the area’s traditional white-washed style yet went further with the design by adding a modern twist and interesting spatial relationships.

“These types of houses are often oversimplified.

What makes them interesting, though, is how they change over the years,” Marais says.

“People add on rooms and modify them, often with no architectural background – they just follow their intuition. Sometimes in the natural organic process the most amazing architecture happens.”

In this home, beautifully interconnected spaces emulate add-ons. The way the kitchen links to the main space is an example of this, he explains. “It feels like a space that was added on some time in the past, and as if it was always meant to be.”

NOOKS AND CRANNIES Villa Kersbos announces itself with its taller-thanaverage chimney – a quirky touch from Marais that gives the home presence and perhaps something of a church-like quality.

“West Coast houses, in my mind, should be

A

PRODUCED BY BLACKSTAR PROPERTY PUBLISHING

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor: Debbie Loots Designer: Samantha Durand

Copy Editor: Christine de Villiers Production: Lucea Goosen

interesting, have nooks and crannies, unexpected little walls and shady spots and rocky patches to make the inhabitants feel as if they are in an oasis with plenty of options,” he says. “Yet all of this must be pared down in a way that makes you feel life is uncomplicated.”

The expansive central entertainment room has a great wow factor, but it’s the bathrooms and the simple, spacious kitchen that Marais favours. “I’m a sucker for a nice kitchen and a bathroom – maybe because I like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen myself!” he says. “Between

these two spaces, we really perform the basic functions of life, food and sanitation, and if we feel special doing that, then life feels a bit more special too. This house was no exception.”

BIG OUTDOORS Entertaining is a big focus for this property with its many interesting gathering spaces, depending on the weather. A well-protected, cool and calm arrival area allows guests to transition into holiday mode and the decked courtyard is the perfect space to relax.

Thanks to large stacking doors the sea-facing side

of the house, separated from the beach by coastal shrubbery, opens up to the elements and a braai yard with a latte (sapling) screen.

Even when you’re not outside, the connection to nature is tangible, with oversized windows providing sweeping views over the vegetation.

“The harshness of the West Coast is part of the beauty of it,” says Marais.

“This house provides you with the opportunity to seek refuge from the heat and dry winds that can often last for days, but at the same time you can observe it and be part of it.”

PUBLICATION ADVERTISING SALES Chantelle Balsdon Sabrina Ganter

chantelle@augmentcreative.com sabrina@thecreativegroup.info

084 061 7888 074 255 7455

HOMEFRONT PROPERTY TREND

Sectional title holds steady Sectional title is still experiencing stable buyer momentum. These are some of the sought-after developments in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal WORDS: KIM MAXWELL :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

Ballito Village on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast

Rabie Property Group’s Bow Tie at Burgundy Estate, Cape Town, has smart features and a park 128ha secure residential estate Westbrook. Here a three-bedroom, twobathroom simplex with a double garage and a braai area starts from R1.3m, and a four-bedroom twobathroom duplex with a study, a double garage and a braai from R1.5m. “Sales at River Dale are doing well. We’ve sold about 30% of units in our first phase,” says Oosthuizen.

TRADING PLACES

SIX ON N, a Sea Point development by Blok, will offer communal amenities including a deli

I

n FNB’s November 2020 Property Barometer, economist Siphamandla Mkhwanazi says the key themes of Q3 2020 are price growth holding up and volumes reaching multiyear highs, particularly in the middle-priced segment.

“While the affluent market – from R2.6m to R3.6m and upwards – has seen financial pressure building up this year, the middle market – from R750,000 to R2.6m – has showed the most improvement in activity,” he says. In his view, an aggressive reduction in the interest rate, good pricing and lower transfer duties have momentarily improved mortgage affordability and incentivised renters to buy property.

The middle market

is where sectional title property sales dominate traditionally. Mkhwanazi says the lower interest rate and transfer duties have driven stronger activity and market sentiment in this price segment. “In our estimation, market recovery is mainly driven by younger first-time buyers under the age of 35,” says Mkhwanazi.

BEST SALES So has 2020 lured a different type of sectional title buyer? “The buyer types have become marginally younger as a result of the lower interest rate,” says Sitari Country Estate executive director Claudius Combrinck.

“An interesting aspect prevalent throughout the Cape is that rentals have come under pressure as

a result of tenants now opting to purchase.

“At Sitari Country Estate we experienced our best sales month during July 2020, with recorded sales of close to R50m,” says Combrinck. Of those, many were sectional title apartments, with the biggest demand for two-bedroom units in the sub-R1.7m category.

The estate’s new development, Waterford Place, has move-in-ready two-bedroom units available from R1.399m, with no transfer duty.

“Tenants in the Helderberg have opted to become owners at Sitari, as it’s now possible to own a property for not much more than renting one,” he says.

Always a popular holiday draw card appealing to

various investor types, Ballito on the KwaZuluNatal North Coast has become a primary residential destination for young families from this province and many from Johannesburg too. Secure gated environments with communal facilities are especially popular.

Just launched is Ballito Village, with a sectional title offering in a lifestyle estate with amenities. Prices range from an accessible R949,000 for a onebedroom, one-bathroom apartment to R1,999m for three bedrooms and two bathrooms. “Ballito Village is ideally located to deliver the coastal village lifestyle,” says Arcis Property Development sales manager Andrea Santoriello.

Yes, in a value-conscious

market, sectional title developments in less mainstream urban locations are holding greater buyer appeal.

More South Africans are making the intercity move to Port Elizabeth, according to Westbrook Property Developments MD Clifford Oosthuizen This second-tier city has seen spikes in demand thanks to a safe and convenient offering in a more affordable coastal location. “If you can live anywhere, it makes more sense to live somewhere less expensive. A lower cost of living makes it easier for newcomers to enjoy the urban experience in this next tier of cities,” he says.

In September, the Amdec Group launched River Dale, its residential village in the

Lightstone Property head of real estate Esteani Marx says estate agents have reported better than expected interest in popular coastal areas such as northern KwaZulu-Natal and the Southern Cape coast as more families are interested in trading big-city life for more relaxed seaside options.

This results in opportunities in cities for existing homeowners to buy up and first-time homeowners to enter the market.

“Time will tell whether what we are seeing now turns into a future trend,” says Marx. She reports that generally it’s the 24-40 age group that buys the most properties, followed by the 40-49 and 49-64 groups.

For Rabie Property Group, a shift to developing a more affordable property type was a new direction.

Its Bow Tie sectional title development in Cape Town’s Burgundy Estate starts from R845,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, whereas a three-bedroom townhouse with a garden sells from R1.88m.

What triggered this move?

“We did our research and decided that launching this product at this time was the right thing to do.

Taking advantage of the low interest rate, we tried to offer a quality product at a lower entry-level price,” says Rabie director Miguel Rodrigues.

“You still enjoy the pluses of buying in a Rabie development – lower density, green spaces and a secure complex within Burgundy Estate – but at a price that the market currently dictates.”

The developer also looked at ways to reduce operational costs by offering residents smart solutions.

Bow Tie will include 88 apartments and 18 homes around a park with a play area. Rabie’s aim is to combine green building principles, smart design and lush landscaping at an attractive price.

LAUNCH SUCCESS Bow Tie launced in October and 60% of Phase 1 was sold in the first week. “We believe our price point is a big determining factor, targeting the first-time owner who has not been able to get their foot into the property market yet,” says Rodrigues. Buying directly from a developer also saves on transfer duty.

Pam Golding Property group chief executive Andrew Golding notes that more developers operating in the sectional title space seem to be converting one-bedroom apartments into two-bedroom units.

Blok is focused on the sub-R2m market with its development SIX ON N in Norfolk Road, Sea Point. Units will include workspaces. “As a youthful brand, we were growing frustrated with how the market in desirable locations such as Sea Point

was excluding buyers in the under-R2m range, especially first-time investors,” says Blok MD Jacques van Embden.

“We ensured that each unit, irrespective of its size, had a dedicated work station to enable work from home and we provided two meeting rooms that residents can rent for larger meetings. We also believe the home extends beyond the larger building itself, so we made sure to deliver on communal amenities and shared spaces.”

Launched in mid-October, SIX ON N’s aim is to provide a “more affordable foothold into one of the country’s most desirable investment and lifestyle locations”.

With 70% of apartments priced at under R2m, from R1.1m including VAT, the project has allowed access to younger buyers who might not have been able to afford to purchase in Sea Point, says Van Embden.

“It is selling very well – we’re about to reach R90m in just four weeks.

So that segment of the market is definitely alive,” he says. “Of 31 microapartments priced between R1.1m and R1.595m, only three remain, signalling that there is definitely activity and interest but the market is still extremely price-sensitive.”

Located close to the promenade and many Sea Point eateries, SIX ON N will offer communal facilities including a deli and a rooftop pool.

With newer sectional title apartments in prime coastal locations, developers that have been listening to buyer needs and preferred price points seem to be reaping the gains.

WATER FALL

SELLING FROM FROM R1 725 000

HOMEFRONT

SA’s largest private luxury estate, Steyn City, recently introduced its latest development, The Village

HOT SPOT

Gauteng: buyers’ paradise Those with enough savvy and cash are able to pick up once-in-a-lifetime bargains as Gauteng experiences a property heyday reminiscent of the gold rush

Serengeti Estates, developed on a Jack Nicklaus Signature Designed Championship Golf Course, is within easy reach of Johannesburg.

WORDS: HELÉNE MEISSENHEIMER :: PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

T

he economic slowdown, exacerbated by the pandemic, may have caused major pandemonium but also offers property buyers and investors unprecedented opportunities.

As lockdown restrictions ease, estate agencies and mortgage brokers have reported brisk activity in the residential property market over the past few months.

In fact, Multinet Home Loans CEO Shaun Rademeyer says its results for October indicate doubledigit house price growth of 15.1%. In October 2019, the average approved loan was R949,200 compared with 2020’s R1,092,587.

Rademeyer cites supply and demand as the reason; many consumers are now able to afford property with the rock-bottom interest rate.

Lightstone Property recently reported South Africans are selling their inland homes near metro areas to relocate to coastal towns or more rural settings.

In line with world trends, this movement has opened opportunities in Gauteng and in other interior provinces for homebuyers and investors to pick up bargains.

Seeff Property Group chairman Samuel Seeff says the Gauteng property market is very active in so-called first-home buyer areas, especially the main urban sprawls. He says the surge in purchases over the past three months has been driven largely by people under the age of 35.

LIFESTYLE ESTATES SA’s smallest but wealthiest province is favoured by property developers that build large-scale housing projects. According to New World Wealth’s 2019 report for SA, 42% (16,600) of the country’s millionaires live in Johannesburg – more than double Cape Town’s tally of 7,100.

In Midrand, affluent buyers are snapping up homes in top-end luxury estates such as Waterfall, Kyalami Estates, Blue Hills Country

Estate and Midstream Estate, while trendy sectional title properties are popular with first-time buyers, reports Pam Golding Properties regional head for Gauteng Nelson Ferreira.

Exclusive luxury developments such as Serengeti Estates are minutes from Johannesburg’s main amenities and offer a secure and peaceful lifestyle. Under the new ownership and branding of developer David Nagle, this golf estate with two championship golf courses has recently seen the addition of three luxury housing developments.

Fulfulling the rising need for access to the outdoors, it offers trails for walking or cycling, pools, fishing and a lifestyle and gym centre.

Upmarket estates designed around family life are also in demand. Between Midrand and Tshwane, overlooking the Magaliesberg mountains, Copperleaf Golf Estate ticks all the right boxes with a spa, a nursery school and a school, as well as many hectares for walking and an

“It’s clear to our buyers that they’re

investing not only in bricks and mortar but also in a unique lifestyle”

Zoe van Onselen, head of marketing and events, Steyn City

18-hole championship golf course designed by Ernie Els.

MILLENNIALS MOVE IN Lightstone Property statistics show young buyers prefer buying in Gauteng and the Western Cape, with most sales in affordable areas and new developments.

Estates that offer integrated fibre-ready live-work-play environments, such as the award-winning Waterfall, appeal to millennials in particular. Located between Johannesburg and Pretoria, residents at each of the eight secure residential developments and two retirement villages here have access to office parks, private schools, a hospital, hotels, more than 60 restaurants and several parks.

The Lightstone data on residential home sales

indicate that mid-value freehold properties are still the most popular choice, followed by sectional title and lifestyle estates.

Responding to the demand for estate living, SA’s largest private luxury estate, Steyn City, recently introduced its latest offering, The Village.

Set in a sprawling parkland, this suburb is aimed at young families, with homes priced from R3m. In keeping with the latest wellness trend, residents can enjoy an array of outdoor amenities, from horse-riding, tennis and cycling (including 50km of mountain-bike track) to swimming pools or walking.

“Steyn City’s vast infrastructure investment is important to our buyers,” says head of marketing and events Zoe van Onselen. “It’s clear to them that they’re investing not only in bricks and mortar but also in a unique lifestyle, where wellbeing and peace of mind are firmly positioned at the forefront of the developers’ objectives.”

MEGA OPPORTUNITIES

Lion Pride Lifestyle Estate north of Johannesburg is the latest affordable housing development by Cosmopolitan Projects

According to the Centre for Affordable Housing Finance Africa (CAHFA), SA’s housing backlog is currently estimated at between 2.3-million and 3.7-million units. Government has been playing catch-up since 1994, but at the current rate of delivery it is unable to meet the demand. Property developers are responding to the need.

The country’s biggest supplier of affordable housing projects, Cosmopolitan Projects, already has 11 existing affordable housing developments in Gauteng.

In September it teamed up with Central Developments Property Group to launch a new development, Lion Pride Lifestyle Estate, on Malibongwe Drive, north of Johannesburg. The estate will ultimately comprise eight security estates with land set apart for a private school, shops and 17ha of landscaped recreational space. The price range for a full-title stand with a floor plan varies from R1.15m to R1.78m, making owning a house accessible to families with a combined household income of R35,000 per month.

Also recently in the news was JSE-listed development company Balwin Properties’ launch of the R84bn Mooikloof Mega City, east of Pretoria. Once completed, it is set to be one of the world’s largest sectional property developments, with 50,000 apartments as well as schools, shops and offices.

Mooikloof is aimed at the so-called gap market – people who earn too much to qualify for fully subsidised housing but who don’t earn enough to afford debtfinanced housing in areas of their choice – and two- and three-bedroom apartments will sell for between R495,000 and R790,000.

The reduction in the interest rate has strengthened the first-time homeowners’ market, as those who previously felt renting was their only option are now able to afford homes in the R1m to R2m range.

The estates providing homes in this price band are seeing improved sales, says Fine & Country SA CEO Stephen de Stadler, as is the investor market.

This four-bedroom house in Moreleta Park, Pretoria East, is priced at R2.245m by Seeff Property Group.

Copperleaf Golf Estate between Midrand and Tshwane is a Pam Golding Properties offering aimed at families.

THE SUBURBS SELLING FASTEST According to Seeff Property Group, most home sales are happening in the R450,000 to R1.2m price range in the following areas: • Protea Glen in Soweto (from R400,000) • Weltevreden Park, Allen’s Nek and Olivedale in Randburg (from R500,000) • Glen Austin and

Noordwyk in Midrand (from R400,000) • Paulshof, Douglasdale and Lonehill in Sandton (from R600,000 to R800,000) • Centurion West, The Reeds and Die Hoewes in Centurion (from R500,000) • Sunnyside, Equestria and Moreleta Park in Pretoria East (from R500,000)

where families come to grow up

STANDS

3m18m +27(0)10 597 1040 sales@steyncity.co.za www.steyncity

THE LIFEST YLE CENTRE

IS NOW OPEN!

NOW SELLING FROM R1,999,900 INCL. VAT OWN AN APARTMENT FROM

*R15 505 pm WITH A 100% BOND! ANTOINETTE KAYEMBE 083 655 5539

FOCUS ON: THE EYE OF AFRICA LIFESTYLE ESTATE

ADVERTORIAL

Luxury in the heart of Africa Reserve your stand now and be part of a world-class estate where beautiful homes, top recreational facilities and emerald golfing greens are all par for the course WORDS AND PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

D

o you desire a luxury lifestyle in the heart of Africa? Look no further than The Eye of Africa Lifestyle Estate south of Johannesburg, where the developers have tapped into the continent’s natural beauty and peacefulness to create an exceptional offering.

The estate’s modern homes are set amid rolling hills and woodlands complete with the only Greg Norman Signature Designed Championship Golf Course in Africa. Add 24-hour on-site security, up-to-theminute surveillance and biometric access control to the mix and you’re on your way to a perfect life where peace of mind comes with the territory.

GET IN TOUCH Book a viewing at our sales office: 33 Cayman Rd, Alewynspoort, Eikenhof, 1872 Tel: 0861 420 420 E-mail: sales@eyeofafrica.co.za www.eyeofafrica.co.za

PROPERTY OPTIONS Whether you are after a freehold stand, a modern apartment, an estate home or a cluster, you’ll be spoilt for choice. All homes on the estate are designed with low maintenance and a lock-upand-go lifestyle in mind.

If you are considering buying off-plan, The Village Haymarket luxury apartments are an exciting option. These homes make the most of the outdoor lifestyle offering here and have beautiful views. Take advantage of the last building phase now – prices start from R890,000 and one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations are available.

COMMUNITY AND LEISURE It is not only the various residences and perfectly manicured lawns everywhere that are worth coming home for. How does a leisurely stroll along a professionally designed 7km walking trail sound?

Or a bike ride on the 12km stretch of the Neil Evans-designed mountainbike trail built into the mountainside? There is also a state-of-the-art gym and floodlit tennis courts for sports enthusiasts.

And if you’re in need of refreshment after all the activity, go straight to one

of the outstanding restaurants or the bespoke coffee bar to get your energy back.

AMENITIES There are several restaurants on The Eye of Africa Lifestyle Estate.

The Greens Grillhouse is perfect for corporate golf days, whereas Nova Restaurant’s beautiful surroundings within Central Park is the goto spot for indoor or outdoor social events, romantic meals and family gatherings. For those in search of a more intimate setting, the Deli coffee bar offers aromatic coffees and decadent pastries.

The little ones are also catered for in the form of a dedicated entertainment area with a jungle gym close to a swimming pool and an ice-cream kiosk.

Residents have full access to all of the above and many more amenities, including a beach volleyball court, a pétanque terrain, a BMX pump track and a basketball court.