Neighbourhood DBN - 05 August 2018

Neighbourhood 5 AUGUST 2018

PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE

Facing beauty

A paradise for retirees, scenic Howick also offers a variety of property to all lovers of country living, page 2

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SUBURB FOCUS: HOWICK

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BUSINESS Q&A

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PROPERTY NEWS

5 AUGUST 2018

Neighbourhood

Suburb focus

Howick Here’s what’s happening in property in the area WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER IMAGES: STEPHEN PILBROUGH, SHUTTERSTOCK & GOOGLE MAPS *Map not to scale

We retired to Amber Ridge from Pietermaritzburg, and have wildlife, views, a better climate, and a host of activities we didn’t have in the city. Because we know the region, it’s not unfamiliar, but like any small town, there’s something to be said for shopkeepers knowing your name!

KERIN BOWKER, RESIDENT

SHOP: • • • • •

St John’s Village Lifestyle Centre Yard 41 Fairways on Main The Falls Centre Piggly Wiggly Country Village

EAT: • The Farmers Daughter: hearty, homemade-style food • Terbodore Coffee Roasters: artisan coffee roasters • The Snooty Fox at Fern Hill Hotel: warm country-style venue • Tumble Downs Cafe and Restaurant: well-established family restaurant • Yellowwood Cafe & Restaurant: wholesome country food

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few decades ago, the magic trilogy of affordability, climate and country living catapulted Howick into the retirement limelight.

That doesn’t mean Howick is entirely for the aged, of course. It’s certainly the door to the legendary Midlands Meander route and the region’s artists and crafters. The region has everything from luxury to simple country accommodation, and offers healthy as well as challenging outdoor pursuits.

Many of those who live in Howick migrated there from Pietermaritzburg, either to retire or to escape the increasingly madding crowd, but others have come from Midlands’ towns, Durban or even Joburg. The town has quick and easy access to the N3, is 20 minutes from Pietermaritzburg, just over an hour from Durban, not even two hours from the Drakensberg, and is close to the numerous prestigious private schools in the greater Midlands area.

Property SLEEP: • • • • •

Fern Hill Hotel Biggy Best Cottages Harrow Hill B&B Howick Falls Hotel Granny Mouse Country House & Spa, Balgowan

PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING 1st Floor, Block H, Sable Square cnr Bosmansdam and Ratanga Roads Milnerton, Cape Town

A few smart developers ahead of their time recognised that increased longevity, coupled with a dwindling pension, meant those ever-growing waiting lists at subsidised retirement villages would just keep on growing.

It began with Amber Valley, the first development in the Greater Ambers

complex of independent sectional title villages, and grew to encompass Amber Ridge, Lakes and Lee. Since the Ambers, other sectional-title and retirement villages have come on line, and, in the case of the multigenerational, multi-use country-style estate St John’s Village, a retirement component is a clever part of the mix.

With a high percentage of over 60s in Howick, freestanding properties probably make up less than one third of the total properties, most being gated estates, retirement or otherwise.

Sally Davies, resident, says, “As a retiree, I love living here. The climate is far more comfortable than that of Pietermaritzburg, and I so enjoy my garden and the birds. There’s ample to do here – from art to the monthly Midlands forum – and I enjoy birding with the local bird club.”

Schooling Howick is within easy proximity of KwaZulu-Natal’s prestigious private schools like St Anne’s Diocesan School for Girls, Hilton College and Grace College. Heading west, Michaelhouse and Clifton are also within easy reach, as are the well-known Midlands agricultural colleges of Weston and Cedara. Within the village, there’s the co-educational Howick Prep and Howick High School for day scholars

and weekly boarders. Founded by John Tungay (founder of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School in 1967) and Wendy Clarke, Drakondale Girls Choir School is a new private, senior, day and boarding school for girls.

Resident Colleen de Wet says that the country atmosphere helps keep her and her family grounded. “Our family loves country living, and in Howick, it’s country, but not isolated. When the kids get back from school, they have farm chores, and then they can horse ride... infinitely better than hanging out at a mall!”

Explore This is good-looking, authentic countryside with ideal topography for all the hiking and biking you can handle.

There’s an active Howick Mountain Bike Club, with established trails around Howick and the neighbouring Karkloof region.

There’s also a more recreational ride on the Groundcover trail some 14km away, and for the competitive or community spirited, the fundraiser Howick Highlander takes place annually in the Umngeni Valley Nature Reserve (WESSA), incorporating trail runs and MTB rides. There are some superb hiking trails in the

reserve, two favourites being Dwarfs Dawdle and The Black Eagle Trail.

No surprise then that there’s an active bird club in Howick – BirdLife KZN Midlands. Birders head out to the Karkloof Conservation Centre, and along part of the Midlands Birding Route. With the town’s proximity to the Drakensberg and other Midlands beauty spots, there’s no shortage of birding, hiking, ambling locations.

Midmar Dam is a quick drive from Howick, and for sailors of all classes, this is where the wet action is.

Managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the resort offers a good family day or weekend escape, with picnic sites, camping and accommodation, too.

Aside from the numerous activities offered in the Midlands Meander, you can head out about half an hour from Howick and swing from the trees at the Karkloof Canopy Tours.

The Nelson Mandela Capture Site, on the road to the Piggly Wiggly Country Village, is (literally) a moving tribute to a significant part of South Africa’s recent history.

Charles Kyle, resident, says, “My passion is photography, and living here, you get the seasonal changes in colour and texture, and you’re close to some of the province’s most scenic landscapes.”

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5 AUGUST 2018

Neighbourhood

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PROPERTY NEWS

HOWICK GOLF CLUB

For sale

For rent

Median asking price:

Median asking price:

R1,5m

R8,000

Monthly bond repayments

For a typical property (three-bedroom house)

For a typical property in this area

R1,35m

R995,000

R1,8m

In a complex

For an apartment

For a house

You’ll pay

R14,475

For a typical property (three-bedroom house)

R6,500

R5,000

R7,500

In a complex

For an apartment

For a house

per month

Property type:

69%

Property type:

house

Based on

5%

apartment

26% complex

48% house

R1,5m

18%

median asking price

over a period of 20 years at 10% prime

apartment

34% complex

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PROPERTY NEWS RETIREMENT FOCUS

5 AUGUST 2018

Neighbourhood

My business neighbourhood ZuluGal Retro upcycles throwaway materials into handcrafted products so as to generate income for unemployed, differently-abled creative youths WORDS: TIVANIA MOODLEY IMAGE: SUPPLIED

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ozipho Zulu had a love for business and art.

She combined the two and formed ZuluGal Retro which offers environmentally friendly arts and crafts.

This proudly South African brand also gives back to the community by hiring differently-abled unemployed youths and training them to become crafters.

Q: How did your business start?

A: I have always been an artist and a designer and I wanted to start a business that allowed me to enter this industry while contributing towards solving the issue of

unemployment among differentlyabled youths. I worked for the African Arts Centre which involved facilitating arts and crafts training to help creatives earn an income.

While working there, I visited the Ten Thousand Villages Fair Trade Store in the USA in 2015. I had an epiphany regarding the future of environmentally-friendly arts and crafts and got the inspiration to start my business. I started a small pilot project in 2016 and quit my job in March last year to set up my business full time.

Q: Why did you choose this area to set up shop?

A: I hired the Inanda Special School in Sea Cow Lake in Durban North to train the differently-abled crafters and their caregivers to produce our range of bespoke South African purses, cellphone pouches and handbags. I chose this area because the crafters could easily commute to and from the school.

Q: How did you find your premises?

A: I came across the school while working for a non-profit company. When I needed to conduct skills training with the crafters, I used the school as the rates are really reasonable.

Q: Why are they ideally suited to your business?

A: T he crafters can easily commute to the school from their homes in Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu.

Q: What are the shop rental/ sales prices like in this area?

A: I usually rent the premises for short periods of time and rates are not high because this is a public school.

Q: How many people visit your business each day?

A: It varies between 10 to 20 people per day depending on whether I am showcasing at the I Heart Market in Durban or at trade shows such as Decorex or the Tourism Indaba.

Q: D o you have any expansion plans?

A: Yes, I do. I am looking for a workspace to use as a production facility, office and showroom.

Q: Do you operate online as well?

A: I’m in the process of building my website, so currently, the product range is available on Facebook (@nozZuluGalRetro), Instagram (@zulugalretro) and Twitter (@ZulugalRetro).

We’re also on Hello Pretty (hellopretty.co.za/zulugal-retro).

Q: What’s your most popular item?

A: Definitely the coin purses. Our social-media followers are also beginning to fall in love with our newly designed backpacks.

SEE FOR YOURSELF: Q: Who are your neighbours?

A: O ther schools, mosques and families residing in the Parlock and Newlands areas.

ZuluGal Retro facebook.com/nozZuluGalRetro

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PROPERTY NEWS RETIREMENT FOCUS

5 AUGUST 2018

Neighbourhood

Salt Rock comes into its own This area offers a wealth of options, attracting families and retirees alike WORDS: CANDICE BOTHA

IMAGE: STEPHEN PILBROUGH

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ust north of Ballito, Salt Rock was always a tiny, sleepy seaside hamlet and it still retains that laid-back holiday vibe.

therefore beachside apartments are in demand. “Sectional-title beachfront apartments start at R2m and penthouse units sell for R10m upwards,” she notes.

“Salt Rock is one of the best areas on the North Coast for dolphin viewing,” says Kerry Bailey, principal, Tyson Properties Umhlanga and Ballito.

“It still has heaps of character and a wild feel to it, a safe rock pool and snorkelling spots.”

With a variety of property available, the area attracts a range of buyers, both permanent residents and holidaymakers. “The area lends itself to people who want to retire, people who want to start anew by relocating to the area for business purposes, and young people. Investors will also be pleased to invest in this area with all the development taking place,” says Brown. Buy to let and buy to sell remain popular investment options in the area, particularly in estates.

No longer so sleepy, however, the area is home to three of the flagship North Coast estates – Brettenwood Coastal Estate, Simbithi Eco-Estate and Dunkirk Estate, as well as several smaller estates which are also proving popular with buyers.

“Properties in the Salt Rock area range from R3,5m to R15m for free-standing houses, R2,1m to R5,5m for units, and land sells from R1,1m, depending on whether it is a residential or development stand. Our listings range currently is R2,2m to R7,8m for the area,” says Karen Brown, office manager, Just Property Ballito.

Bailey adds that the area remains popular with holidaymakers and

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A drawback for the North Coast has always been the lack of schools.

However, with the establishment of several new independent schools in the area, including Curro Mount Richmore in Salt Rock itself, the area is attracting more and more families who wish to take advantage of the wonderful lifestyle for children and security offered by estate living.

More commercial development including a new Checkers shopping centre means that a lack of amenities is also no longer a concern.

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5 AUGUST 2018

Neighbourhood

PROPERTY NEWS

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City of Cape Town goes water-smart

Energise your space C When decorating your home or home office, you’re bound to think about your ease of movement, but what about the flow of energy?

WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

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laine Hosiassohn is a master of feng shui. Her practice, Feng Shui Dynamics, focusses on creating environments which maximise the flow of positive energy.

She says, “It dates back thousands of years to the Chinese Agrarian Age. Camps were set up according to the landform – this was to ensure they had protection in the form of mountains at the back, and water in the front for their wealth, livelihood and survival. Feng shui means ‘wind’ and ‘water’, and together the words represent harmony and balance. It’s an ancient Chinese art, based on the flow of energy or ‘chi’ through the universe, and its influence on our daily lives.”

It’s very much about creating a balance – yin and yang, the opposites – and the principles are strongly aligned with nature. Elaine says, “The compatibility with nature is accomplished by the placement of furniture and other objects in the home or office. Placed correctly, it retains auspicious energy – if the energy in our environment is compromised or not flowing correctly, it can cause disharmony.”

For Elaine, it’s of no importance that we’re living in different times.

“When it comes to interior design and architecture, the basic feng shui

principles prove to be extremely beneficial when included in the design.”

with your back against a solid wall – the “power position”.

She says by adding these principles, people increase their compatibility with their surroundings in their own private space, impacting on everything from health to relationships. “The best way to maintain auspicious energy in your home,” says Elaine, “is to follow the basic principles.” She suggests these changes to start your journey:

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Remove any clutter as it hogs auspicious energy.

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Place beds in the “power position”, so you can never be caught off guard.

To achieve this, position your bed against a solid wall in the furthest corner of the room where you can still see the door and windows when lying down. This gives you a feeling of stability, which enables you to have a good night’s rest.

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Allow fresh air to enter your home; it’s essential for the energy flow.

Keep your home well maintained; anything broken has an inauspicious effect on the space.

In an office, a desk should face the door from the opposite corner,

Avoid sleeping against a shared bathroom wall that has a toilet or water pipes. The water pipes create too much movement, and this can carry an illness energy. A bed placed against a shared toilet wall can carry extremely inauspicious energy, as it carries waste products on the wall where you are sleeping.

Pay attention to where you place bulky objects – they restrict or interrupt the flow of energy.

For example, objects or beds placed against windows, plants or trees, which restrict light (energy) coming into the house; blockages by the front door; or overgrown trees or branches that overlap onto the roof.

Carla James of CJ Interiors is a quiet exponent of feng shui principles and feels particularly strong about the effects which different colours have on us. “Pastel tones allow for more peaceful sleep – you may think an all-white bedroom (yin) would induce calm, but it doesn’t. It unsettles your nervous system. Add a few earth tones and square shapes to balance the white.” She suggests that active areas (yang) need some bold colours and even patterns to match the correct energy.

limate change, accelerating urbanisation, and water scarcity are some of the many global challenges that water utilities are being forced to address in costeffective ways. At the same time, a technological revolution is underway.

management app that allows technicians to manage and configure water-management devices in the field, and utiliRead, the mobile app that facilitates walk- or drive-by meter reading and the capturing and navigation of meter-reading routes.

The intersection of water challenges and related technological developments suggests that the water sector has taken responsibility for changing the game. This is certainly the case in the City of Cape Town, which is en route to smart water, defined as the practice of combining intelligent water infrastructure with data analytics to yield actionable information and proactive water management.

This month both apps will be rolled out to approximately 500 terminals, constituting the first step in moving from automatic meter reading (AMR) to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). This shift will, in future, allow for the remote management, control and reading of all meters under the city’s management.

The city has evaluated two gamechanging apps from Utility Systems.

These are utiliPro, the in-field

In practice, the city will be better able to control its water assets and execute strategic water planning, by leveraging a fully configurable smart-metering device in a manageable and auditable way.

Emigrating is a bold step to take. If you are planning on purchasing property when you reach your destination, then you need to avoid the trap of converting to rands when doing your research. Remember, you will be earning in that country’s currency when you get there, so unless you plan on purchasing from your South African savings, converting is a rather frivolous exercise.

ADRIAN GOSLETT, REGIONAL DIRECTOR AND CEO, RE/MAX OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

New partnership for Shoreline Sibaya

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horeline Sibaya has officially announced its new partnership with Lombard Insurance Company Limited. This partnership will assist in providing a viable financial solution for retired buyers who have their equity tied up in their family home.

“This is a first for the retirement industry and we are incredibly thrilled that we can now present this opportunity to help retirees secure their dream retirement within Shoreline Sibaya. By utilising this service, investors will only have to sell their current home just before

transfer of their new unit,” explains Alan Beesley, director, Carmel Properties.

It has been a year since launching Shoreline Sibaya, and through the engagement with interested buyers, the developers at Shoreline Sibaya have been made aware of the challenges facing buyers over 55 years of age, especially when it comes to getting bank funding. “It has been our mission to listen to the retirement market, and this partnership that we have entered into will definitely make it less stressful for retirees to make the transition into their retirement,” concludes Beesley.

Eastern Cape’s housing market looking upbeat

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ccording to Pam Golding Properties senior research analyst Sandra Gordon, both Port Elizabeth and East London are attracting younger buyers, with the majority of new homeowners either between 36 and 49 or young adults under 35. “The relative affordability of homes in these metros, combined with the coastal lifestyle offering, may well explain the appeal of these housing markets for young families and first-time buyers,” says Gordon.

“In 2017, while median prices for freehold properties in East London marginally exceeded prices in Port Elizabeth, activity in Port Elizabeth’s larger housing market has recovered quicker in the wake of the 2008 recession. Port Elizabeth has also experienced a near-doubling in vacant plot sales during the past five years,

suggesting continued growth in the local housing market in the years ahead.

Development around Coega remains a positive factor impacting the demand for homes to buy and rent, while the Beijing Automotive Group from China recently made an R11bn investment in a vehicle manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth, which is expected to become operational this year.”

A further fillip for the Eastern Cape is the recent announcement that Mercedes Benz is investing some R10bn in expanding its East London plant for production of the next generation C-Class.

Notably, the exodus of residents leaving the Nelson Bay area for another region has reversed. Former PE residents are returning to stay, major factors being lifestyle and schooling.

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A C C E S S O N Y O U R D O O R S T E P T O A 5 S TA R H O T E L A N D P R I V E C L U B

three bedroom, en-suite apartments, Prices from R7,9m

four bedroom, en-suite apartments, Prices from R18,5m

Supreme penthouse, a mansion in the sky,

5 en-suite bedrooms, cinema, games room, 2 bed cottage, pool, jacuzzi ... and so the list continues.

Come and view our luxury apartment 12733, OSBORN RD

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HOUGHTON GOLF CLUB

2ND A VE

Available daily for viewings WARREN BECKER 082 302 3004 | warren@thehoughton.com ASHLEIGH SMITH 073 220 7357 | ashleigh@thehoughton.com Houghton on 12th, 53 Second Ave, Houghton | Show apartment 12733