Neighbourhood DBN - 09 April 2017

9 APRIL 2017

Neighbourhood PROPERTY & LIFESTYLE

Natural wander

Explore the unspoilt beauty of St Lucia, page 2

2

SUBURB FOCUS: ST LUCIA

4

BUSINESS Q&A

7

PROPERTY NEWS

2

PROPERTY NEWS

9 APRIL 2017

Neighbourhood

Suburb focus

St Lucia

Here’s what’s happening in property in the area

WORDS: ANNE SCHAUFFER

S

t Lucia lies in the Umkhanyakude District Municipality, and residents refer to the area as a village with an economy of a small town. In the greater region of Zululand, Lake St Lucia is the beginning of the Elephant Coast, also known as Maputaland, which extends all the way to Kosi Bay near the Mozambique border and inland to the Lubombo Mountains. St Lucia is mainly a tourist hub for iSimangaliso Wetland Park, formerly known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, proclaimed a world heritage site in 1999.

St Lucia’s residential population quadruples during the holidays and, at any one time, the town will host hundreds of foreign tourists, mainly in August. Accommodation is plentiful out of season, and chockfull in season. From simple camp sites and log cabins, to self-catering units, time-shares, guest houses and hotels, there’s something rustic,

IMAGES: ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK & GOOGLE

romantic or upmarket for everyone.

Many homeowners have created selfcatering units on their properties.

Tourism is undoubtedly the main employment driver in the area.

Facilities are mostly practical, with a plethora of nature-based entertainment, but with the comforts of boardwalks, eateries and shops. Activities include game drives, bird-watching, snorkelling safaris, whale watching, turtle tours, hiking, cycling, surf angling and sports fishing, most of which occur in iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

The entire Elephant Coast is a blend of 21 eco-systems, and St Lucia and surrounding areas have everything from wetlands and sand dunes, to mangrove swamps and coral reefs. It’s undoubtedly one of the richest areas in wildlife, sea life and environmental regions in KwaZulu-Natal, if not South Africa.

RICHARDS BAY ±78KM

NATURE NEARBY: • iSimangaliso Wetland Park, including the Eastern and Western Shores, Cape Vidal, False Bay, uMkhuze, Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay sections • Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Game Reserves

BEST IN FOOD: • St Lucia Ski Boat Club: for great meals and amazing views • Alfredo’s: for Italian cuisine • Braza: for delicious Mediterranean food

ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK ACTIVITIES: • Bird-watching • Estuary boat cruises • Turtle tours – loggerhead and leather back turtles hatching (seasonal) • Horse riding • Snorkelling • Guided walks • Game drives • Scuba diving • Whale watching (seasonal)

WHERE TO STAY: • • • •

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife campsites At Heritage House, St Lucia Whalesong Guest House, St Lucia Makakatana Bay Lodge, iSimangaliso • Thonga Beach Lodge, iSimangaliso • St Lucia Kingfisher Lodge

After more than a decade abroad, I chose St Lucia as my home because it offers bush and beach, as well as being the sort of town in which I grew up – clean streets, no razor wire on walls surrounding residential properties – actually, few walls at all PATRICK JOLLY, RESIDENT AND GAME RESERVE/SNORKELLING TOUR GUIDE

PUBLISHED BY TIMES MEDIA PROPERTY PUBLISHING Unit G04, Old Castle Brewery Bldg 6 Beach Road, Woodstock Cape Town, 087 828 0423

ADVERTISING SALES:

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Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za or call 087 828 0423 Sales & Marketing Manager: Michèle Jones michele.jones@thecreativegroup.info Advertising: Julie Ellice kzn@yourneighbourhood.co.za Production (Editorial Advertising): Lucea Goosen lucea@yourneighbourhood.co.za

9 APRIL 2017

Neighbourhood

PROPERTY NEWS

3

For sale Property type

Median asking prices

R2,68m

65%

For a typical property (four-bedroom house)

29%

house

R1,71m In a complex

Monthly bond repayments For a typical property in this area.

R1,05m For an apartment

You’ll pay

apartment

R2,66m For a house

Based on

over a period of

at

R26,757

R2,68m

20

10,5%

per month

median asking price

years

prime

6%

complex

4

PROPERTY NEWS

9 APRIL 2017

Neighbourhood

My business neighbourhood Thina Nsindane’s baby wrap carriers give new parents a hands-free solution WORDS: MEGAN DEANE IMAGE: KELLY LAUREN PHOTOGRAPHY

T

hina Nsindane is making new parents’ lives a little easier through her business venture, Strong and Courageous. She tells us more about the business.

Q: How did your business start?

A: My business started when a friend lent me her baby wrap carrier. The carrier revolutionised my life so much with a new baby that I set out to learn how to make them so I could offer other parents the same hands-free, snug-hug experience when on the go with a baby in tow.

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

A: Our home is in Assagay and I work around our family’s needs, so a home office was the most beneficial choice.

business with the assistance of Gill Linden, a property agent in the Upper Highway area.

Q: Why are the premises ideally suited to your business?

A: A ssagay is easily accessible from both the N3 and M13, and all my current suppliers are within easy reach.

Q: Who are your neighbours?

A: I’m very grateful to have equestrians, organic and freerange farmers and sellers, as well as garden nurseries as some of my neighbours.

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

A: A s I have a home office, I have not looked at shop rental or sales prices at this stage.

However, I’m considering looking into showcasing at markets and selected retailers.

Q: How many people go through your store each day?

A: I have a steady stream of monthly orders, most of which are done electronically, and I ship the product to the purchaser through a door-to-door courier service.

Q: D o you operate online as well?

A: Not as much as I would like.

People place their orders by sending me a text message.

I’m hoping to remedy my business’s online presence as part of the rebranding, which I’ve started by creating a new Facebook page (facebook. com/bestrongcourage). I’m also on Twitter and Instagram (both @bestrongcourage).

Q: What’s your most popular item?

A: T he breathable stretch cotton baby wrap carrier in fun prints is a favourite with our clients.

I am currently working on rebranding and expanding my product range. I am very excited about what we have in the pipeline SEE FOR YOURSELF:

Q: How did you find your premises?

A: We moved into the area one year before I started the

Q: D o you have any expansion plans?

A: A bsolutely. I’m currently working on rebranding and expanding my product range.

Home is where the heart is.

Find yours now.

Search 1000’s of fresh properties everyday.

I’m very excited about what we have in the pipeline.

A home for everyone www.privateproperty.co.za

Strong and Courageous 063 152 1296 facebook.com/bestrongcourage

out now!

TALISKER in gift box with 2 glasses R

Blue Label

THE SIX STRIDES 6 bottle stand with Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label & Blue Label R

4 999.90 per unit

R

1 899

per unit

Green Label .90

R

629

Double Black Label

.90

R

per unit

Black Label R

399.90

279.90

per unit

per unit

599.90 per unit

CARDHU in gift box with 2 glasses R

429.90 per unit

r e ce i v e a co m pl i m e n ta ry la pe l pi n

While stocks last.

WARWICK FIRST LADY

MOËT & CHANDON

MOËT & CHANDON

VEUVE CLICQUOT

NV

Brut in gift box

Nectar Impérial

R

R

529.90 per unit

469

.90

R

per unit

buy any 6 bottles &

GET 6 gla sse s

529.90

per unit

STEENBERG

STEENBERG

Catharina

Merlot

R

R

219

.90

per unit

STEENBERG

STEENBERG

Nebbiolo

Syrah

R

R

189

.90

JOSE CUERVO

CÎROC

Reposado

Gold

Vodka, Pineapple, Apple

R

R

R

499

per unit

.95

189.90 per

unit

GINIFER Small Batch/Chilli R

379

per unit

.90

R

149.90 per unit

OAK VALLEY – VERTICAL DISCOVERY BOX The Pool Room 6 bottle box: Pinot Noir 2014, 2013, 2012 | Chardonnay 2015, 2014, 2013 R

1 599.90 per unit

129.90

per unit

per unit

DON JULIO

Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum in gift box

149.90

per unit

379.90 per unit

CASTLE LITE

SAVANNA

SAVANNA

HUNTER’S

EDGE

340ml

Dry/Light 330ml

Loco 330ml

Dry/Gold 330ml R

Hunter’s 440ml

R

R

R

64.90

65

per 6

per 6

R

R

189.90

per 24

257.90

67

per 6 R

264

R .90

59 per 6 235.90 per 24 .90

per 24

per 24

Specials valid from 6 April – 8 May 2017 or while stocks last. | Prices subject to change without notice. | All specials are cash & carry. | All prices include 14% VAT. | Norman Goodfellows reserves the right to limit the quantities for sale of any item. | No liquor to be sold to persons under the age of 18 years. | All bottles 750ml unless otherwise stated. | E&OE.

Enjoy responsibly. Not for sale to persons under the age of 18.

R

74

per 6 R

289.90

per 24

INTRODUCING FOREST VILLAGE RETIREMENT HOMES - PHASE 4 Brettenwood Coastal Estate, located just 10 minutes from King Shaka Airport and 30 minutes outside of Umhlanga, along one of the most exquisite stretches of coastline in KwaZulu-Natal, is excited to announce the launch of the final phase in their award winning retirement community, Forest Village.

JU S T L A U N C H E D . O N LY 1 3 U N I T S AVA I L A B L E .

Nestled between the warm Indian Ocean, indigenous forest, and acres of lush green sugarcane, Forest Village offers a serene and peaceful retirement experience, on an Estate renowned for its beauty, security, tranquility and exclusivity.

Take walks along the stunning trails, spend an afternoon winding around the dam, sit back and relax spotting birds and wildlife from your own patio, or for the more social, join the rest of the Forest Village community for various activities and events.

2 OR 3 BEDROOMS

•

2 BATHROOMS

LILY UNIT - R3 575 000 NO TRANSFER DUTY 2 Bedrooms

•

SEA OR FOREST VIEWS

•

LUXURY FINISHES

FERN UNIT - R 3 755 000 NO TRANSFER DUTY 2 Bedrooms

•

MULTIPLE CLUBHOUSES

• Dam views 4 Bedrooms (main en-suite) • Double garage 2 Bathrooms • Rain harvesting system Kitchen with scullery Covered patio with built-in braai

HEATED AEROBIC POOL

3 Bedrooms (main en-suite) Open plan kitchen, lounge & dining room Swimming Pool Double garage

GYM

•

WALKING TRAILS

YOUR OWN PRIVATE PARADISE

NEW LISTING OFFERED AT R4 800 000

• 4 Bed (all en-suite) • Professional landscaping • Luxury fittings and finishes

• Rim flow pool • Inverter technology • Triple garage

BEAUTIFUL LIVING WITH SPACE TO GROW • • • •

•

ALOE UNIT - R 4 050 000 NO TRANSFER DUTY 3 Bedrooms

PERFECT FAMILY LIVING • • • •

•

OFFERED AT R11 500 000

ELEVATED VIEW

NEW LISTING OFFERED AT R4 700 000

Land Freehold homes Luxurious apartments Retirement homes

NEW LISTING

Buy directly from the developer. Land from R1 500 000

• • • •

• North & South entertainment areas 3 Spacious bedrooms • Water harvesting system 3 Bathrooms Open plan kitchen with scullery OFFERED AT R5 450 000 Elevated overlooking Dabchick Dam

Brettenwood Coastal Estate Sheffield Beach KZN North Coast

Shavaun Lindsay Greg Simmonds Michelle Larkens

072 194 8672 084 515 7464 082 775 3998

T 032 525 4581 E info@brettenwood.co.za W www.brettenwood.co.za

9 APRIL 2017

Neighbourhood

PROPERTY NEWS

7

Pringle Bay is the ‘new Noordhoek’

T

he Pringle Bay property market is at a similar stage to that which Noordhoek experienced 10 or more years ago, says Nicola Lloyd, sales agent, Pam Golding Properties.

Located on the Western Cape’s Whale Coast, Pringle Bay has a countrified air about it, a long beach and homes that still offer value for money, says Lloyd.

“It’s also seen more as a satellite suburb of the Cape Town metropole, just like Noordhoek was a decade ago.

With Pringle House primary school growing, buses available to the Curro school in Onrus and two new schools in Somerset West and Strand, we’re

seeing an increase in young families moving here permanently.”

The cost of property in the Cape Town metropolitan area is also encouraging buyers to look a little further afield to areas still within an hour’s commute of the city and offering good value for money.

“There’s a marked increase in demand for vacant stands which are currently available between R375,000 and R600,000 for 600m2 and upwards, while homes in the R1,5m to R2,5m price band are selling well,” says Lloyd.

One can’t ignore the actual realisation that junk status sends a major blow to consumer confidence and will have a longer-term negative impact on the economy. We emphasise the need for political and economic stability. For now, though, there’s no need to panic and it’s not all doom and gloom. We expect business as usual for the property market.

SAMUEL SEEFF, CHAIRMAN, SEEFF PROPERTY GROUP

Where are first-time homeowners buying?

Sibaya – a new place to live, work and play Building is well under way on several developments at Sibaya Coastal Precinct WORDS: CANDICE BOTHA

O

n average, more than 90,000 South Africans buy their first home each year. In 2016, about 72,000 buyers entered the property market for the first time; the year before saw about 105,000 people buying their first property, which reflects the poor performance of the property market last year. Most of the purchases were by people between the ages of 26 and 40. However, 913 people over the age of 70 and 624 under the age of 20 bought houses.

Lightstone Property trends analysis also looks at where first-time property buyers are investing in their first homes. Affordability and ease of access to work, shops, schools and services are the primary drivers behind where new market entrants decide to buy.

An investigation of first-time homebuyer trends over the past two years shows that the suburbs most in demand for this market are in Gauteng and the Western Cape. Five of these suburbs in Gauteng – Protea Glen, Soshanguve KK, Soshanguve NN, Delft and Pelikan Park – offer a selection of low- to mid-value properties and are mostly newly built.

Three of the top 10 suburbs – Equestria, Greenstone Hill and Paulshof – consist primarily of high-value sectional schemes and estates. The remaining two suburbs, Parklands and Weltevreden Park, are older and have been established for more than 15 years, offering mostly freehold-type properties.

IMAGE: SUPPLIED

S

ibaya Coastal Precinct consists of over 1,000ha of prime coastal, hilltop and riverside land stretching between the Ohlanga to Umdloti river estuaries – some of the most highly sought-after, developable land in the country.

“As one of the fastest growing regions in the country, the precinct will act as the catalyst in unlocking the potential of significant regional development, infrastructure, job creation, and will provide a solid anchor to the emerging Durban aerotropolis,” says Michael Deighton, MD, Tongaat Hulett Developments. Situated just 10 minutes from King Shaka International Airport, the precinct will potentially give rise to some 9,000 residential dwellings and 500,000m2 of commercial bulk including schools, universities, retirement developments, corporate, retail, hospitality offerings and more to serve the local community.

Four developments – Signature Sibaya, Ocean Dune, Coral

Point and Pebble Beach – have since been launched and have achieved a combined R2,3bn in sales to date, with the launch of a retirement scheme imminent.

“Sibaya Coastal Precinct is underpinned by the premise of ‘reconnect, rediscover’. We aim to deliver an entirely new urban identity where people can come together in a place where the built and natural environments are activated and seamlessly woven together,” says Dayalan Chetty, executive, Tongaat Hulett Developments.

The overarching framework for Sibaya was conceptualised so that it worked with the area’s spectacular landscape, with 60% of the concept plan being made up of green space. This includes the existing coastal forest but also rehabilitated agricultural land.

“We have envisioned a place where people can seamlessly integrate their personal and professional lives into an environment of unmatched beauty, and plan for over

75km of trails, boardwalks and footpaths as well as access to the Sibaya Coastal Forest in response to this. From the architectural footprint that plays on an open space lattice with concentrated hilltop settlements, to the preservation, rehabilitation and activation of the protected coastal dune forests, Sibaya Coastal Precinct is a place that will elevate the greater KwaZulu-Natal experience as a treasured asset to the region,” says Deighton.

Sibaya Coastal Precinct is among the most highly sought-after, developable land in South Africa, and is set to boost the potential of KZN’s primary growth corridor MICHAEL DEIGHTON, MD, TONGAAT HULETT DEVELOPMENTS

SA homeowners worried about losing their homes

“I

t’s not a pleasant thought, but many SA homeowners are struggling financially and worried about losing their homes,” says Gerhard Kotzé, MD, RealNet estate agency group.

“Even though there have not been any interest rate increases recently, the monthly repayment on most bonds is currently about 7% higher, in cash terms, than at the beginning of last year,” says Kotzé.

“The repayments on credit cards, cars and other debts are also higher, and consumers are also paying more for food, water, electricity, transport, school fees and all forms of insurance.

According to the latest stats available from the National Credit Regulator, there are 9,85 million South Africans with impaired credit records, which means they are seriously in arrears on at least one account.

“So it’s no wonder really that an increasing number of people are concerned about being able to meet their financial commitments – and

about what would happen if they were to default on their bond repayments.

“They need to understand that the banks don’t want to repossess their homes. They would far rather have a homeowner in place and some regular income from the property than be forced to incur the costs of repossession, and of securing and maintaining the home, as well as the total loss of repayments on the loan for several months or even years," says Kotzé.

“Homeowners need to take their banks into their confidence if they are having financial difficulty, to show that they are willing to make the necessary arrangements to keep their homes. And thirdly, they should keep paying as much as they can, in order to keep the interest on the loan from compounding too rapidly.

As a last resort, if you cannot make ends meet, you may want to consider selling your home and moving to a less-expensive one – or renting until your cash flow situation improves or rates come down again.”

DURBAN RIVERHORSE: PRIME LOGISTICS FACILITY – TO LET This newly developed prime logistics facility is situated in the hub of northern Durban.

Minutes from the N2 Nandi Drive interchange. Variable sizes available from 1000m2 to 7500m2. The property has an onsite generator, two large private yards with dock loading facilities. A Grade offices with a pleasing outlook. Double volume racking with internal sprinklers.

Web Ref: CL487

Contact: Wayne Ashford 083 456 8518

PINETOWN: INVESTMENT OR VACANT OCCUPATION OPPORTUNITY

ON AUCTION In association with

MODERN DESIGN, FULLY TENANTED OFFICE BLOCK LOCATED CLOSE TO CENTRAL PINETOWN

HOUGHTON GOLF CLUB 10 APRIL 2017 – 12H00 Convenient Registration: aucorproperty.co.za    

Ideal for an investment opportunity on a 10% yield or for end-user subject to lease negotiations.

Building size is 452m2 lettable area on 1200m2 land.

On-site secure parking allows for 16 vehicles.

Secure with perimeter fencing and automated access.

AUCOR WEB REF: #P2426 CHALUPSKY WEB REF: CL467

AUCTION INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR VIEWINGS CONTACT:

SEAN O’SHEA 083 265 8593 DAWN HUTTON 074 322 2012