What you'll pay for property in SAs top 10 suburbs
While FNB reported earlier in the year that the national average house price had breached the R1 million price mark, the country’s top ten suburbs now boast an average sale price of R10 million-plus. Five years ago, only two suburbs topped this average sale price mark.
This property in Clifton, Cape Town, offers six en suite bedrooms, six bathrooms and a triple height ceiling. It is on sale for R85 million - click here to view.
This is according to Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff property group, who says based on the latest data from Lightstone, Cape Town tops the list with no less than seven of these suburbs, including the top Atlantic Seaboard suburbs of Clifton, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay, Fresnaye and Llandudno, along with Bishopscourt and Constantia in the Southern Suburbs.
Only three Johannesburg suburbs are in the top ten list, being Sandhurst, Westcliff and Dunkeld, all in the Sandton area.
Seeff says these suburbs have emerged in the post-2007/8 period as the Blue Chip property hotspots.
“Despite the lacklustre economic backdrop, we have seen local high net-worth individuals and foreigners from across the globe, including G7 nations such as Britain and Germany along with emerging economic hotspots such as Nigeria, demonstrate their confidence in these areas by investing their wealth here.
He says this has been particularly evident on the Atlantic Seaboard. These suburbs are now so sought after that where sales above the R15 million-plus price mark even in an area such as Sandhurst adjacent to the Sandton CBD are rare, these are now almost commonplace in suburbs such as Clifton, Bantry Bay, Fresnaye, Camps Bay and the V&A Waterfront.
This five bedroom house in Sandhurst, Sandton, has eight reception rooms, two studies, a gym, covered entertainment patio and rim-flow pool. It was priced at R39.5 million and has just been sold.
A top-end villa in Clifton can now attracted a premium of 40% more than a luxury estate in Sandhurst, the most expensive suburb in Johannesburg, says Seeff.
The fact that there are now ten suburbs with an average selling price above R10 million must stand in testimony to the strength of the property market, although it is of course by no means immune to economic headwinds.
This is again demonstrated by this year’s activity, and again with special reference to the Atlantic Seaboard. While this has been a challenging year for the economy with both the JSE and rand on shaky ground, he says top-end buyers have continued investing in the strong growth areas, paying ever higher prices and driving the average sales price ever higher.
Seeff says the levels of R20 million-plus sales in the Sandton area remain disappointing and shows a lack of confidence. In contrast, there has been no shortage of R20 million-plus sales in the Cape, reaching a record-setting R111 million in Clifton this year.
From an average price point of view, it comes as no surprise that Clifton tops the list as the most expensive suburb in the country with an average price of R19.75 million. This is about 34% higher than the average was last year, and about R5 million more than the average of the next most expensive suburb.
He says in reality, though, there is now little in the way of houses on offer around this price mark, and you would need upwards of about R30 million to R40 million to well over R100 million to make any serious offers in this area.
This five bedroom house in Llandudno, Cape Town, offers three kitchens, a glass elevator, wood fireplaces, underfloor heating, air conditioning, Jacuzzi, sauna, outdoor shower and an infinity pool. It is selling for R44 million - click here to view.
For example, a top-end location in Nettleton Road can now range to about R150 million to R200 million. An apartment on the seaside off VictoriaRoad will set you back about R120 000 per square metre, equating to about R60 million for a three bedroom unit with modern finishes.
The second most expensive suburb is Sandhurst in Sandton, with an average sales price of R14.9 million, about 35% pricier than it was five years ago. Prices in this area range to about R60 million for a mansion and 5 800sqm land with a floodlit tennis court, swimming pool, hotel-type spa, gymnasium, cinema and more.
Seeff says the third most expensive suburb is the small millionaire’s suburb of Llandudno on the outskirts of the Atlantic Seaboard. It now boasts an average price of R11.2 million, 50% more than it was five years ago.
This boost comes on the back of an increase in high-net-worth buyers paying up to R40 million this year for luxury villas that overlook the surrounding Twelve Apostles mountains and Blue Flag beaches below.
He says Bantry Bay boasts the fourth highest average at R11 million, about 38% higher compared to five years ago. To do any serious shopping in the suburb though, you will need upwards of R20 million to R60 million for a family home designed by Van Der Merwe Miszewski architects.
With an average price of R10.5 million, neighbouring Fresnaye only comes in at ninth place, even though its average price is a significant 83% higher than it was in 2010. In this area too, you would need upwards of about R20 million to as much as R120 million for a home designed by Stefan Antoni, responsible for so many iconic designs on the Atlantic Seaboard.
With four bedrooms and open-plan living areas, this home in Bantry Bay, Cape Town, is priced at R22.5 million - click here to view.
Camps Bay, with an average price of R10 million, comes in at tenth place. This is some 54% higher than five years ago. This year has also seen a notable acceleration in R20 million-plus sales in the suburb, ranging to a top price of R30 million for a luxury villa that was sold recently.
Seeff says the other two Sandton suburbs, Westcliff and Dunkeld, come in at fifth and seventh place with an average price of R11 million, up 18%, and R10.5 million, up 51%, since 2010, respectively.
Bishopscourt and Constantia in Cape Town’s sought-after southern suburbs now boast an average price of R11 million, up 69%, and R10 million, up 54%,since 2010, respectively.
While Durban’s top areas are still somewhat below the national top ten, activity in the R5 million-plus sector is on the up. The highest average price is at the sought-after Zimbali development is at R7.5 million, followed by Umhlanga at R5.2 million and La Lucia at R3.8 million, says Seeff.
He says the fact that Cape Town tops the list of most valuable suburbs should come as no surprise. Excellent service delivery and confidence in the administration along with the sought-after seaside lifestyle has boosted demand for property. It is the fastest growing city in the country, with inward migration of about 30%.
The location, lifestyle, Blue Flag beaches, mountain, sea and just so much land to go around all add the x-factor so unique that buyers are prepared to pay millions for a home in this area.
Seeff says apart from that, there is a general spin-off to Cape Town property. Not just the Atlantic Seaboard, but the city and surrounds as a whole is now commanding some of the highest prices in the country because everybody wants to own a piece of Cape Town.