The town of Bethlehem in the eastern Free State is "maturing into a city", and its property prices are showing steady appreciation as it attracts scores of new residents.
This five bedroom home in Eureka is set on a 2 012sqm erf, with a floor size of 440sqm. It is on the market for R1.5 million - click here to view.This is according to Hans Fick, the Chas Everitt International Notebook licensee in Bethlehem, who says it is a fast-expanding town with a good mix of professionals like doctors and lawyers, and people providing services to the agricultural and commercial sectors.
“The property market here has always been lively, and prices are in keeping with the sustained demand, but there is still excellent value to be found, especially in the older suburbs like Morelig, where you can still buy a large home on a large stand for R900 000.”
You can get a lot of house for very little money in Bethlehem central too, says Fick.
He says the cold winter climate, fresh air and stress-free lifestyle are some of the advantages of living in the Eastern Free State, but Bethlehem also boasts some of the best schools and a sporting culture that puts them on the national stage.
“Voortrekker Hoërskool is one of the top 10 schools in South Africa in terms of academic performance. Witteberg Secondary School is also excellent academically and on the sports field, while the Truida Kestell and Jordania primary schools offer an excellent foundation.”
Bethlehem residents enjoy upmarket entertainment and shopping facilities at the Frontier Inn Casino and Dihlabeng and Metropolitan malls, which have brought more jobs to the town, says Fick.
This three bedroom home in Morelig is set on a 1 1229sqm erf. It offers lots of space and a green garden. It is on the market for R990 000 - click here to view.“And of course, the restaurants and recreation facilities of Clarens are close by.”
Turning to property prices, he says there is something to suit just about every pocket in Bethlehem, with prices in Bohlokong starting at around R250 000, and ultra-modern mansions in the exclusive Eureka area reaching as much as R5.8 million.
He warns, though, that buyers in the former township of Bohlokong must make sure that there is an official plan of the house certified by the municipality, as many homes there were not built according to plan.
Meanwhile, Bethlehem is increasingly becoming a favourite among retirees, and Fick says the town boasts two retirement villages and several sectional title developments to meet the demand from such buyers, although freehold homes are the norm.
Homes in Panorama, which was developed in the early 1960s, are priced at between R1.3 million and R4 million, while Jordania’s large homes with big rooms are priced at between R1 million and R3.3 million.
In Bethlehem’s most recently developed suburb, La Provence, there are contemporary freehold homes available for between R1.2 million and R4 million, and in the popular sectional title complex, Die Dorpshuis, the average price is now in the upper R2 millions, says Fick.
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