Bethlehem in the Eastern Free State may offer a scenic and peaceful lifestyle, but there is nothing quiet about the local property market at the moment.
This three bedroom house in Bethlehem offers a balcony, open plan living areas and patio. It is selling for R1.62 million - click here to view.
This is according to Marna Erasmus of the local RealNet franchise, who says upward pressure on housing stock has seen prices rise between 11 percent and 20 percent per year for the past four years - and the trend is expected to continue because of infrastructure constraints on further development.
“Bethlehem is the largest town in the Eastern Free State and serves as the commercial and medical hub of the region. It also offers job opportunities and good schools and thus attracts many buyers relocating from surrounding towns.”
She says farmers from outlying areas are also active in the market. “They typically buy homes in towns where their families can stay during the week so the children can more easily attend school and take part in all the extramural and sporting activities.”
The fast gains in home prices have also caught the attention of investors in surrounding areas and they now represent a strong component of buyers. Investors quickly find tenants since the rental market is buoyant.
This three bedroom house in Bethlehem has wooden floors. It is on the market for R960 000 - click here to view.
As the only town in the region with a private clinic, Bethlehem is also an attractive destination for retirees, who target homes at prices between R900 000 and R1.5 million in the local retirement village, which also offers frail care, says Erasmus.
The safe and peaceful lifestyle is also increasingly attracting buyers from Gauteng who yearn for a life in the ‘slow lane’. Nearly 30 percent of current buyers are from Gauteng and they are bringing new vigour to the local commercial sector by starting small businesses or other enterprises, she says.
"At the same time Bethlehem and surrounds has a lot to offer. The town is just 27 kilometres away from Clarens, the art centre and darling of the Eastern Free State's fly-fishing set, and the town enjoys the views of the famous sandstone formations while, on a clear day, the Maluti mountains are etched on the horizon.
This three bedroom townhouse in Bethlehem offers open plan living areas. It is selling for R1.185 million - click here to view.
"For tourists, Bethlehem also offers good trout and bass fishing opportunities, hiking trails and comfortable accommodation in one of the many local guest houses," says Erasmus.
The town still honours the old tradition of closing down between one and two o' clock in the afternoons, when residents retire to their homes for a home-cooked lunch. It's a good indication of the leisurely pace of life in the area, as is the fact that residents safely go for evening strolls while children play or ride their bikes in the town's tree-lined streets.
Current prices for quality homes in Bethlehem start at around R600 000 for two bedroom apartments in the CBD and R1.2 million to R1.4 million for sectional title units with three bedrooms and double facilities in security complexes.
Top properties in the luxury market reach prices of up to R4 million, for which buyers can expect a Tuscan home on the banks of the Loch Athlone dam offering five bedrooms and features such as underfloor heating, an interior swimming pool and sauna.
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