Brackenfell still offering first-time buyers value for money

Residential accommodation is constantly in high demand in the fast-growing Cape Town Northern Suburbs area of Brackenfell. This area extends from Bottelary Road in the south to the N1 highway, to areas north of the highway which include suburbs such as Vredekloof, from the R300 in the west and to Okavango Road in the east.

Situated in Morgenster, Brackenfell, this house offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, open-plan living, kitchen with ample cupboard space, braai patio and garage. It is on the market for R1.799 million – click here to view.

Keimpe Weistra, Pam Golding Properties area principal, says the area still offers huge value for money, particularly for young families and first-time buyers. Currently, he says the average price for freehold property is R1.3 million while sectional title property can be had from approximately R660 000.

Weistra says during the past 12 months, 478 of the freehold properties were sold in the price range from R800 000 to R1.5 million, which is more than 50% of the total of freehold properties sold in the area. The average price achieved in this price band was R1.137 million.

He says this kind of value is hard to find closer to the Cape Town city centre. Also, during the same 12-month period, 286 of the freehold properties were sold in the price range from R1.5 million to R3 million, with an average price of R1.9 million.

According to Weistra, in the southern part of Brackenfell, the sought-after suburbs among buyers include Protea Heights and Sonkring, mainly due to the new schools in the area. He says the Northern Suburbs are known for their reputable educational institutions, which strive for a high success rate and excel in sports development. Three new schools have been built over the past two years. 

This Protea Heights home has five bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, fitted kitchen, low maintenance garden and double garage. It is selling for R2.65 million – click here to view.

Protea Heights Academy (high school) is a new addition and Curro Brackenfell Independent School as well as Curro Castle situated in Sonkring, are also within Brackenfell. 

As a result of the high demand, over the past two years they have seen significant growth in prices in Protea Heights. In 2014, a three bedroom home with double garage and two entertainment areas, mostly with an indoor braai room, which is popular in this area, would have sold for an average price of between R1.4 million to R1.45 million. In 2016, however, these properties are achieving prices of R1.6 million to R1.7 million.

A Protea Heights home with beautiful mountain views, offering three bedrooms, a study, two bathrooms, double garage, air-conditioning and underfloor heating in the living areas was recently sold for R1.7 million.

Weistra says the Sonkring area adjacent to Protea Heights is experiencing similar growth in prices. In 2014, the average price was between R1.7 million and R1.9 million. This year, however, the average selling price for similar homes is between R2.1 million and R2.3 million. Most of these homes are newly built and include upmarket finishes, four bedrooms, two bathrooms and more than one entertainment area.

This apartment offers two bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen and living areas, balcony and garage. It is priced at R793 000– click here to view.

Another property which recently sold was a home in Sonkring with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, three garages and a swimming pool. It was eco-friendly, with features like a solar and gas geyser, grey water system and borehole. The selling price for this home was R2.4 million.

Other popular suburbs in the Brackenfell area include Ruwari, Protea Village, Ferndale, Hoogstede, Morgenster and Bracken Heights. These suburbs have houses ranging in price from R1.1 million to R2 million for two or three bedroom homes.

In the Brackenfell areas north of the N1 highway are security estates such as Kleinbron Estate and Kleinbron Park. With landscaped park areas and lakes, these offer 24-hour security and close proximity to amenities and shopping centres like Cape Gate and Okavango Crossing. Easy access to the N1 highway and R300 to Cape Town International Airport are also a significant drawcard for home buyers.

The average price for properties in Kleinbron Estate is R2.4 million, with 50% of all homes sold in the past 12 months being in the R1.5 million to R3 million price range, while top-end properties in the estate sell for approximately R4 million.

This Protea Village home has two bedrooms, one bathroom, open-plan living and dining area, fitted kitchen and automated garage. It is on the market for R1.05 million – click here to view.

Although Brackenfell has various industrial areas located a short drive from the town centre, the successful Brackengate Business Park has attracted international and local industries due to its prime, central location and security. New access roads off the R300 next to this development will add further accessibility to the area.

Weistra says one of the highlights for residents is the Bracken Nature Reserve, a 36ha area in Cape Town which was once used largely as a landfill and has been transformed into one of the city's most important nature reserves. Its home to more than 300 plant species, 10 of which are endemic to Cape Town. 

“Further enhancing the appeal of the area, the local community has access to established sports clubs and organisations situated within Brackenfell and the surrounding suburbs. The Brackenfell Athletics and Tennis clubs, as well as Celmar Brackenfell Rugby Club have made the Brackenfell Sports Complex their home and there are various other clubs and groups who help promote different sports at various venues throughout the suburb.”  

Weistra says even at school sport level, achievements have been at world standard, for example, Kyle Appel who, last year, became the second fastest youth sprinter of all time and signed a global marketing deal with Newton Sports Agency. Appel is seen as a potential medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. 

Shopping Centres are aplenty in and around Brackenfell, with Cape Gate Shopping Centre being the closest shopping destination. The newest edition to the myriad of shopping centres available has been Okavango Crossing Shopping Centre, a convenience shopping centre located on the corner of Okavango and Langeberg Roads.  

Its anchor tenants are Checkers, Woolworths and Virgin Active, and the centre also includes a broad variety of retail including restaurants, a coffee shop, chemist, hair dresser, optometrist, clothing, bank and ATMs.

Brackenfell is also considered the gateway to the Cape Winelands, with Protea Heights’ residents enjoying easy access to the leading wine farms of Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Stellenbosch.