Once simply a small holiday hamlet, Mossel Bay on the Western Cape Garden Route is now a thriving primary residential destination peppered with a range of highly sought-after residential estates comprising mainly permanent homes.
“Homeowners, now able to work remotely, are making lifestyle choices when considering where to buy a home. Quality of life, peace of mind and falling under a municipality that operates efficiently are among the key considerations for buyers wanting to invest in property,” says Carl Coetzee, CEO of BetterBond.
“Mossel Bay ticks many of these boxes. It offers natural beauty in abundance, has a strong sense of community and is one of the best-run municipalities in the country. In fact, independent rating agency Ratings Afrika has just named it South Africa’s most financially sustainable municipality,” explains Coetzee.
There are currently *553 new property listings in the Mossel Bay market, according to Property24 Trends Data, with the average sale price for the area being R1.55 million. The average sale price per erf for 2020 in the Mossel Bay was about R970 500, while Section Scheme Units average sale price for the same period is R1.24 million.
The latest residential listings on Property24 show that three-bedroom homes are most widely available, at an average list price of R2.365 million. Sellers in the area fall within the 50-64 years (43%), while 40% of buyers also fall within this age group - followed by 28% within 36 to 49-years age group.
Click here to see all the latest trend data for Mossel Bay.
Mossel Bay also offers a seaside lifestyle with access to excellent educational opportunities as well as other amenities.
Stephen Murray, Pam Golding Properties area principal, says that affordable coastal living with easy access to George Airport - about half an hour’s drive away, as well as access to all amenities and a variety of tourist attractions, are key drivers fuelling the attraction for semigrants from other regions and home buyers from nearby towns alike.
“With an estimated population of approximately 100 000, Mossel Bay retains its small-town appeal with a friendly community, temperate climate and tranquil, outlying location which is still in close proximity to all the amenities of city living, including a hospital and other medical facilities.
Mossel Bay has always had excellent private medical facilities and a day hospital was recently launched, which attracts specialists to the town. The Curro private school has grown in numbers while other school sites are planned and over the past five years existing shopping centres have been upgraded. Positively, many of the old buildings in the town are undergoing interior renovation while retaining their historical character and charm.
An influx of home buyers from Gauteng
Murray says the pen-up demand seen post lockdown has continued, with an influx of home buyers from Gauteng and the far Western Cape.
"Currently, we are seeing people buying property for primary residence at a later date, which caters for leisure use in the interim. The residential property market caters for all sectors of the market, with sectional title units within the popular spots of the Point and Diaz Beach proving popular over the past five years due to the location close to the water’s edge. These units range in price from approximately R1.8 million to R3 million,” says Murray.
Just Property has also seen a significant increase in the rand value of deals done in Mossel Bay since the start of 2021 due to semigration.
While Mossel Bay still offers value for money, the demand for homes since the pandemic broke last year is causing prices to rise, explains Van den Berg stating that a three-bedroom home with a double garage sells for about R1.8 million.
"We are seeing considerable interest from other provinces in the rental space,” says Cobus van den Berg, Just Property franchisee for Mossel Bay. Many relocate to the area as tenants until they find the ideal home to buy, or they conclude the sale of their property at home.
"TPN data shows demand has pushed up rental values in both full-title and sectional title properties. This means that rental yields remain solid at just over 8% and 7% for full title and sectional title properties respectively.
Top estates in Mossel Bay offering high desirable lifestyle
Murray says from a residential property perspective, frontline waterfront homes, such as those in Roger Street and Bruns Road which is located on the cliff overlooking the harbour northwards over the ocean, homes fetch around R10 million, while cliffside living at Pinnacle Point Estate sees newly-completed, modern and contemporary mansions selling for over R20 million.
As a result of the increasing demand for homes and highly desirable lifestyle, a proliferation of residential estates has sprung up over the years, with lifestyle offerings ranging from hiking, biking, and running trails to golf and hotel-type facilities such as a spa, restaurant and the like, coupled with off-the-grid or a host of ‘green’ features.
Says Murray, “All our local coastal estates are protective of the biodiversity of the fauna and flora and vacant land in general on these estates is a sought-after commodity as there are limited options available. Vacant erven range in size from 500 to 2 000sqm, averaging at around 700sqm and selling from approximately R500 000 upwards.
“Generally speaking, the demand for homes in estates means that they command a premium price, with the services, security, and other advantages of estate living further underpinning property values. In this regard, we find that the perceived need for security is the main driver of this demand, thereby boosting buying activity in secure, lifestyle estates.
“These include the impressive Gondwana Game Reserve, set in an 11 000ha private Big Five game reserve with spectacular views of the Langeberg and Outeniqua Mountains. Here you can own a safari home in one of the lowest density developments in the country with 5-Star amenities, where vacant land sells from R1 million and built homes from R4.5 million.”
Recent notable sales by Pam Golding Properties in estates include homes sold for R5.95 million in Gondwana; R8 million and R9.2 million in Pinnacle Point; and over the past 12-month period 24 sales transactions in the sought after 438ha Springerbaai Eco-estate, where residences are off the grid. In this estate, vacant land sells from R500 000 and homes from R3.75 million. Four scenic boardwalks provide access to a pristine sandy beach, making Springerbaai Eco-Estate an idyllic destination for those who appreciate nature, peace and tranquillity.
Set on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, an exceptional golf course and residences, the award-winning Pinnacle Point Estate sees vacant erven available for purchase from R500 000, two-bedroom sectional title apartments from R1.6 million, golf lodges from R1.8 million, fynbos homes from R3 million and larger estate homes from R6.9 million. Pinnacle Point offers secluded beaches along 4km of coastline, prolific indigenous wildlife in a private reserve, birdlife and a wide variety of fynbos.
Located on the boundaries of the Mossel Bay Golf Course, Mossel Bay Golf Estate is described as a hidden jewel with a range of residential properties from vacant plots priced from R1 million to homes selling from R3.35 million. In the low-density eco-estate, Village on Sea, situated within 85ha of pristine fynbos and part of the greater St Blaize Conservancy which spans from The Point to Dana Bay, vacant erven are priced from R820 000 and homes from R3.75 million. With wide open spaces serving as a national habitat for a large variety of wildlife, the estate is in close proximity to all amenities, including the only hospital with a cardiac unit in the Southern Cape, two major shopping malls and the beaches of Mossel Bay.
In Breaker Point in Dana Bay, with spectacular views across the ocean and set among pristine fynbos, but with Mossel Bay airport only 30 minutes away, vacant land in this secure and private low-density development is selling from R700 000.
Adds Murray, “Taking into account the past year and the economic impact on local business owners and residents, the housing market has proven resilient and exceeded our expectations. Looking ahead we are optimistic that Mossel Bay’s residential property market will continue to grow.”
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*Property24 Listings Data Disclaimer: The trends detailed in this article are based on Property24 listings, current at the time of publishing, and property transfer data supplied by Deeds offices, which typically take 3-4 months to reflect. Suburbs are listed according to Property24's geographical database. In some areas this will include both commercial and residential properties. The age demographic data of buyers, sellers and stable owners is determined over a six-month period. These Property Values should not be used as a substitute for independent professional advice and is subject to Property24.com Terms and Conditions.
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