Desire for sustainable living drives demand for SA eco estates

With climate change and sustainable living high on the agenda, it is good to know that property owners now also have the choice of living in an eco estate.

This modern four bedroom home in Applegarth estate in Hout Bay is brand new and has picturesque, north-facing views from an elevated position. It is priced at R8.5 million - click here to view.

This is according to the Seeff Property Group, who say that modern living means some 50% of the world’s population now live in constructed urban environments.

This is driving an increasing desire to live in spaces that facilitate not just a sense of community, but also solves the problems of energy consumption, climate change and carbon emissions.

According to Seeff, eco estates are an ideal solution, and they also play an integral part in securing and rehabilitating vital ecosystems, encouraging sustainable building practices, building communities and reconnecting people with nature.

This three bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home in Kenrock Country Estate, Hout Bay, has a library, lap pool and zen-like courtyard. It is on the market for R6.7 million - click here to view.

The opportunity for eco living abounds in the Western Cape with its mountains, sea, vineyards and fynbos as far as the eye can see - an ideal backdrop for eco estates. One popular area is Hout Bay on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard where you will find several estates with luxury homes in the R4 million to R20-million plus price range.

The new Applegarth Estate is a good example. It offers homes arranged around a lush greenbelt and landscaping that incorporates the natural wetland and trees. Plots are laid out to ensure minimum disruption of the natural surroundings, and the natural mountain colours and textures are also reflected in the stone cobbles and stone cladding used, says Ashley Larter from Seeff.

This home in Tierboskloof, Hout Bay, offers three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, a koi pond and entertainment verandah. It is selling for R4.8 million - click here to view.

There is a choice of modern homes and locations in three to four bedroom options, with optional swimming pools. It is one of the most affordable eco estates, priced from R1.99 million for plots and R4.995 million (plot-and-plan) inclusive of VAT and with no transfer duty payable. Buyers do have the choice of using their own architect, but strict building guidelines are in place.

Eco estates appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers, from those looking to scale down to foreign ‘swallows’ from abroad, and are ideal for families given the security and close proximity to top schools, says Larter.

This three bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home in Stonehurst Mountain Estate, Cape Town, offers a study, sparkling pool and deck with mountain views. It is on the market for R12.75 million - click here to view.

The new Kerzner Estate, spearheaded by the Kerzner family (Sol Kerzner) is located high on the slopes of Leeukoppie, just off Victoria Road and offers fabulous vistas towards Chapman’s Peak, the bay, valley and mountains. It offers super-luxury architectural homes in an eco setting, priced from just over R20 million inclusive of VAT with no transfer duty payable.

Other popular estates in the Hout Bay area include Kenrock Country Estate and Tierboskloof, but there are many options to choose from. The Southern Suburbs also offers a choice of estates in the Tokai area, says James Lewis, managing director for Seeff Southern Suburbs and Hout Bay.

Elaleni Coastal Forest Estate, a new development in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, offers plots from R1.582 million to R3.11 million - click here to view.

Options include Stonehurst Mountain Estate, but expect to pay well into the upper millions for a luxury home here, says Lewis.

Tim Johnson, Principal of Seeff North Coast, says the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is also home to a number of eco estates. The latest additions are Elaleni, with prices from R1.635 million for plots and R3.85 million for turnkey homes and Zululami with plots from R910 000, houses from R3.9425 million and sectional title options from R2.024 million to R4.19 million.

Zululami Coastal Estate, a new development in Sheffield Beach, offers property options from R1 516 400 to R3 942 500 - click here to view.

On the KZN South Coast, you will find eco estates such as The Farm, Tabamanzi and Bayhill, generally in the R1.9 million to R3.5 million range.

A popular option for those looking to invest in an estate with free roaming game includes the Thorny Bush Estate in the Mokopane region. Prices range from R450 000 to R1.25 million.

This three bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home in The Hills Game Reserve Estate, Pretoria, has a home office, patio and boma. It is selling for R3.695 million - click here to view.

In the Pretoria East area, options include The Hills Lifestyle and Eco Estate, which includes roaming antelope. Plots and small sectional title properties range from R1 million to R2 million and houses from R3 million to R15 million. Silver Lakes Golf Estate is another popular option with 140 bird species and game such as kudu, nyala, springbok and impala. Plots range from below R2 million, two bedroom apartments from R1.2 million and luxury homes in the R15 million to R20 million range.

A popular option in the Johannesburg area is the Meyersdal Eco Estate, with prices from R7 million to R22 million.