Dowerglen is one of those areas in to the east of Johannesburg that you don’t often hear about, but it has quietly established itself and developed into a great option for home buyers. It is close to excellent schools, shopping centres and transport routes, and offers quality recreational, sporting and medical facilities. It is reasonably priced too.
Situated in Dowerglen Ext 4, this home offers five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a double volume entrance, open-plan lounge and dining room, fireplace, gourmet kitchen, established garden and triple garage. It is on the market for R7.5 million – click here to view. According to Tracy Eales, the local franchisee for the Rawson Property Group, this East Rand area incorporates a wide variety of homes to accommodate buyers of different ages and income groups, including many wealthy individuals who often find better value here than in neighbouring areas.
She says in the boomed-off area of Dowerglen Ext 4, for example, they currently have a luxury five bedroom, four bathroom home for sale at R7.5 million. She says similar double storey mansions with four living rooms, beautiful kitchens, spacious outdoor entertainment areas, balconies with views, pools, garages and top-notch finishes could easily cost R10 million and more in Bedfordview.
What is more, Eales says investors might want to take note that the area is set to become hugely popular over the next few years as the planned East Rand aerotropolis takes shape around OR Tambo International Airport, which is just a 10 minute drive away on the freeway.
Established in the late 1970s, Dowerglen lies mostly to the north of the Glendower Golf Course, with a small portion of the suburb on the western and southern boundaries of the course. Like many parts of Edenvale, it was initially conceived and laid out as a suburb of three bedroom, two bathroom ‘bungalows’ where young families could proudly buy their first homes on their own stands.
This Dowerglen Ext 3 house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, open-plan living, fitted kitchen, games room, outdoor patio, swimming pool and secure parking for two vehicles. It is priced at R3.595 million – click here to view.However, several extensions have been added since then, and these now offer a range of different homes offering the security, low-maintenance and lock-up-and-go convenience sought by most modern buyers, including apartments, townhouses and more upmarket clusters. Several areas are also boomed-off and thus offer ‘double’ security.
Eales says many of the original homes have now also been extended and comprehensively modernised, and are currently in demand among families because they offer great access to a selection of top public and private schools.
“Dowerglen has its own high school, for example, but it is also within easy reach of the Edenglen, Dunvegan and Hurlyvale primary schools, Edenvale High, and private schools such as Saheti, Reddam House, School of Merit, St Benedict’s, King David, St Andrews Girls and Holy Rosary.”
Eales says prices for these single storey homes start at just under R2.5 million and range up to about R3.5 million, and buyers can expect to find spacious living areas, three or four large bedrooms, upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, two garages, pools and established gardens.
Dowerglen is also a safe and neighbourly area where residents feel free to walk their dogs, take their children to the park and visit with other families.
This house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, fitted kitchen, fireplace, built-in pub, staff accommodation, braai area, garden and garaging for three cars. It is currently selling for R3.25 million – click here to view. “The Glendower Golf Course is of course also a major attraction, and there are many other sports venues nearby, including the Italian Club and Jeppe Quondam. Residents are really spoilt for choice when it comes to shops, restaurants and recreation, with the Eastgate, Meadowdale, Bedford Centre and Greenstone malls all just a few minutes’ drive away.”
According to Eales, Dowerglen also has its own convenience shopping centre in the Dowerglades area, and there is a Virgin Active gym at Greenstone and the popular Grand Slam Sports Diner.
For younger professionals, Eales says Dowerglen also has the major attraction of being close to OR Tambo International Airport and the growing number of businesses in the flourishing commercial and industrial areas of Isando, Jet Park and Sebenza, as well as the highway network which puts it within easy reach of workplaces in the Johannesburg CBD, Sandton, Midrand and Pretoria.
Buyers tend to favour the apartments and townhouses in Dowerglen Ext 2 and Ext 3, where prices currently start at around R950 000 to R1 million for two bedroom, two bathroom units in popular complexes with good security, and range up to about R1.4 million for three bedroom flats.
Eales says modern freehold homes and clusters are also available in the newer areas, at prices from around R2.5 million for three bedroom, two bathroom options with open-plan living areas and up to about R3.5 million for upmarket clusters with more bedrooms and living rooms.
Prices are highest in Dowerglen Ext 4 and Ext 5, which are both access-controlled and offer luxury homes that are increasingly sought after by senior executives and top professionals.
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