Durbanville is widely known as the home of several prestigious wineries such as De Grendel, Diemersdal, Nitida and of course Durbanville Hills. Located just outside of Cape Town, Durbanville is also a sought-after residential area with several famous South Africans like Mark Shuttleworth and Duane Vermeulen having called it home.
On average first-time buyers buying in Durbanville can find a sectional title home in Uitzicht for around R500 000, R760 000 in Sonstraal and R1.35 million in Durbanville Hills. As these properties are fairly scarce in areas dominated by freehold plots, Odendaal says they tend to sell quickly.This is according to Johan Odendaal, newly appointed Manager of Leapfrog Durbanville, who says the town has an outstanding reputation for family living.
“Even young people feel welcome in the area, mostly purchasing starter homes with the intention of upgrading as and when it’s affordable. At present Uitzicht and Sonstraal are the two most popular neighbourhoods for first-time buyers.”
In fact these are in such demand, Odendaal says there is currently a serious shortage of sectional title accommodation, which is typically more affordable and offers a lock-up and go lifestyle.
According to data from Lightstone, he says sectional title properties only make up around 30% of real estate in Sonstraal, 16% in Durbanville Hills and 23% of the nearby Uitzicht.
On average first-time buyers can purchase a sectional title home in Uitzicht for around R500 000, R760 000 in Sonstraal and R1.350 million in Durbanville Hills. As these properties are fairly scarce in areas dominated by freehold plots, Odendaal says they tend to sell quickly.
Durbanville is also popular due to its close proximity to Cape Town, close-knit community and its access to good schools, including Curro, Chesterhouse, Durbanville and Stellenberg High, and excellent hospitals like Mediclinic Panorama.
Odendaal says he advises sellers is to be realistic. “Do not be tempted by valuations by agents who want to secure a sole mandate to sell the property by over-inflating prices.”
“A good valuation from a trusted source would point out the plusses and minuses that are factored into how the property is valued, as well as comparing it with sales prices in the area. This is crucial as a realistically priced property tends to sell quickly.”
Odendaal says he advises buyers is to do their homework: finding out what properties in the area are selling for and familiarising themselves with the rules and regulations governing the sectional title complex they’re looking to buy into.
“Sectional title properties are safe and many of the maintenance costs are shared. They do, however, also have rules, levies and special levies that buyers need to be aware of beforehand,” says Odendaal.
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