Amid severe stock shortages reported in the metro areas almost countrywide, as far as the Garden Route is concerned, it is still a buyers’ market.
Situated in The Heads, Knysna, this home offers six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a swimming pool, double garage and panoramic views of the Outeniqua Mountains and the Knysna Lagoon. It is priced at R20 million - click here to view.
This is according to Suzi Bilyard from Seeff Knysna, who says while the residential sector is making good strides towards recovery, holiday, retirement and investment buyers are still spoilt for choice. Citing the sustained low house price inflation, wealth of stock still on the market and sellers that are willing to negotiate, she says agents believe that it is still a great time to snap up a slice of paradise here.
Bilyard says regarded as the most beautiful coastal strip in the country and one of the most remarkable in the world, the 200-kilometre Garden Route is an especially popular area for Capetonians and upcountry buyers alike; many of whom already own holiday homes here.
She says for others, it remains one of the most desired locations in which to own property.
Stretching from Mossel Bay (nearest to Cape Town), past George and Wilderness, Sedgefield and Knysna on to Plettenberg Bay and just past to the Storms River, you have the ocean on your doorstep and nature’s paradise as your back garden, she says. Lush green landscapes interplay with sandy beaches (many with Blue Flag status), a rocky coastline, dramatic mountains, gorges, waterfalls, lakes and lagoons, a wealth of fauna and flora and indigenous forests such as the Tsitsikamma.
This four bedroom home in Oubaai, George, has a study, entertainment area and a faltlet. It is priced at R8.985 million - click here to view.
Hot summers and mild winters make it the perfect year-round destination. Add to this, the pristine air, laid-back lifestyle largely devoid of stress, scenic golf courses, polo in Plettenberg Bay, indulgent spas, a wealth of water sport activities and world-renowned nature trails such as the Otter Trail. Market and festival junkies have much to choose from - from the Saturday Sedgefield country market to the annual Knysna Oyster Festival.
When it comes to Knysna, buyers are simply spoilt for choice, says Bilyard. Vacant stands start from as low as R350 000, apartments at about R650 000 and houses upwards of about R1.8 million. Water-side property in sought-after areas such as at the Heads or Thesen Islands costs upwards of R2 million for an apartment and about R6.5 million to R20 million for a luxury home. The Simola and Pezula developments also offer good value vacant stands and luxury homes.
This Great Brak home offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a double garage and garden. It is on the market for R2.8 million - click here to view.
Pieter Jordaan from Seeff says George is a golfer’s paradise. Aside from Fancourt, there is the popular Oubaai golf resort that offers a wonderful selection of homes. Prices are by and large still down on their pre-2007/8 levels and there are excellent buys on offer in areas such as Glentana, George and Wilderness. Vacant stands, for example, start at around R250 000, apartments and townhouses at around R900 000 and houses at about R1.2 million. Luxury golf and lifestyle estate homes range upwards of about R2 million.
According to Kaaiman Schutte from Seeff, Mossel Bay is still cheaper compared to other towns on the Garden Route. Apartments and townhouses range from about R700 000 to R1 million, while houses start at about R1.2 million. For luxury buyers, there are plenty of beach and golf estate homes, priced upwards of R2.5 million. There is also the option of heading to one of the small villages just outside of town such as Hartenbos, Dana Bay, Little and Great Brak, and Reebok and Tergniet for excellent buys between R950 000 and R1.5 million and vacant stands priced upwards of R300 000.
Seeff agent, Alet Ollemans, says while Plettenberg Bay has seen a strong pick up in buying in the last year with more top-end buyers from the Cape and Gauteng prepared to pay in the upper millions for a luxury beach house, agents say there is still time to snap up a good bargain here.
Vacant stands are, for example, still selling for as little as R450 000 while apartments start at just under R1 million. Houses sell for R2 million, but expect to pay upwards of R5 million for a home in a good location and up to around R20 million for a luxurious beachfront home.
Print
