Capitalising on the success of their Upper Constantia team, which has this year sold R160 million worth of residential property, Greeff Properties has established a branch to serve Tokai and its adjoining areas, which contain some of South Africa’s most successful security estates.
The company has been able to recruit one of the region's best-known and experienced property agents to lead and control the new operation.
Chris Macleod, who takes up this position, has developed and sold property in Constantia and surrounding areas since 1964. In that year he joined his father, founder of Macleod Properties and seven years later, on the retirement of his father, took control of the company in its entirety.
In the early '60s many of the Constantia farms were under rezoning for residential development. The father and son Macleod team handled the installation of services on behalf of developers on no less than 18 farms, many of them, like The Vines, Bel Ombre, Morning Star, Dunblair and Morningside, were already famous as historic wine producing estates.
Macleod retired in 2007, but soon found that he disliked being out of action.
“I had been closely involved for so long that not being in business left a huge hole in my life and a dreadful lack of stimulus,” he said. “I soon realised that I had to get back as soon as possible.” However, a three and a half year restraint imposed by the buyers of his business prevented him from doing this until recently.
Forged from a close relationship and mutual respect between himself and Mike Greeff, Chief Executive of Greeff Properties a branch partnership has been formed.
“I have been in this field for so long that I have seen Constantia Valley values fluctuate from rock bottom to ultra-high prices,” said Macleod. “Right now, however, virtually any buy here must, in my view, be a good one because prices have definitely steadied and stabilised and are set to rise steadily from here on.”
"Security estates, for which people are already prepared to pay a premium will continue to be especially in demand."
Macleod has taken offices in Westlake Square and he is working closely with Gail Horsley of Greeff Properties, who has brought to the business a ‘valuable’ initial stock list - with prices from R2,5 million to R35 million. Macleod plans to recruit another three agents before the end of the year.
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