While just over 45 minutes’ drive out of the Cape metropolis, the Cape Winelands region, made up of the towns of Franschhoek, Tulbagh, Worcester, Paarl, Wellington, Ceres and Stellenbosch, offer a real respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
This renovated Victorian guest house in Franschhoek has 9 en suite bedrooms and a reception room, which leads to the loft area. It is on sale for R7.95 million. Click here to view.
The scenic beauty is almost unmatched as fertile green valleys are dotted with vineyards and orchards against the backdrop of scenic mountains. Not surprising then that the region ranks amongst the most sought-after in the country, not only for local and foreign visitors, but as a residential, retirement, holiday and weekend escape, says Seeff’s managing director for the region, Pierre Germishuys.
As they head towards the summer months when the picturesque vineyards of the region come into bloom, Germishuys says the local property markets are performing exceptionally well. This year, they have already almost doubled their turnover in the areas of Franschhoek, Tulbagh and Worcester with a total of 75 properties sold to the total value of almost R127 million, compared to just under R66 million during the corresponding period last year.
He says, at a time when many in the industry are cutting back, Seeff has increased its license footprint in the region to include Paarl, Ceres and Stellenbosch. While operating conditions remain challenging, Germishuys believes that patience and perseverance has been a vital element in the success in the market this year.
This luxurious and spacious 5 bedroom house located in Langerug, Worcester, is priced at R 2.7 million. click here to view.
Germishuys says their focus has been on working with, and counselling serious sellers to ensure that their price expectations are in line with what buyers are prepared to pay.
On the buying front, there has been a notable uptick in demand, both from residential and second home buyers, largely from within the South African market.
He says buyers are realising that the value on offer across the Winelands is unbeatable and that prices are probably just about as low as they are likely to go. "Consequently, now is the time to buy and those that have made their move this year will look back and realise that it was a smart move."
In the Franschhoek Valley for example, they have already sold 26 properties to the value of almost R92 million compared to 9 properties during the same period last year. "This includes 9 properties above the R5 million price band ranging up to R7 million and R9.9 million. This buoyancy is mirrored by the market as a whole with a total of about 49 properties already sold this year compared to 66 for the whole of last year,” says Germishuys.
This multi-level home in Paarl Valley, was built to maximise the views and to entertain It is on the market for R5.6 million. Click here to view.
In Tulbagh, where the average house price falls below R800 000, Germishuys says of the 20 properties already sold here, five sales have been above this price band with prices ranging up to R2.16 million. In Worcester, where the average house price falls below R500 000, 17 out of the 29 sales already made by Seeff here fall above this price band with prices that range up to R1.26 million, he says.
In terms of the Winelands property market as a whole, there has been a steady, year-on-year improvement in demand over the last three years, says Germishuys. In 2009 for example, 1 748 properties to the total value of R1.77 billion sold in these towns.
Activity has since improved by about 40 percent with around 2 441 property sales to the value of R2.53 billion in the last year, he says.
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