Inner cities. Love them or hate them, they play a crucial role in stimulating, supporting and enhancing a country’s economic growth. They are hubs for productivity, and due to the scale, diversity and density of activity, ideas and information flow freely, offering a wealth of creative and entrepreneurial opportunities for those who choose to live there.
As a developing country, South Africa is urbanising rapidly. Estimates suggest that just over 67 percent of South Africans are living in urban areas, and this is predicted to rise to 71 percent by 2030. By 2050, eight in 10 people will be living in urban areas, says Andrea Tucker, Director of MortgageMe.
Tucker says this urban densification trend is accelerating post Covid-19 due to lockdowns having changed the way people work, leaving many office and retail spaces in city CBDs empty and disused.
“This is urging developers and investors who own commercial properties in inner cities to transform their building stock into residential or mixed-use developments and reigniting a trend for inner-city living, with its benefits of reduced commuting time, lower living costs, and better access to transport hubs, essential services, and universities,” notes Tucker.
“The shift to inner-city living tends to be more inclusive of lower-income home seekers while also combating unsustainable urban sprawl,” says Tucker. Cities have a huge capacity to densify and support large numbers of people while limiting their impact on the environment due to reduced land consumption, efficient infrastructure, and fewer cars on the road."
READ: It may cost you less to move than improve, and be less risky
And, with the state of the economy, as it is, more middle-class South Africans are looking for smaller, centrally located spaces with lower rates and levies.
“This trend among the younger middle class to buy smaller, lock-up-and-go spaces in cities is driving urban regeneration and boosting the urban residential property market.”
Graham Ross of Just Property Blouberg adds that going small will allow you to buy in a better area. And if you are downscaling, you’ll have more for little luxuries like travelling, and to put towards other investments.
Ana Roberts of Just Property Upper Highway says another great benefit is that small spaces require less furniture - a few great statement pieces allow for simple, minimalist décor and a beautiful, welcoming home at a fraction of the cost of furnishing a big house. And the cleaning is a breeze!
Less clutter equals less stress, and isn’t that what we are all looking for now?
READ: Tips for downsizing and moving to a smaller home
Are you cut out for city living? Cities have a vibrancy that is hard to match in rural and suburban areas, with nearby bars, markets, shops, restaurants, office buildings and new co-working spaces enabling collaboration and physical connection, ideal for young, up-and-coming homeowners as well as start-ups and SMEs.
“While they may not be for everyone, inner cities have an energy that tends to appeal to the young South African population, and the smaller apartments offer a minimalist, affordable, lock-up-and-go option,” says Tucker.
“A quote that came out of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements described cities brilliantly as ‘engines of growth and incubators of civilisation’, so it is heartening to see people investing in inner cities, which, in turn, is creating a positive inner-city housing market,” shares Tucker.
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