According to Seeff Country Licensee, Ian Badenhorst, investing your money in a fixed asset like property is an excellent way of forced savings and the affordability of these properties make such an investment a feasible option for many.
This four bedroom, three bathroom home in Colesburg has spacious, open plan living spaces, a bar and a splash pool. The property also has a double garage and an open plan, single bedroom flat. It is on the market for R950 000 - click here to view.
In towns such as Colesberg and Hopetown you can buy a two bedroom house from R380 000. According to ooba the monthly repayment on this bond will be just over R3 000 per month over a 20 year period at an interest rate of 9.5 percent.
Badenhorst says the affordability of property in the Karoo will also enable owners to budget for renovations and upsizing. “It’s also a very good investment should you wish to retire in the Karoo." He says by the time you reach retirement age, your cottage could be paid off while in the meantime you can utilise it as a weekend breakaway home or a way to obtain an extra income.
Of course these cottages can also be rented out to cover the costs of your bond. “There is a big demand for rental property in Karoo towns,” Badenhorst says.
He says that before the economic slump in 2007 the average house price growth in country towns was around 12 to 15 percent.
Seeff has a wide variety of country cottages under the R1 million mark in Karoo villages such as Beaufort West, Graaff Reinet, Prince Albert and Sutherland and in towns such as Colesberg, De Aar, Douglas, Gariepdam, Hopetown, Merwewille, Middelburg and Prieska.
Beaufort West is also known as the "Capital of the Karoo" and is about four and a half hours from Cape Town. Seeff agent Ilmarie van der Berg says the majority of the available properties are under the R1 million mark and all have between three and seven bedrooms. She says you can expect to pay as little as R250 000 for a two bedroom apartment and many properties have the potential to be converted into guest houses.
This three bedroom, two bathroom home in Graaff Reinet has an open plan living room and a small home office. The property has a small garden, undercover braai area and a single garage. It is on the market for R1.390 million - click here to view.
Colesberg in the Northern Cape is a traveller’s oasis on the N1 between Cape Town and Johannesburg. Seeff agent Rosa Conradie says prices range between R380 000 and R995 000 for a two to seven bedroom home and vacant land is available from R70 000 for 1 667 square metres.
De Aar lies in the heart of the Karoo. Seeff agent Anel van Zyl says developments such as solar farms, a wind farm and the building of a new hospital establishes the town as the ideal place for an investment. A five bedroom family home will cost around R970 000 and a three bedroom home in the heart of the town will cost around R700 000, she says.
Douglas is situated near the confluence of the Orange and Vaal Rivers in the Northern Cape and lies about 100km Southwest of Kimberley. Seeff agent Hanneke Botha says you can find a comfortable three bedroom home on a stand of 750 square metres for R810 000. “Vacant land of 660 square metres is available from R310 000,” she says.
Gariep Dam is the youngest town in South Africa and is situated alongside the N1. This village was built in 1960 to house the dam's labour force and has developed into a holiday resort serving the largest inland expanse of water in South Africa. Seeff agent Mariaan Booysen says vacant land is available from R120 000 and starting prices of homes with three bedrooms or more start from R390 000.
Graaf Reinet is one of the oldest towns in South-Africa and is recognised as the home of examples of Cape Dutch architecture and over 220 heritage sites. Seeff agent Lynette McNaughton says modern as well as old houses are available from R430 000 for a two bedroom home.
This three bedroom, four bathroom home in Prince Albert has large living spaces, an artist's studio and staff facilities. The property has a plunge pool, an irrigated garden and a bar including a built-in wine cooler. It is on the market for R4.5 million - click here to view.
Hopetown lies at the edge of the Great Karoo in the Northern Cape and is situated on an arid slope leading down to the Orange River. The first diamond discovered in South Africa was found at Hopetown. Seeff agent Estie Scutte says a two bedroom home can start from R380 000, while it costs R700 000 and up for a three bedroom home.
Merweville is an isolated community that maintains an old-world charm, about 150km from Beaufort West and it is one of the few towns in the province not to be serviced by a sealed highway. Seeff agent Alta du Plessis says at the moment there are two four bedroom homes for R870 000 and a three bedroom home for R436 000 available.
Prieska, on the south bank of the Orange Riverboasts three bedroom and two bathroom houses ranging in price from R600 000 to R710 000. Local Seeff agent Sonja Immelman says one of the properties is also zoned for commercial purposes.
The towns of Middelburg and Sutherland boast property and vacant land from as little as R260 000.
Prince Albert lies on the southern edge of the Great Karoo, nestling under the majestic Swartberg mountains. Seeff agent Yolande Singery says the village has many well-preserved Cape Dutch, Karoo and Victorian buildings and also boasts properties below the R1 million mark. Seeff sold a two bedroom and two bathroom home with foundations for a third en suite bedroom in Prince Albert for R900 000.
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