The appeal of KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is increasing exponentially, particularly with new schools and commercial developments in the pipeline, resulting in homebuyers looking to make this scenic and thriving region their home - including those from Gauteng - edging further northwards up the coast.
This is according to Farrah Williamson, Pam Golding Properties area principal for the region stretching from Blue Flag Westbrook Beach to Zimbali, Ballito and right through to Zinkwazi.
As a primarily residential destination, coastal hamlets such as Shaka’s Rock, Salt Rock, Sheffield, Tinley Manor, Blythedale, Prince’s Grant and Zinkwazi are no longer perceived as being ‘too far up the coast’, particularly since the rapid uptake of the ‘work-from-home’ trend.
On the contrary, these areas are extremely attractive to a broad cross-section of home purchasers from various provinces, comprising not only permanent and existing home buyers but also those looking to acquire a holiday home, retirees and pure investors.
SEE | KZN North Coast developments with prices from R995k drawing local buyer
While many may have considered relocating following the recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, local real estate professionals report that only a few have chosen to go through with the decision.
Grant Gavin, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Panache, explains that as the emotions generated by the traumatic events settles down, many homeowners have reassessed their decisions.
“Cape Town has always been the premier semigration destination for people leaving KZN, and yes we have experienced an increase in homeowners requesting market price assessments for their homes since the unrest in KZN. Interestingly though, not all homeowners do end up selling,” says Gavin.
Along the KZN North Coast, Kim Peacock, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Dolphin Realtors, reports a similar experience and explains that none of their purchasers have cancelled any agreements since the riots.
“Due to both our community and our topography, Ballito was unharmed during the riots, and it appears that this sense of community and the unity displayed in the effort to ward off criminal activity is both aspirational and appealing to people living outside of Dolphin Coast area,” she explains.
In July 2021, searches for properties in KZN North Coast on Property24 received over 29 000 page views, and between May and July 2021, the region received over 130 000 page views.
KZN North Coast has currently *49 773 new property listings, according to property24 Trends Data, with the average asking price for the area being R1.4 million. The average sale price per erf for 2020 was about R950 000, while Section Scheme Units for the same period is about R850 000.
The suburb seeing the biggest increase in asking price is St Lucia. The areas of Phoenix, Verulam, St Lucia and Mount Edgecombe have seen an increase of more than 25% in listing on Propery24 for 2021, when compared to the previous year. While the areas of Stanger, Umdloti and Mtunzini has seen a decline in listings for the same period.
| City Name | Average list price for 2021 | % Difference in Average List Price for 2021 | % Difference in Listing Count for 2021 |
| Phoenix | 895 000 | 0% | 61% |
| Empangeni | 1 100 000 | 11% | -1% |
| Stanger | 1 167 500 | 11% | -22% |
| Verulam | 1 195 000 | 0% | 32% |
| Mtunzini | 1 365 000 | -9% | -16% |
| Richards Bay | 1 420 000 | 4% | 9% |
| Tongaat | 1 550 000 | 7% | -8% |
| La Mercy | 1 980 000 | 16% | -11% |
| St Lucia | 2 090 000 | 23% | 25% |
| Desainagar | 2 150 000 | 8% | 0% |
| Ballito | 3 000 000 | -6% | -6% |
| Blythedale | 3 212 500 | -3% | 1% |
| Umdloti | 3 650 000 | 12% | -18% |
| Umhlanga | 3 795 250 | 3% | 6% |
| Mount Edgecombe | 3 800 000 | 3% | 39% |
Source: Property24 Trends Data
The lifestyle appeal KwaZulu-Natal's suburbs have to offer, has made this province a popular destination for many South Africans. According to a report published in Lightstone Property’s July newsletter, the uMngeni and KwaDukuza municipalities placed sixth and seventh in the top ten most popular migration destinations in SA.
In August, Lightstone published a report on the popularity of the KZN South Coast that revealed that 20% of the buyers in the area originate from Pretoria (15%) and Johannesburg (7%).
“The KZN North Coast has become a semigration area in its own right since the end of lockdown. While recent events will result in this trend slowing initially, South Africa does have a way of pulling us all back in with its natural beauty and amazing quality of life. The future growth of the KZN North Coast remains positive,” adds Gavin
Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, Adrian Goslett, agrees and is hopeful that property values in this province will not be too largely affected by the recent unrest.
“There can be no doubt of the appeal that KZN has to offer. In recent years, this province has grown in popularity as new developments continue to pop up and the ability to work remotely increases. Many urban buyers are drawn to the lifestyle of warmer oceans and lush, tropical landscapes this province has to offer. My prediction is that real estate in this area will continue to be appealing to buyers from across the country, especially once the recent unrest is forgotten,” says Goslett.
Want all the latest property news and curated hot property listings sent directly to your inbox? Register for Property24’s Hot Properties, Lifestyle and Weekly Property Trends newsletters or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
*Property24 Listings Data Disclaimer: The trends detailed in this article are based on Property24 listings, current at the time of publishing, and property transfer data supplied by Deeds offices, which typically take 3-4 months to reflect. Suburbs are listed according to Property24's geographical database. In some areas this will include both commercial and residential properties. The age demographic data of buyers, sellers and stable owners is determined over a six-month period. These Property Values should not be used as a substitute for independent professional advice and is subject to Property24.com Terms and Conditions.
Print
