Modern city living and top suburbs in Centurion

Centurion in Pretoria is a burgeoning modern city offering a wide range of properties to suit different budgets and many types of buyers, from those seeking an urban lifestyle close to the Gautrain station, office parks and transport routes, to those looking for homes in ‘country’ estates that offer convenience and security combined with a more relaxed ambience.

This three bedroom house in Amberfield, Centurion, has a study and built-in braai. It is priced at R1.93 million - click here to view.

This is according to Johan Lubbe, the Rawson Property Group franchisee in Centurion, who says since its incorporation into the Tshwane/Pretoria Metro in 2 000, Centurion has continued to grow exponentially.

And while high-density developments have steadily attracted younger residents with lower incomes, he says the community remains one of the most affluent in the country.

Lubbe says according to the Financial Mail’s 2015 top suburbs survey, done earlier this year in partnership with Lightstone, Tshwane’s top-performing suburbs are all in Centurion.

“Properties were rated in three price categories and the Blue Valley Golf Estate, just off the N1 freeway, placed first in the luxury category, with a 147% increase in home prices over the past three years. Prices in the estate currently range from just under R3 million to around R13 million.”

He says the Zwartkop Golf Estate was the leader in the mid-price category, and offers stands at around R1.1 million, three bedroom apartments at around R2.2 million and family homes at prices from just under R3 million to around R7 million.

“But the cherry on the top was Glen Lauriston, which was ranked as Tshwane’s best-performing entry-level suburb, and the second best overall across four cities, with a 389% growth in prices over the past five years.”

This home in Heuweloord, Centurion, offers four bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen and a lapa. It is on the market for R1.5 million - click here to view.

Prices for two bedroom sectional title properties in this area start at around R850 000, and those for four bedroom family homes at around R 2.6 million, he says.

Lubbe says the ongoing demand for property in Centurion is largely due to its central location in relation to Johannesburg, Midrand, Krugersdorp and Sandton, as well as Pretoria.

“This has made it an obvious choice for the development of corporate parks, shopping centres and industrial areas, and attracts thousands of new residents every year. At the moment, development activity is particularly noticeable in Die Hoewes around the Gautrain station, where there is growing demand for buy-to-let apartments and townhouses,” he says.

“Sectional title prices in Die Hoewe range from R600 000 to R800 000, and current rentals for a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment are between R6 000 and R6 200 a month for a first floor unit and up to R6 500 for a ground floor unit.”

Lubbe says while the Centurion Mall and the Mall@Reds shopping centres are currently undergoing massive upgrades, this is only the ‘beginning’ for Centurion.

“A multibillion rand facelift for the Centurion CBD has been planned over the next couple of decades and will see several main routes being revamped, an interlinked rapid bus service being introduced and open space corridors being created,” he says.

This three bedroom house in The Reeds, Centurion, has an open-plan kitchen, study and sparkling pool. It is on sale for R1.635 million - click here to view.

“Spreading over an area of about 1 000ha, the redevelopment area will apparently also include an international convention centre, the African Gateway Project, Centurion Symbio City and a development bridge connecting the north and south banks of the Hennops River at the site of the Centurion Lake.”

For the meanwhile, though, Centurion has a number of good schools, guest houses, conference centres and golf courses that will continue to bring many non-residents as well as new residents into the area. In addition, SuperSport Park is a venue for international cricket matches as well as the Jacaranda Day music festival, says Lubbe.

“And estate agents in the residential market here are doing brisk business at the moment, even though there is a shortage of stock in the popular price ranges. The demand for sectional title property is greatest in the R600 000 to R900 000 price range and we have a lot of enquires for freehold homes up to R1.6 million.”

Lubbe says about 27% of the homes in Centurion are sectional title apartments and townhouses, about 33% are houses in gated estates and about 40% are freehold suburban houses. The average sale prices in the highest demand areas, Die Hoewes and Amberfield, are R760 000 and R1.14 million respectively.

“Also in demand are the more upmarket country estates to the west, and we are seeing a trend now towards the development of both full title and sectional title homes in the same estate, with all residents having access to the outdoor amenities,” he says.