By Andrew Amoils
During the past year, the New World Wealth research team has visited top-end residential estates across the country in order to choose the best ones for 2019.
“Residential estate living is on the rise, especially among the more affluent,” says real estate advisor Basil Weinrich, who helps New World Wealth compile their ratings. “We estimate that over 40% of South African HNWIs live or have homes on residential estates.”
Ratings criteria included: communal gardens and parks, design and space, maintenance, location, views and scenery, security features, and activities and facilities available on estate.
Recent trends in this space:
- There is a move away from traditional golf estates and towards lifestyle and retirement estates.
- Most developers are now creating small neighborhoods within the estates, as opposed to the old model where houses were spaced evenly around the entire property. The new model allows for more parkland and open spaces between the neighborhoods.
- Parkland estates with parks, birdlife, walks and trails are becoming more popular.
- A large number of lifestyle & golf estates have started to add luxury apartments onto their offerings. Previously, most estates had focused only on houses.
Top estates in each category include:
- Top residential estate in South Africa: Val de Vie
- Top residential estate in Gauteng: Steyn City
- Top residential estate in the Western Cape: Val de Vie
- Top residential estate on the Garden Route: Fancourt
- Top residential estate in KwaZulu-Natal: Zimbali
Top 10 estates in SA for 2019
New World Wealth’s top 10 estates in South Africa for 2019 are listed below (in alphabetical order):
Located on the Bot River Lagoon, about 25 miles west of Hermanus, Arabella is one of the most scenic estates in the country. It is also home to a lovely spa and a highly rated golf course.
House prices on the estate range from R3 million to R15 million.
Atlantic Beach is the ‘hidden gem’ of South African estates. Located between Blouberg and Melkbostrand in Cape Town, the estate features lovely views and scenery.
House prices on the estate range from R2 million to R20 million.
Fancourt is located in George on the Garden Route. It is undoubtedly South Africa’s top estate for golfers, with three highly rated courses on one estate. The two original courses (the Montagu and the Outeniqua) were built in the early ‘90s, while the world famous Fancourt Links was added in 2000.
There are several different residential areas on the estate including: Colonial Lodges, Cape Dutch Homes, Oakland Residences, Links Avenue Properties, Links Ridge Properties and Montagu Ridge Properties.
House prices on the estate range from R3 million to R50 million.
Pezula is located in Knysna on the Garden Route. The views and scenery on the estate are very impressive, as is the golf course. Pezula includes two sub-estates, namely Pezula Golf Estate and Pezula Private Estate. The private estate is slightly more exclusive, with larger stands.
House prices range from R5 million to R50 million.
Simbithi is a golf estate in Ballito,KwaZulu-Natal. It offers residents lovely birdlife and forest vegetation. It also operates as a wildlife sanctuary, with several wild animals such as antelope living on the property.
House/apartment prices range from R2 million to R40 million.
Steenberg is one of the pioneer estates of South Africa. Originally a vineyard, Steenberg was re-developed by JCI in 1990 to include a golf course, hotel, spa and housing estate. The estate still contains a large winery and vineyard to this day. There are relatively few houses at Steenberg, when one considers the size of the estate.
House prices on the estate range from R10 million to R40 million.
Steyn City is located near Broadacres in Johannesburg. It is probably the best designed estate in South Africa, with large amounts of beautiful parkland between the various distinct residential neighborhoods. It offers a nice mix of houses, townhouses and apartments. The vegetation, rivers, dams and parklands on the estate are particularly impressive, as is the birdlife - wild finches, owls, hornbills and bee-eaters are all common on the estate.
House/apartment prices on the estate range from R2 million to R40 million.
Val de Vie is located in the Cape Winelands between Paarl and Franschhoek. Highlights of this estate include beautiful vineyards, polo fields, an equestrian centre, a highly rated golf course (Pearl Valley), natural fynbos scenery, parks, lakes and mountain backdrops.
Val de Vie contains a number of district and unique neighborhoods, including Pearl Valley, the Polo Village, the Gentleman’s Estate, the River Club, the Reserve, the Vines, the Acres and several others. It is also home to a new retirement village (Evergreen Val de Vie).
House/apartment prices on the estate range from R3 million to R50 million.
Whalerock Ridge
Whalerock Ridge is located in Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route. The 100-hectare estate offers residents impressive views over the bay. The bottom gate of the estate is located approximately 100 metres from the beach.
House prices on the estate range from R3 million to R35 million.
Zimbali is located next to Ballito on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast and about 27km north of Umhlanga. The forest and birdlife on the estate is very impressive - it is home to several types of kingfishers, louries, bee-eaters and even the rare Crowned Eagle is a resident. Notably, the estate is right on the beach.
House prices on the estate range from R5 million to R75 million.
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