The Sandton and Randburg suburbs everyone wants to live in

The northern and north-western parts of Johannesburg will always be home to some of the most desirable residential property in Gauteng.

This seven bedroom en-suite luxury home in Sandhurst is on the market for R150 million - click here to view.

Seeff licensees in Sandton and Randburg discuss some of the suburbs everyone would like to live in, the price ranges and property on offer.

Charles Vining from Seeff Sandton says three of the most coveted suburbs in Sandton include Sandhurst, Hyde Park and Craighall Park.

Sandhurst

Vining says this suburb is undoubtedly one of the most exclusive and prestigious suburbs in South Africa, where a property of R150 million was recently listed and is believed to be the highest price ever asked for a residential property in Gauteng.

This three bedroom, two bathroom apartment in Sandhurst is on the market for R3.695 million - click here to view.

“Sandhurst offers many 'superhomes' that are mostly priced between R18 million and R30 million, depending on the condition and size of the property. Sometimes homes are priced from around R12 million, but this is rare,” he says.

“There are very few homes in Sandhurst with less than four bedrooms. Homes mostly have at least four bedrooms and up, to warrant the high asking prices.”

Vining adds that when it comes to sectional title, the suburb offers three bedroom cluster homes on 800sqm stands priced anywhere between R8 million up to R12 million.

Home sales in Sandhurst have been as high as R80 million in the past five years, and many international businessmen and women - earning their salaries in dollars and looking for a Johannesburg base - invest here.

Hyde Park

This seven bedroom, six bathroom home in Hyde Park is on the market for R36 million - click here to view.

Vining says that like with Sandhurst, Hyde Park is an upmarket suburb that also appeals to foreign buyers. The median price for a freehold property in Hyde Park to date this year is R10.5 million, according to Lightstone.

In 2017, Lightstone also listed 4th Road in Hyde Park as one of the most expensive streets in the country, with an average value of R16.9 million per home.

Older houses on an acre of land generally have at least four bedrooms, and sell for between R12 million and R18 million, but new grand homes with four or five bedrooms in boomed enclaves on 2 000sqm go for R20 million to R30 million.

Vining adds that the average three bedroom cluster home on 800sqm in Hyde Park costs around R7.5 million. On small stands of 450sqm, a three bedroom cluster sells for between R5 million and R6 million, depending on the finishes.

This three bedroom, two bathroom apartment in Hyde Park is on the market for R3.5 million - click here to view.

Foreign buyers interested in Sandton property are mostly from the African continent like Nigeria, Rwanda, Cameroon, Angola, Zambia, Ghana and the Congo.

The price ranges in which foreign buyers obtain property are vast, from sectional title investments priced from R1.5 million to luxury apartments as a Johannesburg base priced from R3.5 million to R20 million.

Secure, modern cluster homes priced from R4 million to R20 million are also popular, as well as the occasional palatial residence priced from R15 million up to R30 million.

Craighall Park

This two bedroom, two bathroom ground-floor apartment in Craighall Park is on the market for R1.7 million - click here to view.

Vining says while Craighall Park is an old upmarket suburb between Parkhurst and Sandton Central, it offers significantly more affordable property than Sandhurst and Hyde Park, with a median price point of R3.975 million for freehold property to date this year.

The average price for a three bedroom, two bathroom home in Craighall Park is between R3.5 million and R4 million, and this will generally include a pool and double garage, and sometimes even staff accommodation on an average stand size of around 1 983sqm.

Randburg

Northcliff

This four bedroom, four bathroom home in Northcliff is on the market for R7.95 million - click here to view.

Chris Hajec, Seeff’s MD in Randburg, says Northcliff has traditionally been the most sought-after suburb in Randburg, owing to the spectacular homes that sit atop Northcliff Hill with dramatic views stretching all the way to the Magaliesburg.

“The range of property Northcliff has on offer, however, speaks to a wide range of buyers, from those also seeking an affordable lock-up and go, middle price range full title and cluster home to very prestigious property. The price range of real estate in the area is wide, with homes selling for between R2.5 million and R16 million,” he says.

“With winding tree-lined roads reminiscent of something you might find in an Italian landscape and imposing entrances leading to large stands with immaculate lawns, tennis courts and pools, the value for money and lifestyle to be found in Northcliff these days is without a doubt the best in the greater Johannesburg area.”

This two bedroom, two bathroom apartment in Northcliff is on the market for R895 000 - click here to view.

Hajec says the area is known for its established gardens and sloping lawns, large trees and neat, attractive pavements. “The property market here offers a variety of options ranging from compact lock-up-and go apartments to cluster homes, gated security enclaves to stunning large architecturally designed freestanding homes.”

Hajec adds that Northcliff also provides an attractive proposition for investors due to the fact that it has maintained its value over the years, while at the same time offering excellent value for money.

According to Lightstone, the median price point of freehold property in Northcliff to date this year is R2.425 million and R1.725 million for sectional title.

Linden

This new two bedroom, two bathroom apartment in Linden is on the market for R1.285 million - click here to view.

Hajec says Linden is one of the prettiest and oldest suburbs of Johannesburg, lying to the northwest of the city centre between Emmarentia and Darrenwood. The suburb boasts many houses that have recently been restored.

Linden is a very interesting case study on price, because this is a suburb which can be categorised as ‘trending’.

“Always popular for its position, large properties and its quality Afrikaans schools, Linden has taken on the title of ‘most favoured suburb in Randburg’, and this shows in the fact that it is one of the few upper-average priced suburbs that has not seen a significant decline in overall sales volume,” says Hajec.

Particularly noteworthy is the sustained levels of activity for properties R2 million and up.

A year ago, Linden's average price point in the uppermost tier was R4 million, and represented 27% of the freehold market. Gaining in prominence, the upper tier went to 36% of the freehold market, but the average price point came down to R3.6 million.

“Clearly, more homes were sold, but at a lower average price point, which makes perfect sense and is in keeping with what we see happening in the wider market, which is evidenced by increasing consumer frugality, but adjusted for a sought-after trending suburb,” says Hajec.

“The middle-average price point, comprising 65% of the market a year ago, had an average price point of R2.3 million. Now slipping to 61% of freehold sales, the price point has adjusted upwards to R2.4 million.”