The coastal town of Ballito on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast is rapidly shaking off its former status as predominantly a holiday resort. Now, as a residential community, says Pam Golding Properties area franchisee, Neil de Beer, Ballito is quickly becoming a target for working commuters overflowing from Durban and uMhlanga.
“Still within a reasonable driving distance from the city (45km), with easy access to major freeways to the north, south and west as well as good schooling, families are increasingly drawn to settle here on a permanent basis. In addition to Crawford College in La Lucia and uMhlanga College, new schools in Ballito and surrounds include Trinity College in Palm Lakes, Curro Schools just north of Ballito and the ever growing Umhlali Preparatory School as well as Ashton International College,” says de Beer.
Shoppers are amply catered for with three full-sized malls in the town itself: Lifestyle Centre, The Junction and Ballito Bay Mall, while it’s only a short drive to uMhlanga’s Gateway shopping centre, the largest self-contained shopping centre in the southern hemisphere.
De Beer says there is no doubt that King Shaka International Airport has made a significant impact on the Ballito area. “Increased interest among in the area among investors began about two to three years ago with the construction and opening of the airport and Dube Tradeport, although initially there was a wait-and-see attitude from the major players. This interest has now become a stream of enquiries and it seems this is only the start. Established commercial developments north of Durban are at a premium with prices being driven up by the land shortage. There are however sites between 8000 and 30 000sqm available in Ballito Services Park North and South, adjacent to the N2, while smaller sites between 1600 and 7000sqm can be had in Ballito Business Park, directly behind the Lifestyle Shopping Centre, and at Imbonini Industrial Park on the western side of the N2.”
He says with the business community along the North Coast flourishing in recent years, both commercial and residential property prices have increased steadily and from a residential perspective, new properties in Ballito are constantly in demand and realistically priced homes are taken up as quickly as they are listed.
Says De Beer: “Ballito caters for a broad cross section of buyers, ranging from entry level one bedroom apartments at R800 000 and two bedroom units from R950 000, to the middle market where two and three bedroom apartments and homes are priced between R1.5 million and R2.5 million, while at the top end of the market a luxury four or five bedroom unit in an upmarket apartment building will achieve in excess of R3.5 million and a four, five or six bedroom standalone home or house within a luxury lifestyle development will set you back from R5.5 million upwards.
“Beachfront property in Ballito sells from R1.5 million upwards with average being between R2.5 million to R3 million and freestanding homes from R9 million upwards , while within the lifestyle estates we currently have homes listed from R3.5 million to R35 million.”
De Beer says in Zimbali, one of South Africa’s premier coastal estates, the trend is also increasingly towards purchasers seeking primary residences. “However, a significant number of purchasers are Johannesburg-based – with some commuting to work weekly while their families remain on the estate. Comprising a total of 700 hectares and with an anticipated 1200 households, Zimbali is now 85 percent completed. Since being launched in 1996 property prices have increased by a phenomenal 1000 percent. For example, vacant beachfront property in 1996 sold for around 1.2 million rand and today vacant beachfront land is selling and has sold for R11 million and upwards.
Entry level developments in Zimbali include three bedroom, three bathroom private villas priced from R3.75 million, while in Simbithi Eco-Estate, new projects include a development comprising 32 freestanding homes priced between R2.5 million and R3.2 million. Palm Lakes Estate, situated in Tinley manor just north of Ballito offers a unique building package on vacant sites, priced from R2.2 million to R3 million on approximately 600–700sqm of land and comprising three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Palm Lakes Estate is also developing a unique retirement village offering free standing two and three bedroom homes as well as aftercare and frail care facilities.
Pam Golding Properties is currently marketing six contemporary Bali-style, duplex homes in ‘Sanctuary Villas’ in Zimbali priced from R3.75 million with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, infinity pool and wooden decks, as well as an open-plan kitchen, these offer spacious living and entertainment areas and scenic views of the natural surrounds and forest.
For further information contact Neil de Beer of Pam Golding Properties Ballito on 032 9463430 or 083 407 8777 or email neil.debeer@pamgolding.co.za or ballito@pamgolding.co.za
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