Artist’s impression showing an aerial view of Eighteen on 18 in Fernkloof Estate, Hermanus.
Fernkloof Estate, a well-established residential village situated in Hermanus on the world-famous Walker Bay whale-watching coastline and surrounding the 27-hole Hermanus Golf Club, has added another string to its bow with the launch of a new precinct, ‘Eighteen on 18’, overlooking the 18th fairway.
Marketed by Pam Golding Properties, the new development comprises 18 sectional title units, each 185sqm in size and with its own garden, priced from R4.3 million to R4.6 million, including VAT and with no transfer duty payable. The residents will enjoy scenic mountain and sea views and have direct access onto the golf course.
With some 330 completed homes situated on nine precincts on the estate, of which only two remain to be developed, residential sales on Fernkloof Estate are consistently buoyant with very little stock available on the market at any one time, says Annien Borg, MD of Pam Golding Properties in the Boland and Overberg regions.
“Interest in the new development is running high and the uptake very positive, with construction on site commencing in early 2016 and completion of the project scheduled for November this year (2016). In my opinion these units will sell well, being within a price range in which a high percentage of sales occur in South Africa, particularly as these are brand new units with high specifications”.
“In the other precincts developed in Fernkloof Estate vacant plots were sold, with owners constructing their own homes, mostly with four bedrooms and four bathrooms – which is why we believe the smaller new units will be extremely popular. They are ideal for lock-up-and-go convenience, for single home buyers and those wanting an accessible weekend getaway in a prime destination. Generally on the estate we find that about half the owners are permanent residents, with the balance leisure users, including South African expats who spend about six months of the year here or weekend users from Cape Town and surrounds, as well as investment buyers.”
Louise Varga, projects manager for Pam Golding Properties in the Boland and Overberg adds that the gated golf course concept is highly in demand with very few options of home security villages available in Hermanus. “Apart from the fact that there is very little land available in Hermanus, there has been no other recent development stock brought to market.”
Set within its own secure, gated village on one hectare in the estate, with landscaped gardens, swimming pool, pool room and guard house, the architect designed units in Eighteen on 18 offer buyers two or three bedroom layout options, two full bathrooms, open plan living, dining and kitchen area with vaulted ceilings. Also included in each unit is a mezzanine storage area and laundry unit, garaging for one vehicle plus a dedicated parking bay per unit, Morso fireplace, built-in braai, satellite dish and underfloor heating in the main bedroom and bathroom. Owners can choose from a selection of upmarket finishes while pets, two dogs and two cats are permitted per household.
Currently in its busiest season which runs from spring through summer to just after Easter, Hermanus is experiencing an increasing demand for residential real estate.
Says Varga: “Such is the ongoing demand for residential property in Fernkloof, there are currently only six completed homes available for sale on the rest of the estate – three of which are marketed by Pam Golding Properties priced between R4.3 million and R11.75 million, and only about 10 vacant plots where homes are still to be built. Due to the scarcity of land the highest price achieved for a vacant plot to date is R4.2 million for 650sqm.”
She says real estate on the golf course has proven highly sought after and a sound investment with capital growth of 20 to 30 percent being realised on the sale of homes, which can fetch prices up to R6 million and R11.5 million.
Pam Golding Properties Hermanus agent, Lee Ryall, says over the past 18 months there has been a significant increase in prices of plots sold on the golf course. “House prices have followed suit, in the sense that the high plot prices have fuelled increased prices for houses. Taking into consideration the plot price combined with building costs per square metre one arrives at a meaningful house price, which explains the significant capital growth in house values”.
“A further factor driving up residential property prices on the golf course is that most owners are reluctant to sell as the option to replace is very limited. The uniqueness of living on the golf course and the security of the estate cannot be had elsewhere in Hermanus, so although potential sellers are assured of a healthy return on their investment their options to replace do not exist. Two years ago they would have been able to buy a plot and build, and many did precisely that”.
“With the open green spaces that golf course living provides, together with excellent security and quick access to beautiful beaches and numerous walks in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve, as well as a strong sense of community, the lifestyle is highly appealing. In addition, the golf course is financially sound, well known and popular.”
With plenty of outdoor activities and attractions, Hermanus is an hour’s drive from Cape Town, and the only town in the world to have an official Whale Crier. Apart from whale-watching, this is fast becoming an eco-adventure playground, with a number of safe beaches with warm water catering for lovers of sun and surf, including the Blue Flag status beach, Grotto Beach.
In addition, sea kayaking, abseiling, lagoon canoeing, lagoon cruises, boat-based whale-watching, sand-boarding, paragliding, horse-riding, scuba-diving, fishing charters, shark cage-diving and sailing are all attractions in Hermanus.
Wine-tasting is available at the renowned Hemel en Aarde Estate, and six well-established wine routes lie within an hour’s drive of the town. There is a museum in the Old Harbour, a municipal library and a tourist information office housed in the only railway station in the country that has never been visited by a train!
