Residential accommodation is constantly in high demand in the fast-growing Cape Town Northern Suburbs area of Brackenfell, which extends from Bottelary Road in the south to the N1 highway, to areas north of the highway which include suburbs such as Vredekloof, from the R300 in the west and to Okavango Road in the east.
Keimpe Weistra, Pam Golding Properties area principal, says the area still offers huge value for money, particularly for young families and first time buyers. Currently the average price for freehold property in the area is R1.3 million while sectional title property can be had from approximately R660 000.
“During the past 12 months 478 of the freehold properties were sold in the price range from R800 000 to R1.5 million, which is more than 50 percent of the total of freehold properties sold in the area. The average price achieved in this price band was R1.137 million. This kind of value is hard to find closer to Cape Town city centre. Also during the same 12 month period, 286 of the freehold properties were sold in the price range from R1.5 million to R3 million, with an average price of R1.9 million.”
Weistra says in the southern part of Brackenfell sought after suburbs among buyers include Protea Heights and Sonkring, mainly due to the new schools in the area. “The Northern Suburbs are known for their reputable educational institutions which strive for a high success rate and excel in sports development, with three new schools having been built over the past two years. Protea Heights Academy (High School) is a new addition in Protea Heights and Curro Brackenfell Independent School as well as Curro Castle are situated in Sonkring, also within Brackenfell”.
“As a result of the high demand, over the past two years we have seen significant growth in prices in Protea Heights. In 2014 a three bedroom home with double garage and two entertainment areas – mostly with an indoor braai room which is popular in this area, sold for average prices from R1.4 million to R1.45 million, which are in 2016 achieving prices of R1.6 million to R1.7 million.”
Pam Golding Properties Brackenfell recently sold a Protea Heights home with beautiful mountain views which offers three bedrooms, study, two bathrooms, double garage, air conditioning and underfloor heating in living areas, which fetched R1.7 million.
Weistra says the Sonkring area adjacent to Protea Heights is experiencing similar growth in prices. In 2014 the average price in Sonkring was between R1.7 million and R1.9 million while this year the average selling price for similar homes is between R2.1 million and R2.3 million. Most of these homes are newly built and include upmarket finishes, four bedrooms, two bathrooms and more than one entertainment area.
A recent sale concluded by Pam Golding Properties Brackenfell was for a home in Sonkring with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, three garages and a swimming pool – eco friendly, with features that include a solar and gas geyser, grey water system and borehole. The selling price for this home was R2.4 million.
Other popular suburbs in the Brackenfell area include Ruwari, Protea Village, Ferndale, Hoogstede, Morgenster and Bracken Heights, with homes ranging in price from R1.1 million to R2 million for two or three bedroom homes.
In the Brackenfell areas north of the N1 highway are security estates such as Kleinbron Estate and Kleinbron Park. With landscaped park areas and lakes these offer 24 hour security and close proximity to amenities and shopping centres like Cape Gate and Okovango Crossing. Easy access to the N1 highway and R300 to Cape Town International Airport is also a significant draw card for home buyers.
The average price for properties in Kleinbron Estate is R2.4 million with 50 percent of all homes sold in the past 12 months being in the R1.5 million to R3 million price range, while top end properties in the estate sell for approximately R4 million.
Although Brackenfell has various industrial areas located a short drive from the town centre, the successful Brackengate Business Park has attracted international and local industries due to its prime, central location and security, while new access roads off the R300 next to this development will further accessibility to the area.
Weistra says one of the highlights for residents is the Bracken Nature Reserve, a 36-hectare area in Cape Town that was once used largely as a landfill and has been transformed into one of the city’s most important nature reserves, home to more than 300 plant species, 10 of which are endemic to Cape Town.
“Further enhancing the appeal of the area, the local community has access to established sports clubs and organisations situated within Brackenfell and the surrounding suburbs. The Brackenfell Athletics and Tennis clubs, as well as Celmar Brackenfell Rugby Club have made the Brackenfell Sports Complex their home and there are various other clubs and groups who help promote different sports at various venues throughout the suburb”.
“Even at school sport level achievements have been at world standard, for example our very own Kyle Appel who last year became the second fastest youth sprinter of all time and signed a global marketing deal with Newton Sports Agency.” Appel is seen as a potential medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games to be held in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal”.
Shopping Centres are aplenty in- and around Brackenfell, with Cape Gate Shopping Centre being the closest shopping destination. The newest edition to the myriad of shopping centres available has been Okavango Crossing Shopping Centre, a convenience shopping centre located on the corner of Okavango and Langeberg Roads. Anchor tenants are Checkers, Woolworths and Virgin Active while the centre also includes a broad variety of retail including restaurants, a coffee shop, chemist, hair dresser, optometrist, clothing, bank and ATM’s.
Brackenfell is also considered the gateway to the Cape Winelands, with Protea Heights residents enjoying very easy access to the leading wine farms of Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Stellenbosch.
