Retirees within the Gauteng region are increasingly looking for homes that afford them the opportunity to live a lifestyle that is completely free of concerns so that they are able to enjoy the maximum amount of freedom and independence during this new phase of their lives.
“There is a growing demand for residential properties that afford older individuals the opportunity to live life to the maximum and at last be able to fully engage in passions that they had to put to one side while pursuing their careers and bringing up their children,” points out Kyle Ebben, manager of Pam Golding Properties Fourways.
“More and more people in Johannesburg today are seeking to spend their retirement years as actively and zestfully as possible,” he adds. “While they may be retiring or at least semi-retiring, they certainly don’t want to retire from life. In fact, they want to be able to use this new phase in their lives as an opportunity to travel, be social, and engage their families, passions and interests to the fullest,” adds Ebben.
“They consequently require a high level of security and health support to be close to hand in order to provide them with peace of mind, but they also wish to easily lock up and go should they want to visit their families or travel, for example. As a result of these trends, we are seeing ongoing demand within Johannesburg for residential property options that enable such a lifestyle,” he observes.
Ebben was speaking at the announcement by Pam Golding Properties Fourways that the agency has been appointed to market the exclusive retirement estate of La Vie Nouvelle in Broadacres, Fourways.
“La Vie Nouvelle, which most appropriately translates from French to ‘A New Life’, is a new sectional title estate development concept that is addressing these kinds of needs in a completely holistic way,” he explains.
According to Ebben, the estate consists of a total of some 220 units set in a tranquil Highveld wetland area in close proximity to thriving Fourways. A comprehensive frail care and medical centre that will be completed by the end of 2017, will be available to those residents who require health and medical support.
Investment opportunity
“Pam Golding Properties is proud to be marketing the sectional title properties within this pioneering development, which not only offers an enviable and exclusive lifestyle, but also provides families with an outstanding investment opportunity,” notes Ebben.
He says that a range of home options is on the market within the La Vie Nouvelle estate. These are available on a sectional title rather than life rights basis, from between R1.1 million for a 60 sqm unit to R3.3 million for a three-bedroomed luxury simplex.
“The units are in high demand and we fully expect them to only become increasingly more popular as facilities such as the 36-bed frail care and medical centre, which will be managed by a service provider with more than 20 years experience in the field, approach completion”.
“The existing properties within the development have already enjoyed strong capital growth over the two years of their existence, which serves to highlight the considerable value that these homes offer as an investment”.
According to Sandra Gordon of the research division at Pam Golding Properties, house prices in the Broadacres area have shown strong resilience to economic downturns with a minor weakening in prices during the 2009 recession.
“Median house prices for a freehold property in Broadacres during the year thus far is R2.7 million – an increase of 42.1% over the past five years,” she says. “Sectional title properties have sold at a median price of R1.55 million thus far this year – an increase of 75.1% on the median prices achieved during 2016 as a whole.”
Every amenity
Pam Golding Properties agent and area specialist Zelda Coetzee, says that among the many attractions of La Vie Nouvelle is that residents not only have every amenity and medical support close to hand for this new phase of their life’s journey, but they are also situated on an attractive wetland with streamlined walkways that are lit up at night, and an abundant eco-system thriving with birdlife.
“La Vie Nouvelle is situated adjacent to Dainfern in the heart of Broadacres and just a short drive away from the Fourways precinct. An estate transport service is available to whisk them to any destination within the Fourways region, while they also have the comfort of knowing that their doctors, physiotherapists and nursing staff are close to hand at the on-site medical centre,” notes Coetzee.
She says that an active and highly organised body corporate is already in place at La Vie Nouvelle. “The main building contains a number of facilities such as a gym, coffee shop, swimming pool, recreation hall, Wi-Fi amenities in common spaces, as well as a place of worship.”
Peace of mind
According to Coetzee, the security of this lifestyle estate for the mature is comprehensive and includes security cameras, guards, and 24-hour patrols.
“The idea is to create an environment in which mature individuals can live with complete peace of mind within a beautiful environment, and be able to engage in their passions, no matter whether these be gardening, painting, photography, bird watching, travel or other,” she adds.
With a number of options available, investors are able to design their own living spaces while adhering to the aesthetically pleasing, modern and contemporary design that is represented within the estate. Many of the units have their own gardens and levies are currently extraordinarily low, averaging about R1 280 a month.
The homes are carefully designed and incorporate wheelchair turning circles to all kitchen and main bathroom areas, and are all designed with ramp access. All walkways and staircases have been designed in accordance with the requirements of the prescribed Elderly Persons Act.
“The highly experienced developers of the estate, Calgro M3, identified a need for an upmarket estate catering to the more mature market,” adds Ebben. “In our view, they have hit the nail on the head with La Vie Nouvelle, which fills an important gap in the local residential property market. We expect this development, as well as this groundbreaking new concept in mature living, to have a bright future.”
