The Northcliff area of Johannesburg has long been a favourite place for people to live, having been inhabited for thousands of years. Today, however, the suburb of Northcliff is one of the city’s most sought after residential areas.
“Many of Johannesburg’s up and coming residents aspire to one day live in this established, lush suburb, which is perhaps best known for its large properties and gardens, many of which offer exquisite views of the city from the Northcliff Ridge”, says Jason Shaw, manager of the Pam Golding Properties Northcliff office.
“Not only is the suburb one of the most scenic neighbourhoods of Johannesburg, it is also centrally situated being just minutes from major road routes and the entire north. Residents of Northcliff find that they have easy access to the entire city and every amenity they could possibly need. It is not for nothing that this suburb is one of the most prestigious and sought after within the greater Johannesburg region,” adds Shaw.
“While Northcliff is considered middle- to upper- market suburb, residential property in the area offers investors superb value,” he observes. “Homes in the Northcliff area have remained in demand even during times when the economy is sluggish, and residential properties have historically held their values well”.
Shaw says that although 2016 was a slow year for the suburb, and indeed the greater Johannesburg region, residential property research company Lightstone reports that the median price of freehold residential property in Northcliff increased by close on 15 percent between 2013 and 2017.
“Pam Golding Properties Northcliff has enjoyed a solid first quarter in 2017, which points to strong confidence in the area during the first half of 2017.”
Range of properties
The sizes of the homes in Northcliff vary substantially; a three-bedroom sectional title townhouse may be marketed in the area from R1.2 million while a large prestigious freehold home can fetch up to R18 million or more. According to Lightstone’s most recent area report, the average price of a freehold home in the area is currently R2.5 million, and R950 000 for a property within a sectional title scheme.
Trish Luthuli, assistant manager Pam Golding Properties Northcliff, adds that Northcliff is a classic Johannesburg family suburb with little industry or commerce within the neighbourhood, and properties here are sought after by those looking for a tranquil and exclusive lifestyle. “In addition, the area is well managed by its highly active residents’ associations and community organisations,” she points out.
“Newer developments in the extensions to the West cater to the younger generation with a taste for more modern architecture. Properties that are set higher on the ridge with their tremendous views tend to fetch particularly good prices while homes on the northern slope are also very popular, especially as they are warmer and sunnier in winter,” observes Luthuli.
Popular suburb
An increasing number of sectional title developments and estates have been developed in Northcliff in recent years but most properties, some 64 percent, are free-standing full title homes, while nearly 27% of the properties are situated in sectional title schemes, according to Lightstone. According to Luthuli, the growth in the number of sectional title developments in recent years has assisted to make this popular area more accessible.
“Residents tend to love living in the suburb, with almost half of residents having owned their properties for 11 years or more. It indicates a high degree of stability of ownership within the area,” she observes.
Geographically desirable
“The residents of Northcliff are situated close to both Beyers Naudé Drive and the N1 motorway, among the most important commuter routes in Johannesburg,” adds Shaw. “This gives them easy access to all of the northern suburbs as well as the Sandton and Johannesburg CBDs. Northcliff’s inhabitants are fortunate to be right where the action is.
“Major malls such as Cresta Centre and busy Beyers Naudé Drive offer the residents of Northcliff some great shopping and entertainment right on their own doorstep. For those who are looking for something a little different, the trendy suburbs of Melville and Greenside are close by and offer a vibrant pavement culture. There are also many fine restaurants even closer to home within the suburb itself”.
According to Luthuli, young families appreciate the many fine schools that are to be found nearby. These cater to a range of cultures, religions and language groups. Some of the better-known schools found in the Northcliff area include Northcliff High School, Randburg High School, Northcliff Primary School, Abbots College, Northwest Christian School, Cliffview Primary School, Linden High School, Louw Geldenhuys Primary School, Fairland Primary School, Fontainebleau Primary School and Unika Primary School. The University of Johannesburg and University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), two of the city’s most important tertiary learning institutions, are situated within just 10km of Northcliff.
“On top of the ridge, which rises up to 1807m, one has an all-round view that is nothing short of breath-taking and almost unrivalled anywhere else in the city.” Iron Age artefacts were discovered here some years ago but unfortunately, these sites were not preserved.
Today the ridge is used for activities such as walking, mountaineering, bird watching and kite flying. “Residents also don’t have far to travel to get to tranquil Emmarentia Dam, which is an ideal place to walk one’s dog or have a picnic. For the individual who would like to spend some time in beautifully manicured gardens, the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens at Emmarentia are well worth a visit,” advises Luthuli. The suburb also offers easy access to highly rated golf courses like Randpark and Windsor Park.
Growing presence
Luthuli says that a considerable effort has been placed on expanding the team at the Pam Golding Properties Northcliff office in recent years in order to ensure that clients have dedicated area experts available to assist them and meet their every need.
“Northcliff offers some of the finest suburban living in Gauteng. The fact that properties in the area have remained in demand over the last 10 years is indicative of the strength of the market here. We expect this trend to continue well into the foreseeable future,” concludes Luthuli.
