Homes in residential and golf estates remain a popular option in Gauteng with many people appreciating the concern-free community lifestyle that they afford, as well as the high level of recreational facilities on offer.
Rupert Finnemore who heads up Pam Golding Properties in Gauteng says that the province is home to approximately half of South Africa’s estates. “Estate homes do tend to be more expensive than freehold properties, but for various reasons there remains a substantial demand for them within the region and developers have worked to meet this demand, particularly over the last 20 years or so”.
“Estate properties not only provide a secure lifestyle, which remains of critical importance but also offer access to amenities and provide a strong sense of community,” adds Finnemore. “In addition, they also give residents greater control over community expenditure and development, and residential property within popular estates represents a solid investment.”
“The estate concept was, to a large degree, pioneered within the greater Fourways area where numerous estates of various kinds and sizes are found today and residential property within these areas is highly sought after, despite the slow national economy”.
“We note an ongoing demand for residential property in the region, as is evidenced by the strong performance of the Pam Golding Properties Fourways/Dainfern office during the first half of 2017″.
“The massive development that is currently underway within the Fourways area, including Accelerate’s approximately R30 million upgrade of the Fourways Mall and the development of Steyn City mixed-use development, is no doubt serving to stimulate local residential property markets,” notes Finnemore.
Kyle Ebben, manager of the Pam Golding Properties’ Fourways/Dainfern office agrees. “The large number of superb estates, some of which are now offering more affordable sectional title components, are also one of the region’s major draw cards and these play an important role in attracting individuals and families to the region,” he adds.
“The residential property market in the Fourways region is to a major extent driven by the demand among the relatively affluent for estate homes there. Fourways tends to lead estate trends in
Johannesburg and the market tends to follow”.
“Homes within the iconic Dainfern Golf Estate, as well as neighbouring Dainfern Valley, Dainfern Ridge and Helderfontein, by way of example, are highly prestigious addresses and homes there continue to be highly sought after”.
“These communities not only offer residents a leafy, outdoors Highveld lifestyle, they are also highly convenient and situated close by booming Fourways, with its excellent shopping and entertainment centres, as well as a number of Johannesburg’s most outstanding schools. It also provides easy access to Sandton, as well as the Lanseria airport”.
“In addition, the estates themselves are well administrated and many offer residents a wealth of recreational facilities and idyllic environs, where they can walk their dogs and their children are able to ride their bicycles.”
Pam Golding Properties Gold Club agent and area expert, Brenda Gilbert says that estates such as Dainfern Golf Estate, Dainfern Valley, Dainfern Ridge and Helderfontein Estate, offer investors a wide range of property options.
“Homes in these areas offer excellent value and good long-term capital appreciation,” she observes. “Prices range from around R4 million for a four-bedroom family home up to R28 million for a large luxury home. Vacant land is still available for development in the scenic Helderfontein Estate from R2.6 million for a 1000sqm stand.”
According to Gilbert, Dainfern Golf Estate was established in 1992 and today consists of some 1 200 homes situated on 320 hectares. “Dainfern offers residents an incomparable lifestyle, and is one of Johannesburg’s best known estates and most sought after residential addresses,” says Gilbert.
“The Estate is divided into charming villages and homes here are designed in a variety of architectural styles to accommodate a wide variety of tastes. The estate is centred on the world class Gary Player designed golf course and offers residents nature trails, parks and sports facilities”.
“The excellent schools available within the region is a major draw card and assist in making these areas popular among local and international investors alike. Indeed, residents from abroad often comment on the outstanding quality of education on offer within the area.”
Schools within close proximity include the American International School of Johannesburg, Reddam School, St Stithians College and Preparatory, Brescia House, Dainfern College, St Peters College and Preparatory, Crawford College and Preparatory, Unity College and Fourways High. The well-known Michael Mount Waldorf School is situated in nearby Bryanston.
“Office parks and company headquarters are also springing up across the region, including up Main Road towards Bryanston, but also within Fourways itself. This is serving to attract more executives and professionals to the region. In addition, a Gautrain station has been planned for Fourways, which, based on the experience of the Sandton and Rosebank stations, is only likely to further stimulate the growth of the entire region.”
Ebben says the homes in estates such as Dainfern are popular with multinational companies who seek to find rental accommodation for their foreign executives. Some astute investors have been able to take advantage of this, with certain quality homes in Dainfern Golf Estate achieving in excess of R100 000 in monthly rentals via this corporate rental market.
“The fact that Dainfern attracts families from around the world gives the community a distinctly international, cosmopolitan feel,” he notes. “This gives the entire community a vibrancy which residents find appealing”.
“The Fourways region is an exciting development node and a leading lifestyle location that offers something for everyone. Property buyers are able to secure solid long-term financial investments in addition to their lifestyle of choice,” concludes Ebben.
