Areas and Places

A good mix of property offered by Joburg’s western suburbs

On the market for R1,998million through Fine & Country West Rand is this four-bedroom family home, well located in a secure estate. The gourmet kitchen sits at the heart of the home while all the living areas have an uninterrupted flow.
On the market for R1,998million through Fine & Country West Rand is this four-bedroom family home, well located in a secure estate. The gourmet kitchen sits at the heart of the home while all the living areas have an uninterrupted flow.

The ‘new’ West Rand of Johannesburg, which stretches from Weltevredenpark to Pinehaven, offers a healthy mix of properties according to Francois du Pisani and Werner van Schalkwyk, new licensees of Fine & Country West Rand.

They say that the areas have something for just about everyone, from first-time buyers and upgraders to investors and downsizers, as the area caters to most of the market offering an array of townhouses, estate homes and residential homes.

According to Linda Erasmus, CEO of Fine & Country Sub-Sahara Africa, while Fine & Country focuses on the upper quartile of the market, clients are getting an add-on service when they sell in the middle market.  “This is typically an area sought after by the middle to upper class city dwellers,” she says.

“We’ve listed some very impressive starter homes consisting of two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a double garage for R750 000, which makes the area attractive with the bang you get for your buck. Our most active market segment is townhouses in the R900 000 – R1,25 million price bracket and for residential houses priced from R1,25 million – R1.75 million,” Du Pisani and van Schalkwyk note.

Erasmus says: “In today’s market property buyers are very conscious about ensuring they get value for money. These western Johannesburg suburbs offer just that, along with a host of amenities that add appeal for all buyers.”

Du Pisani and van Schalkwyk note that a trend standing out in the area currently is the migration patterns of its residents. “Sellers become buyers become sellers again, all in the same area. We’ve seen a number of our clients move in the same suburbs, or even within the same estate. The number of people who have moved less than 5km from their old to their new home is definitely an interesting trend we are seeing in the areas we service.”

In offering advice to buyers looking to purchase property in the area, the duo say that doing the necessary homework before starting the home searching process is crucial. “This means buyers need to have a clear idea of what they are looking for, and what their must-haves and nice-to-haves are. Also, if buyers are applying for a bond, they need to make sure that their credit record is clean and that they know exactly what the banks require from them in order to grant them a bond.”

They say that there is a healthy demand for the area. “There are constant upgrades being undertaken in the area in terms of crucial infrastructure and amenities. We have also noticed that financial institutions currently have a healthy appetite for investment in the area, which makes finance approval a little easier for potential buyers.”

Talking to sellers in their areas of operation, Du Pisani and van Schalkwyk say that they need to have a very clear idea as to why they are putting their property on the market. “It might sound simple, but no one should list their property without the intention of selling it.”

They also say that when sellers are looking for an estate agent to represent their property, which is arguably the biggest asset they own, they need to ensure that it is a reputable professional who offers the necessary track record and who will champion the sale on their behalf.

“You as a seller are literally giving your agent the front door key to your home, so make sure that you chose the best person and not just the cheapest option.”