Since 2011, approximately 290 adults (close to 200 families) have moved to Durban’s North Coast each month, according to Rainmaker Marketing’s second edition of its North Coast Property Market Report, with Salt Rock having witnessed a 208% increase in its adult residents.
However, the deeper story lies in the profile of those relocating says Stefan Botha, Director of Rainmaker Marketing. “It’s a combination of young professionals, families, empty nesters, active retirees and first-time homebuyers. What they all have in common is a desire for security, access to top-tier schools, lifestyle value, and community-centric living.”
These demographic shifts are echoed in the financial data with Salt Rock’s household income having increased by more than 600% since 2011, and 70% of homes in the suburb now classified in the ‘wealthy’ or ‘super-wealthy’ categories. “The key takeaway here isn’t just based on the influx of people moving to this region but rather about a higher calibre of buyer driving deeper demand for quality estates and amenities,” he says.
57% of stock in Salt Rock is located within estates with those contributing to the statistics including Seaton Estate, Elaleni Coastal Forest Estate, Zululami Coastal Luxury Estate alongside established estates such as Simbithi Eco-Estate and Brettenwood Coastal Estate.
Ballito remains a consistently high-performing node with developments such as Ballito Hills, Zimbali Lakes Resort and Zimbali Estate maintaining strong appeal. KwaDukuza NU is also gaining traction among first-time buyers and professionals looking for long-term value and lifestyle quality, as seen in the popularity of estates like Ballito Village, Bliss Ballito, Lalela Estate, Springvale Country Estate and Palm Lakes Family Estate.
The report interestingly notes that estate living continues to command a premium with sectional title properties located in estates having significantly outperformed those outside of estates – exceeding them by 64% in Ballito, 62% in Salt Rock, and 38% in in KwaDukuza NU.
While the period between 2021 and 2022 delivered the strongest overall sales results, more recent data points to Salt Rock as the standout performer. Over the past year alone, the area accounted for 47% of all property sales in the region with transactions rising from 552 in 2023/2024 to 665 in 2024/2025, largely driven by sales in Zululami Estate, Simbithi Eco-Estate and Seaton Estate.
Looking ahead, the North Coast’s growth trajectory is being supported by multiple long-term drivers including major infrastructure upgrades such as the Seaton Interchange and destination developments like South Africa’s first Club Med.
In addition to this, the emergence of privately managed precincts and community-driven estate developments such as the recent success of Salt Rock City, which reached 75% sold status on launch day, reflects an ongoing demand for premium coastal living and signals growing investor confidence in the area’s future, further cementing the North Coast’s reputation for high-quality, future-forward living.
