The Rawson Property Group’s franchisee for Cape Agulhas, Marthie Jones, who has worked in the area for 16 years, says that the number of enquiries coming to her office has trebled this year and the sales since March have equaled her entire turnover for 2013. She is now confident, she says, that sales in the coming year will double, but, she reminds property hunters, this is not ground breaking news because the towns in this area are quiet, with low populations and have never really experienced a property boom. However, she does believe that the ‘drought’ in Cape Agulhas properties is now coming to an end and the second, holiday home market will come to be seen as a ‘good place to be’.
Jones, alter the fact that right now homes and stands throughout the district ‘are almost ludicrously low priced’ in relation to those in the more active and more densely populated areas closer to the big cities.
The area covered by this franchise includes Struisbaai, where Jones and her two agents have their offices, Bredasdorp, Napier, Cape Agulhas, Suiderstrand and Arniston. Traditionally, says Jones, the area has always attracted those looking for a country atmosphere and a quieter life in a low crime environment. It also attracts those keen on fishing, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching and other outdoor pursuits. Most importantly, however, the area is particularly suitable for those looking for an affordably priced home which will enable them to downscale or purchase a second home.
In the always fashionable small fishing village of Arniston, now very much ‘in’ with Capetonians, properties can be valued at up to R10 million – however, she reminds us, Arniston is in a class by itself and the prices here are in no way representative of the area in general.
In Bredasdorp, by way of contrast, it is still possible to buy a two or three bedroom home for under or close to R1 million and this sector of the market has been by far the most active, particularly this year. An attractive four bedroom home listed by this Rawson franchise at the moment is priced at R1,180,000. At R3 million the franchise is able to offer a very substantial five bedroom home on 1,377 m2.
Particularly attractive to certain buyers, says Jones, are the opportunities now available at the Blue Bay Nature Reserve, where a three bedroom home in a Cape Vernacular style can be bought for R1,720,000.
In Napier, says Jones, it is particularly hard to get stock. With less than 2,000 inhabitants, it still attracts those looking for the ultimate in a peaceful weekend getaway pad. On the stock list here Jones has one particularly attractive three bedroom, two bathroom cottage on a 1,210 m2 plot priced at R895,000.
Plot prices throughout the area still remain very low: at Struisbaai they can be had for R160,000 while the lowest priced home there is priced at R675,000.
These low prices, Jones predicts, will not be sustained for more than a year or two – her message, therefore, is “buy this year – or you will pay significantly higher later on”.
Jones’ office is in Struisbaai and she can be contacted on (028) 435 6500 or by email at capeagulhas@rawsonproperties.com.
