The Garden Route is famed for being one of South Africa’s most beautiful regions, with sparkling coasts, lush, forested mountains, and the second mildest climate in the world (after Hawaii). It’s about as close to paradise as you can get, so it’s no wonder that tourism flourishes in the area, but holidaymakers are far from the only people flocking to this verdant part of the world.
Stephen Lubbe, the Rawson Property Group’s George franchisee. “It is a popular holiday destination, but it’s also much more than that – we are the commercial and administrative centre of the Garden Route.”
Lubbe describes the town’s infrastructure as extremely sophisticated, with banks, conference facilities, hospitals, big businesses, top quality schools, major shopping chains, and transport facilities, as well as sports grounds, restaurants and plenty of entertainment. “We’re lucky in that we have these world-class facilities, supported by a well-run municipality, and yet the town still retains its country atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. Add the low crime rate, outdoor lifestyle and easy access to the rest of the country from our airport, and it’s easy to see why more and more people are relocating to George lately,” he says.
The comparatively affordable property may also have something to do with the influx of new residents in George. According to Lubbe, 56% of sales in 2014 were under R1 million, and 21% were between R1 million and R1.5 million.“Popular suburbs like Denneoord, Blanco, George East and George South all have property under R1 million,” he says, “while Denver Park, Heather Park and Loerie Park tend to have great options in the R1 million to R1.5 million bracket.”
George may be the business hub of the Garden Route, but it’s the nearby town of Knysna, a short drive to the east, that is touted as 'the Jewel of The Garden Route'. “We have a very protected position here, surrounded by mountains,” says Peter Southey, the Rawson Property Group’s Knysna franchisee. “It keeps us sheltered from the wind that a lot of seaside towns struggle with, which makes us a favourite coastal spot.”
Southey freely admits that tourism is the lifeblood of Knysna – far more so than George – as clearly evidenced by the regular festivals and activities held throughout the year. “During the holiday season, the number of people in town literally doubles,” he says, “but there are plenty of permanent residents as well.”
Despite their differences, Southey has noticed a similar trend occurring in Knysna to that of George, with increasing numbers of new permanent residents arriving in town. “We’ve always been a popular retirement destination, but we’re also seeing a lot of commuter families moving in recently. The breadwinners work in George or even Johannesburg, while their families take advantage of the safety, schools and idyllic lifestyle we have here,” he explains.
The new residents seem to be injecting renewed vigour into the property market in Knysna as well, and Southey reports signs of growth for the first time in a long while. “We are still in a buyer’s market,” he says, “and there is plenty of stock, although unrealistic listing prices are still a bit of an issue. Sellers really need to be aware of the dangers of overestimating the value of their properties, as an overpriced house will almost always sell for less than it’s actual worth after sitting on the market for a long time.”
The majority of sales in Knysna’s estates – popular with people used to the crime of bigger cities – have been in the over R3 million range (closely followed by the R1.5 million to R3 million range) for the last year. Freehold properties, on the other hand, thrived in the R800 000 to R1.5 million range, with a healthy number of sales from R1.5 million to R3 million as well. “You can still occasionally pick up houses in the centre of town for as little as R750 000,” says Southey, “but we do have a shortage of stock in popular areas like Thesen and Leisure Islands.
While Southey and Lubbe both predict growth in the market to be limited by the economy for the next while, and expect inflation-related appreciation for most properties during this period, all signs point towards a positive turn for the Garden Route as a whole. Whether it’s the increasing trend of families seeking a quieter, cleaner lifestyle away from the big cities, or simply the fact that the world is catching on to the delights of Garden Route living, the region has certainly become the focus of attention for a wider market than ever before.
For more information contact Rawson Property Group George franchise on 044 884 1390
