The fact that this year Rawson Properties Kuilsriver franchise has been placed fifth and third in the groups quarterly Western Province franchises competition should, says Rawson MD, Tony Clarke, tell home hunters that Kuilsriver (and Eersteriver) now offer some of the very best value available in the province today.
Noelene Snyder, Rawson franchisee for this area, says that with eight agents in two offices, she is still selling 10 to 15 homes per month.
'This may sound a great many but it is down on the 20 or more homes that we sold each month last year,' said Snyder. 'The fact is, however, that low house prices have led to an influx of new residents from all over the Greater Cape Town area and we continue to be inundated with enquiries'
Just how low is a low house price in her view? Snyder says that in Kuilsriver the average home is priced at R750 000 and only a small number of homes in the area are priced above R1,5 million. In Eersteriver, she says, prices are possibly 15 to 20% lower, the average price in the Eersteriver area being ± R350 000
'In the last year we have seen prices drop R100 000 to R250 000 on almost every home. I cannot see them going any lower than this because Kuilsriver has over the years always held its values when others fell. Now, in my view, (and, I might add, that of most of our investors) is a good time to get in and buy'
Snyder said that, like her Chairman, Bill Rawson, she expects the housing market to be squarely back on its feet by June next year.
One of the promising signs, she said, is that rentals in the area are good '“ and are rising. The same two or three bedroom homes mentioned above that have sold for ±R750 000, said Snyder, can earn R3 500 '“ or more '“ when rented out, a sure sign that although credit is difficult to get the area is still attractive to many.
This fact, she said, has not gone unnoticed by investors who are returning to the area fast.
Another good sign, said Snyder, is that new developments in the area such as The River Walk and Sandhurst Estate, where her team handle the occasional resales, are still attracting buyers and not losing their value.
Snyder said that the Rawson group can take credit for providing what is quite possibly the most regular, ongoing training of any estate agency group in SA.
'Our team goes for training every Friday '“ and on other occasions. We recognise that this is the road to giving great service'
