Anyone sceptical about Cape Town residential propertys ability to continue to increase in value well ahead of the inflation rate should take a look at the sales figure for February, says Bill Rawson, Chairman of Rawson Properties.
'The latest Residential Property Price Ranger figures, coupled to those from my own group,' said Rawson, 'show that February turn-over and average sales values were the highest ever. They beat the figures of March 2006 which were inflated by many buyers delaying transfer to get the benefit of transfer duty reductions'
February sales are up year-on-year by 19,6%, giving a total sales figure for the greater Cape Town area of around R1,944 billion.
Equally impressive, says Rawson, is the fact that the average sales price in the greater Cape Town area is now R1,58 million, which is almost double the national average, now hovering around the R820 000 mark.
These figures, added Rawson, are likely to be further improved in March which is on-track for being an all-time record month for Cape residential property.
Rawson added that although the City Council is bound to be flooded with objections to their latest valuations, his experience thus far has been that most valuations have been fairly accurate '“ and the increased values are being confirmed by the latest improved sales figures.
In the last month, said Rawson, it has been interesting to note that once again it has been the less affluent areas that have witnessed the greatest sales activity. The exception is Constantiaberg in which some 50% more sales were achieved year-on-year.
February sales in Oostenberg and the South-East suburbs, particularly Mitchells Plain, Parow and Goodwood, were 40%-50% up on those of January. Many of the West Coast villages, particularly Melkbosstrand, Yzerfontein and Langebaan are proving 'surprisingly popular'. Boland sales have also been good '“ and values here rose 67% year-on-year.
'The picture that emerges,' said Rawson, 'is one of continuing demand '“ and I, for one, do not see this easing of because it now seems that we can in 2008 look forward to lower interest rates and a massive ongoing state investment in the infrastructure, both of which will help to raise average earnings'
