There are, says Eugene Pienaar, Rawson Properties Constantia franchisee, several signs of a spring/summer pickup taking place in the Constantia and its related residential property market: attendance at show houses has increased significantly since June of this year, hits on this franchises website are 40% up; and the Rawson franchise is notching up six sales per month.
'Generally,' says Pienaar, 'it has been a very busy year'
Gerald Romanovsky, Rawson Constantias senior agent, says that just recently the team pulled off a big sale, worth over R15 million and are on track for further sales of this magnitude.
'This sale,' he said, 'was especially significant because this year there have been only four sales above R15 million in the Constantia Valley'
Does this mean that prices could now rise?
That, says Romanovsky, would be a wrong conclusion.
'What we can say is that asking prices have remained fairly steady in recent months '“ but in the same breath we have to point out that on average achieved sales prices have been 16% below asking prices. This is more than satisfactory in the current SA market but it should be telling those many sellers still not facing market truths that they will find themselves stuck with an unsold home if they do not change their ideas soon'
This advice, he adds, could be particularly pertinent to the fairly large proportion of Constantia residents who are approaching or are in retirement.
'In scaling down to smaller homes, they will have to accept that they can no longer get 2007 prices for their existing homes and with the two (upmarket) Constantia retirement villages now having long waiting lists, it is probable that they will have to move out of the valley to find a smaller home at the right price'
Three of the more interesting homes on offer from Rawson Constantia are:
a three bedroom three bathroom, four reception areas, single level home with garaging for three vehicles. This home has two adjoining cottages, one with a bedroom en suite and one with two bedrooms, also en suite. A pool serves all three homes. The price for this property is R14 995 000.
a luxury two level Georgian residence in the ultra-secure, magnificently maintained Silverhurst residential estate.
The erf here measures 4 386m² which, says Romanovsky, is very large by security estate norms '“ and it has allowed the architect space to create a luxury guest wing which could in fact accommodate a second family. The home faces north and onto its own pool.
The R20 million price here, he says, reflects the exceptionally high standard of the finishes (solid wood floors, granite tops and some high tech finishes) as well as Silverhursts high ranking among SAs security villages.
a more conventional but competitively priced three bedroom home in Nirvana Way. This home has an all-wood fitted kitchen, an especially comfortable living room with a fireplace, an avant garde bathroom with a semi-circular bath for two and a small outdoor patio ideal for alfresco meals or entertaining. It has a pool and has a semi-independent cottage.
The list price is R5 million.
Pienaar drew attention to a statement by Rawson MD, Tony Clarke, to the effect that anyone buying now must take the long term view.
'By 2015, when the worlds present economic problems should be receding, Constantias inherent, obvious quality will have multiplied the value here out of all recognition. Homes here are still as good a buy as is available anywhere in SA'
For further information contact Gerald Romanovsky on 083 658 0140 or email gerald.romanovsky@rawson.co.za.
