According to Cathy Baker, co-franchisee for the Rawson Property Group’s franchise in Simon’s Town, residential property in this area is in short supply as sellers still believe that winter is not the right time to sell. From her experience, the opposite is true as the buyers looking for property in winter are, in most instances, far more serious. Demand for properties remains strong which will lead to price increases similar to those that the Southern Suburbs are seeing.
Two homes currently on the market, said Glenn Brown, a Rawson agent based at Simon’s Town, illustrates well the sort of value obtainable here. Both are large and modern and both have panoramic views of False Bay. Further up the Cape Peninsula suburban railway line or on the Atlantic Seaboard, such homes would command prices at least 50% higher than those being asked. The price range in Simon’s Town, she said, is R2 million to R10 million, with the bulk of the demand focused on houses around R2,5 million.
The first house recommended by Baker and Brown is in Murdock Valley, just south of the centre of Simon’s Town. It is in a gated estate, the exclusive Fynbos Ridge Estate, and it is therefore exceptionally secure.
Designed to have a modern Cape vernacular style, the home has two levels, one a basement garage capable of taking three vehicles or one vehicle, a caravan and a boat. The other level has three bedrooms, the main being en-suite, and a spacious open-plan hall, living and dining area which leads onto a long front verandah. This is said to be ideal for alfresco meals and is capable of accommodating 60 or more guests standing for entertainment functions. The views from here take in the whole of False Bay. The kitchen in this home has been custom designed to the owner’s specifications and, said Brown, is equipped for the preparation of gourmet meals.
The list price of this property is R3,995,000.
The second home to which Baker and Brown wish to draw attention is priced at R5,950,000 and is in Victory Way, Simonskloof. It is one of the fortunate few that occupy the highest level above the town on which building has been permitted. Its position gives pleasing views of the harbour and the whole of False Bay.
Architect designed and less than ten years old, this home was built by a UK couple who regularly spend summer here but who are now planning to build a smaller home.
This home is indeed large: it is on three levels and has nearly 400 m2 of floor space. Four bedrooms, all en-suite, connect with a second floor living, dining and kitchen area now being upgraded with Caesarstone countertops and other luxurious finishes. Each floor has its own balcony, parts of which are often enclosed in full length glazing. The communal areas are ceramic tiled, while those in the bedrooms have deep pile carpets.
“Decorated in a striking pale yellow and white colour scheme, this home must by any standards rank in the top 5% of all those ever built in Simon’s Town,” said Baker.
Asked if she sees prices beginning to shift upwards in Simon’s Town as they have done so noticeably in Fish Hoek (where, as mentioned, this franchise also operates), Baker said that it will probably take another few months for the market to start moving. Two factors, however, she said, already indicate that demand will improve. The first is that the number of UK and European ‘swallows’ (people spending their summers in Simon’s Town) rose noticeably last summer and is expected to rise again in the coming holiday season. This, said Baker, will almost certainly lead to improved sales, the area being particularly popular with the British.
The second factor beginning to make itself felt in the market, said Baker, is that Simon’s Town residents these days increasingly work from home and commute to Cape Town as and when it suits them and this is no longer seen as an irksome exercise as it can often be done out of peak hours by road or by rail.
