As the appeal of the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast increases exponentially, home buyers – including those from Gauteng - seeking to make this scenic and thriving region their home are edging further northwards, particularly with new schools and commercial developments in the pipeline for these areas, says Farrah Williamson, Pam Golding Properties area principal for the region stretching from Blue Flag Westbrook Beach to Zimbali and Ballito and right through to Zinkwazi.
“Accessed via the N2 freeway, with Tinley Manor about 40 minutes from Durban and Zinkwazi a further 10 minutes, the market along this North Coast region remains buoyant and flourishing with a broad variety of appealing residential property opportunities, including numerous burgeoning estate developments.
“As a primary residential destination, coastal hamlets such as Shaka’s Rock, Salt Rock, Sheffield, Tinley Manor, Blythedale, Prince’s Grant and Zinkwazi are no longer perceived as being ‘too far up the coast’, particularly since the rapid uptake of the ‘work from home’ trend. On the contrary, these areas are extremely attractive to a broad cross-section of home purchasers from various provinces including Gauteng, comprising not only permanent and existing home buyers but also those looking to acquire a holiday home, retirees and pure investors.
“During the tough times experienced as a result of Covid-19 and especially during the hard lockdown, many people have been compelled to slow down, and have taken a good look at their lives and reassessed how they want to live going forward – and quality of life is the key. They are looking for a more balanced life and affordability in an appealing environment, and the KZN North Coast ticks all the boxes, resulting in not only local home buyers but many others semigrating from Gauteng and other provinces.”
Coupled with this, according to the latest Lightstone data, growth in coastal house price inflation has been outperforming non-coastal since Q2 2014, demonstrating sound return on investment. From January to October 2020 (most recent data), coastal house price inflation averaged 3.15% compared to 2.59% for non-coastal.
As Pam Golding Properties Zimbali area specialists Sascha Bausch and Marcelle Conradie say, with increasing demand for primary residence-intended property, Zimbali is often the estate of choice for buyers looking to settle on the Dolphin Coast - a continued trend which has evolved over the years and promoted a family-oriented lifestyle environment. “The age profile of new buyers investing in Zimbali constantly changes as younger families with growing children are making this their new home. In 2019 this saw a significant trend with 62% of buyers being under the age of 49 years, a number which increased to 77% in 2020,” they say.
Home buyers are impressed by Zimbali’s commitment to providing world class facilities for all residents, which includes aquatic, tennis, squash and indoor fitness and sport infrastructure. More recently, refurbishments and extensions at the Valley of the Pools and its restaurant, designated walking and mountain bike trails, upgrades to the Bushbuck Club and Pool incorporating a new state-of-the-art putt putt course and improved children’s playground bear further testament to this. In addition, a new floodlit, multi-purpose astro-turf sports field is about to be unveiled while Zimbali will embark on a major refurbishment of its Country Club during the course of this year (2021).
Says Williamson: “Becoming increasingly more popular, offering a quality lifestyle and importantly, security, estates along this coastline are holding their ground in terms of sales and pricing due to the ongoing demand. In regard to pricing, developers who are building spec homes are building with the price range of about R5.5 million to R6 million in mind for freehold homes, as this is where the demand is and where buyers are comfortable to invest in a home of about 250-280sqm in size. In Zululami, a residential development in Sheffield, you can acquire a brand new, plot and plan, freehold home for about R5.56 million with no transfer duty payable.
“However, generally speaking, as a first-time buyer or retiree looking to get into a secure lifestyle estate, you can purchase a home at around R1.8 million, with access to all the excellent facilities the estates offer, which is exceptional value for money. If you prefer to buy land to build your own home, you are looking at a minimum spend – including construction of the home – of R3.5 million to R4 million. At the top end of the market recent sales range up to residential properties fetching close to R20 million.
“In the Ballito market alone, there is huge growth and several new residential developments on offer along the coast in Sheffield, such as Seaton, Zululami and Elaleni, all top-quality estates with great value for money pricing. The attraction here is investment opportunities, private beach access, security and an appealing, more carefree lifestyle.”
Williamson says the composition of buyers in estates varies in different estate developments – Zimbali still draws predominantly Johannesburg-based buyers while purchasers in Simbithi and Brettenwood are mainly from KZN and surrounds, or those from within the estate downsizing or previously renting. “Buyers in Lazuli, an off-plan development in Port Zimbali which includes retirement homes, are mainly from KZN and surrounds. Overall, most of our estate sales are for permanent living, with the balance for investment or leisure use – especially those on the beachfront or one road across from the beach.
“Buyers in estates place great importance on the facilities offered such as swimming pool, gym, trails, clubhouses, community centres and the like. For example, on the Sheffield coastline Zululami offers direct beach access, a wetland clubhouse, forest pavilion, fitness park, amphitheatre, children’s park, eco-designed swimming pool and nature trails, while Seaton also has direct beach access, as well as equestrian facilities, Seaton Manor clubhouse, running and cycling trails and access to a private school.
“Zululami comprises a mix of sectional title two and three-bedroom apartments priced from R2.35 million and freehold stands from R1.44 million, with freehold homes selling from R5.56 million while Seaton – The Club, has freehold stands from R2 million.”
Williamson says in Westbrook Beach Estate plots can be had from R995 000, with sectional title units from R1.695 million and freehold homes from R6.95 million. In Zimbali, land is priced from R2.2 million, sectional title from R4.5 million and freehold from R7.5 million, while in Port Zimbali, situated on the north western boundary of Zimbali Coastal Resort, land is priced from R1.65 million and freehold from R4.5 million to R10 million. Alongside the resort and overlooking the golf course, Hilltop Private Estate offers land from R2.75 million, sectional title from R2.8 million and freehold between R5 million and R10 million.
In Seaward Estate in Ballito prices range from plots at R1.2 million, sectional title from R2.2 million to R3.2 million and freehold from R2.5 million to R6 million; in Simbithi Eco-Estate land can be acquired from R2.1 million to R7.2 million, sectional title from R3 million to R8 million and freehold from R6.35 million to R35 million. In Umhlali Golf Estate sectional title is priced from R2.85 million and freehold from R5.5 million to R6.2 million; in Ballito Gardens freehold can be purchased from R4.25 million; while in Dunkirk Estate sectional title is priced between R3 million and R5.2 million and freehold from R4 million to R12.5 million.
In Brettenwood, also in Ballito, plots sell from R1.8 million, sectional title from R2.65 million and freehold from R5.595 million; in Elaleni land sells from R2 million to R4.5 million, sectional title from R3 million to R3.5 million and freehold from R6.245 million; while in Birdhaven land is priced from R1.56 million.
