PROPERTY NEWS - According to Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty, the Garden Route property market has demonstrated a steady upsurge in demand over the past year, strengthening to such an extent that there is now a dearth of available sale stock in many areas.
Steven Neufeld, manager principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Plettenberg Bay, says: “The first half of 2016 has been our best year to date for this period and, while there has been significant market growth across the board, the most notable increase has been in the demand for homes in gated estates and sectional title schemes.
“It’s also very encouraging to see that Plett’s surfeit of vacant land is selling well again as an increasing number of savvy investors are realising that plots here are very accessibly priced and that it’s still possible to buy land for considerably less than the developed cost.”
Buoyant trend-bucking market
Tim Kirby, principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in George and Wilderness, also reports a buoyant trend-bucking market that shows no sign of abating.
“We have been exceptionally busy in George and Wilderness during the past year, but the unrelenting demand is beginning to affect stock levels, which will be under severe pressure by year-end.
“Interestingly, the market vivacity hasn’t yet translated into a perceptible hike in property prices as it has in most towns near the coast in the Western Cape, so there is still excellent value to be found in and around George where investors can buy a lot of house for their money.”
The most active segment in George is the mid to upper market sector with the most popular properties being in the R1.8m to R2.8m price band, while Wilderness is currently experiencing a mixed demand for well-priced vacant stands and developed properties.
Stock shortage
Dwindling stock levels is also likely to be Knysna’s biggest challenge for the remainder of 2016, according local Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Broker Principal, Sheena Maré.
“Although the upswing we are currently enjoying has been phenomenal in terms of sales and economic growth for the area, we are beginning to see a shortage of available stock, especially in the entry-level and middle markets.
“This is not only an impediment to prospective sales, but is pushing up prices and in the past year alone, we have seen entry-level prices in the most sought-after areas jump by almost 60%.”
Maré adds that although the top end of the market is still the least active with a wide selection of property available, there has been a positive shift in this sector since the beginning of the year.
“Until recently, sales of more than R5m were rare and considered noteworthy, but buyers are now prepared to invest a lot more in Knysna and we have received a great deal of interest in our property listings in the R10m-plus price band.”
Record-breaking year
Hein Pretorius, broker principal for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International in Plettenberg Bay says: “With 483 property registrations already recorded between January and the end of July, 2016 looks poised to be a record-breaking year, with the previous high being in 2011 when 611 properties were registered.
“It’s a distinct possibility when one considers that almost 40% of the house and estate sales concluded during the past year occurred in the past three months between May and July, with 57 sales to a combined value of R121.21m (houses) and 47 transactions worth a total of R131.67m (estates) recorded respectively.”
Citing Lightstone data, Pretorius adds: “These figures also highlight the soaring demand for homes in secure estates, which make up around 21% of a property landscape still dominated at around 65% by freestanding houses.”
Buoyant trend-bucking market
Tim Kirby, principal of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty in George and Wilderness, also reports a buoyant trend-bucking market that shows no sign of abating.
“We have been exceptionally busy in George and Wilderness during the past year, but the unrelenting demand is beginning to affect stock levels, which will be under severe pressure by year-end.
“Interestingly, the market vivacity hasn’t yet translated into a perceptible hike in property prices as it has in most towns near the coast in the Western Cape, so there is still excellent value to be found in and around George where investors can buy a lot of house for their money.”
The most active segment in George is the mid to upper market sector with the most popular properties being in the R1.8m to R2.8m price band, while Wilderness is currently experiencing a mixed demand for well-priced vacant stands and developed properties.
Stock shortage
Dwindling stock levels is also likely to be Knysna’s biggest challenge for the remainder of 2016, according local Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Broker Principal, Sheena Maré.
“Although the upswing we are currently enjoying has been phenomenal in terms of sales and economic growth for the area, we are beginning to see a shortage of available stock, especially in the entry-level and middle markets.
“This is not only an impediment to prospective sales, but is pushing up prices and in the past year alone, we have seen entry-level prices in the most sought-after areas jump by almost 60%.”
Maré adds that although the top end of the market is still the least active with a wide selection of property available, there has been a positive shift in this sector since the beginning of the year.
“Until recently, sales of more than R5m were rare and considered noteworthy, but buyers are now prepared to invest a lot more in Knysna and we have received a great deal of interest in our property listings in the R10m-plus price band.”
Record-breaking year
Hein Pretorius, broker principal for Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International in Plettenberg Bay says: “With 483 property registrations already recorded between January and the end of July, 2016 looks poised to be a record-breaking year, with the previous high being in 2011 when 611 properties were registered.
“It’s a distinct possibility when one considers that almost 40% of the house and estate sales concluded during the past year occurred in the past three months between May and July, with 57 sales to a combined value of R121.21m (houses) and 47 transactions worth a total of R131.67m (estates) recorded respectively.”
Citing Lightstone data, Pretorius adds: “These figures also highlight the soaring demand for homes in secure estates, which make up around 21% of a property landscape still dominated at around 65% by freestanding houses.”
