Whether you want to see the sun set over the ocean from your stoep, or you’re an avid surfer, wine connoisseur, horse rider or golfer, Cape Town is the only metro where you can buy in the city, yet still enjoy a fabulous lifestyle practically on your doorstep.
According to agents from the Seeff Property Group, this is one of the reasons why people from across the country and globe flock to the property market. It is generally also in the top lifestyle suburbs, where you will find the highest prevalence of non-Capetonian buyers. Some of these include:
Sunsets from your stoep – Clifton, Bantry Bay and Fresnaye
Top of the list of where you can enjoy spectacular sunsets, is the Atlantic Seaboard. It is primarily the views and location that draws high net-worth buyers from across the country and globe to invest in the city according to Lance Cohen, luxury property specialist with Seeff Atlantic Seaboard. For a luxury house with spectacular views in Clifton, Bantry Bay and Fresnaye, you can expect to pay anywhere upwards of R18m-R180m.
Wine connoisseurs - uncork in Constantia and Durbanville
With top class wineries such as Groot Constantia, Klein Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Steenberg as your neighbours, Constantia offers fabulous vineyard walks, wine tastings and meals at your favourite winery whenever you feel like. On top of that, says Janine Stevenson, Priscilla Young and Liza Snijman, Seeff’s Upper Constantia team, you live among centuries-old Oak trees, have access to some of the best schools in the country and top amenities are on your doorstep. You can find houses in the suburb from around R8m-R69m for the stunning Mintaka Estate which comes with its own private vineyard, 25,000sqm of land (three title deeds, offering development potential), a magnificent homestead, guest cottages, staff housing and magnificent gardens.
The Durbanville Wine Route includes 12 wine cellars with popular wineries such as Durbanville Hills, D'Aria, Diemersdal, Meerendal, De Grendel and Nitida all close to the suburbs of Durbanville according to Fanie Marais, Seeff’s licensee for the area. The Tygerberg Mountain Bike Club also offers over 120 kms of trails to enjoy along with fabulous hiking and horse riding in the area. Many of the suburbs are elevated with stunning views and there is no shortage of top class schools and lifestyle facilities. Family houses sell for around R2.8m-R8m with a top price of R13m.
Nearby, you can even live right next door to De Grendel Winery in the upmarket Baronetcy Estate where luxury houses range from R7m-R30m, or in Burgundy Estate where you will find more affordable options from R2m-R3m for a house and R1m-R2m for flats and townhouses, says Johan Jacobs, licensee for Seeff Plattekloof.
Coffee lovers - head to the CBD, Green Point and Sea Point
Coffee shops galore is what you’ll find in the CBD, Green Point and Sea Point areas according to JP Ricketts, Warren Emett and Alan Screen from Seeff’s CBD office. Many offer Wi-Fi, so on top of grabbing a cuppa on the way to work, you can have meetings and even do work from them. Add to that, a fabulous cosmopolitan lifestyle and walkability with many amenities, entertainment, restaurants, night life and other conveniences on offer. There is also little traffic, so you have more time to enjoy your favourite coffee. Apartment prices in the CBD range from R1.5m-R3.5m on average. Green Point and Sea Point prices range from R2.5-R12.5m on average.
Celeb-spotters – camp out in Camps Bay or at the Waterfront
As the top holiday suburb in the country, the Camps Bay promenade is by far your best option to spot celebrities over the summer months according to Seeff’s Camps Bay agents. There are a number of hot spots, from Cafe Caprice and Ibiza Restaurant to the Bay Hotel beach club. The suburb offers a resort lifestyle and luxury properties, generally in the R10m-R30m price band ranging to a top price of R80m.
The Waterfront is the most visited tourist landmark in the country and the Marina and Silo developments offer waterside living at its best with most apartments overlooking the canals or ocean and with spectacular views. Top security and direct access to the five-star retail and restaurant facilities and the new offerings on the silo-side such as the MOCAA Zeitz Museum, Radisson RED and Silo hotels all add to the attraction. Apartment prices range from R11m for two-bed units at the Silos and R14m at the Waterfront Marina according to Lynn Pinn and Finella Botes, Seeff agents for Waterfront and Mouille Point.
Golfers - tee off in Tokai, Sunset Beach and Melkbosstrand
Steenberg Golf Estate in Tokai offers stunning views over the Constantia Valley, vineyard and mountain views along with an 18-hole championships golf course, clubhouse and top restaurants. It ranks as one of the top golf estates in the country with luxury homes in the R11m-R25m price range.
The Sunset Links Golf Estate in Sunset Beach, offers fabulous homes flanked by the 18-hole golf course and the ocean with stunning views all round. Luxury houses range from R6.5m-R20m. The Atlantic Beach Golf Estate in Melkbosstrand overlooks the ocean and offers an 18-hole golf course where the annual Presidential Golf Challenge charity event takes place in February each year, after the opening of parliament. Residents also have access to a leisure centre with tennis courts, a swimming pool and gymnasium and a driving range. Luxury houses range from R3.5m-R12m.
Horse lovers - home in on Hout Bay and Noordhoek
Hout Bay is popular for many reasons including its equestrian-friendly surrounds and facilities. Stoneybrook Equestrian Estate on Valley Road offers a high quality, secure lifestyle with eleven agricultural erven within a landscaped environment. House prices range from around R8m-R11m. Additional equestrian properties in the village range from around R9.9m for a 7800sqm estate to R14.5m for 8400sqm.
Lauren Zuidema, an intern agent with Seeff says that even if you do not live on an equestrian property you can enjoy the lifestyle as there is a riding centre in the heart of the village which offers a variety of activities and lessons for all ages and abilities along with the Glenellen Show Grounds (just off Valley Road) and the Whispering Pines Riding School.
Brigette Spaltmann and Roni Finlay of Seeff Noordhoek says that the Meadowsteads area is the popular horsey area. Ms Spaltman is on the Noordhoek Riding Club committee with her daughter, who runs the show jumping events (graded and ungraded) and also sits on the SASJ committee and is involved in all things horsey. She says that the area is ideal for horse lovers. Property prices tend to be around R7.7m for a 1 acre property recently sold. Crofters Valley on the opposite side across from the wetlands offers properties in the R6m-R12m range. A top end property with stabling, paddocks, a riding arena and tack and feed rooms, would generally range around R16.75m-R21m.
Surfers, life’s a beach in Blouberg and Muizenberg
As the oldest surfing beach, Muizenberg offers a rich surfing history and ranks as one of the top surfing spots attracting surfers from across the world. It has a vibrant café culture with many hangouts, including Knead Bakery and the sought-after Harbour Bay and Live Bait restaurants on the waterfront area. Apartment prices range from R1.5m and houses from R2.5m according to Bonita Lee, an agent with Seeff.
Blouberg is regarded as one of the best kite surfing spots in the world, attracting enthusiasts from across the globe with the annual Red Bull King of the Air world championship event a highlight in the area. The most affordable property options are in the Table View/Parklands area where you can find apartments and townhouses in the R800 000-R1.8m range and houses from R1.8m-R2.8m. on the sea side of the R27/Marine Drive though, you would need to pay around R1.8m-R3.8m for apartment sin West Beach and Big Bay and around R6m-R21m for a beachfront location. No matter where you reside though, Clinton Martle, Seeff licensee, says you are mere minutes from the beaches and can enjoy a fabulous seaside and outdoor lifestyle with top schools and facilities in the immediate vicinity.