Rare Hermanus beach house on the market for first time in 35 years
One of the best beach properties on the border of Vermont and Onrus in Hermanus is on the market for the first time in 35 years. It is priced at R7,95 million and Seeff is appointed as the sole mandated agent.
The big draw-card is that it is a corner plot with unobstructed sea views as far as the eye can see. Expect to regularly see whales and dolphins frolicking practically on your front porch says Irma Herbst, Seeff agent who is marketing the property.
The property was bought 35 years ago by award-winning director and filmmaker, Katinka Heyns (and her late husband, equally famous writer, Chris Barnard). It served as the family's holiday home and following the passing of her husband, she has decided to scale down.
Although the location is prime, the property enjoys excellent privacy and is not exposed to any noise disturbance associated with holidaymakers.
It is close to the Jan Rabie Tidal Pool. A walkway stretches in front of the property for kilometres with access to the tidal pools, the Brekfis Bay beach and nature reserve. The Onrus beach and lagoon is also just a short walk away.
The house itself is characterful. It is fabulous for entertaining, whether in the living room with its hearth-styled stone fireplace, on the front patio or the courtyard, both with braai facilities. The roof terrace offers the ideal spot to see ships passing by or to experience a spectacular sunset or moonrise or to socialise with friends under the stars.
The historic home is filled with memorabilia and reflections of the wonderful life of Katinka Heyns and her late husband. The home has thick walls not seen in modern buildings. There is plenty of space and living areas along with four bedrooms. The indigenous garden is a birding paradise.
Ms Herbst says this is a rare opportunity to acquire a prime seafront property as these types of properties do not often come onto the market and the possibilities are endless. Although ideal for holiday or retirement it would be a fabulous residential home. It could also serve as a guest house or Airbnb property and offers the possibility to renovate and rebuild as many people do these days, she says.
Hermanus is regarded as one of the best land-based Whale watching destinations in the world and is a tourist hub for a variety of water-based activities as well as the growing Hemel en Aarde wine valley. It attracts buyers and investors from all over the country. Many own holiday houses here, but an increasing number of people are settling and retiring here, says the agent. It is also an attractive destination for foreign buyers and holiday makers who love the location and Whale watching.
It is popular for holiday houses and many South African business owners and entrepreneurs own property here. It is also associated with many well-known South Africans, from Katinka and Chris Barnard to Uys Krige, Marjorie Wallace and Gregoire Boonzaaier.
The Vermont/Onrus area offers a fabulous coastal lifestyle along with green belts with endemic fynbos and prolific bird life. There are restaurants aplenty both here and in Hermanus where you will also find a regional mall with cinemas, most of SA's top retail brands and other amenities such as top schools, hospitals and healthcare, a golf course and more.
Hermanus is now regarded as one of the country's prime coastal towns for capital value growth and luxury homes. This is well illustrated by the excellent capital value growth which topped the national averages during the recent property market upswing of the 2013-2017 period, but also by business executives and entrepreneurs investing in property here.
Contact Seeff Hermanus, Irma Herbst on 0824508352 or visit www.seeff.com (web ref. 3638139).
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On the market for the first time in 35 years, rare opportunity to acquire a beach front property in Hermanus - Katinka Heyns' property on the market for R7,95m
https://www.seeff.com/results/
16 Oct 2019
Author Gina Meintjes