Suburbs in Johannesburg where top schools are located perform better, says Seeff
One of the most important factors that parents of school-going children have to take into consideration before buying property is its proximity to popular educational institutions offering balances in terms of academics, sport and culture. In past years is has become evident that suburbs in which top schools are located in perform much better than suburbs where these schools can't be as easily accessed. This is clearly illustrated in some areas where properties close to top schools are priced up to 40% higher than in neighbouring suburbs. Purchasing property close to sought after schools in Johannesburg would therefore be a good investment, whether you are a parent or an investor. David Ingle, Managing Director of Seeff Bedfordview and Edenvale says this area has many top schools including the Holy Rosary School, St Benedicts College, St Andrews School for Girls, Saheti, Jeppe High School for Girls and Jeppe High School for Boys. "All of the suburbs in which these schools are located in are close to Eastgate Shopping Centre, Greenstone Mall and Bedford Centre as well as exceptional medical facilities like Linksfield Hospital and Bedford Gardens Clinic. They are also surrounded by highways that provide easy access to the airport and the CBD's of both Johannesburg and Sandton". Ingle continues that property values close to these schools are significantly higher than in other suburbs. "In Elma Park where Holy Rosary is situated, prices are 30% to 40% higher than in the adjacent Edenvale Avenues. St Andrews is situated in the leafy suburb of Senderwood where prices are 15% to 20% higher than across the road in the St Andrews suburb. St Benedicts is situated in the heart of Bedfordview, comfortably offering the highest prices for a property area in comparison to the rest of the North Eastern Suburbs". Ingle concludes that although both Jeppe Boys and Jeppe Girls have active past pupil networks with proud heritage and traditions and are fairly well funded model C schools, they are located in the more reasonably priced suburb of Kensington and battle to attract the calibre of paying learner that the private schools enjoy. Randburg equally has very popular schools, says Tony Ketcher - Managing Director for Seeff Randburg. "Afrikaans schools in the Randburg area like Linden High and Louw Geldenhuys Primary school are especially popular and we experience a strong demand for properties in close proximity to them. Then there is also Fontainebeau Primary, Fairlands Primary and Randburg High. These schools are all situated within the "inner ring road" of Johannesburg and therefore do not have the traffic congestion that one experiences when coming into Randburg from outlying suburbs. The schools all have very good sporting facilities and are close to shopping centres and a variety of community activity centres. Sandton is not only home to many top schools, but also to several exclusive foreign schools to cater for the large expat community who resides in the area, says Charles Vining, Managing Director in Sandton. "The international schools are the British International School in Bryanston, The American International School just outside of Fourways, the Deutsche Internationale Schule near Westcliff and the French School in Morningside. Top local private schools include St. Mary's School for Girls situated in Waverley, Roedean School for Girls situated in Houghton, St. John's College (for Boys), situated in Houghton, Co-Ed School St. Stithians in Bryanston and Co-Ed School Crawford College which have campuses in Benmore and in Lonehill. Close proximity to the school, sporting and cultural events and avoiding long hours in peak hour traffic results in property prices in the vicinity holding well. These suburbs are in high demand and sellers are able to get good prices for their properties. Security in the suburbs where these schools are located is often carefully considered by the residents and business owners in the suburbs. Good general security, vigilant community block-watch organisations and a cooperative spirit benefit the school-going children and the residents at large. Vining concludes that there is also a significant rental market in the areas near these International Schools and in particularly corporate rentals. "Corporate rentals do tend to be high, but not simply because they are corporate. Generally a large home is required as the entire family is residing there and often this home is sought in a suburb where prices are at a premium and the tenants have high security requirements".
