Four Benefits of Estate Living

The estate living trend is one that is not leaving the property market any time soon – with new developments such as Westbrook in Port Elizabeth, and existing estates expanding in popularity like Waterfall Country Estate in Gauteng, the gated community lifestyle is a popular choice.

PREMIER goes through four of the main reasons why estate living is gaining momentum: Safe as Houses

Security is one of the main selling points when it comes to estates – alarms, security gates, and 24-hour on-site security patrols can assist in peace of mind for home owners. At one of the newest estates in Port Elizabeth, Westbrook, residents are protected by perimeter high security fencing, gatehouses (guarded and equipped with CCTV), boundary walls with electric fencing, and 24-hour security guards running patrols inside and around the perimeter. Each home is also installed with new, high-tech alarm and security systems.

Investment Opportunity

Due to all the benefits of estate living, the property value tends to be higher than for traditional freestanding homes. A good example of this is the Welgevonden

Estate in Stellenbosch. Their selling prices have reached a record high of 14.9% yearon-year increase. This is due to an influx of buyers from Gauteng and Kwazulu-natal looking for security and a good investment purchase in the winelands. This means that buying a home in an estate might cost a bit more, but that it is a sound investment for when you decide to sell it one day or just want to have a high-value asset.

Complete Convenience

Many large estates have sports and recreational facilities on the premises. Residents of Erinvale in Somerset West in the Western Cape have access to a golf course, polo, croquet, and a lawn bowls club.

Other estates boast with Olympic-sized swimming pools, tennis courts, as well as fully equipped gyms. Some estates, depending on the location, may even have hiking trails or mountain biking trails – this is popular, especially within estates in more country-style settings such as the Winelands in the Western Cape. Having facilities such as the ones mentioned in close proximity to your home is certainly a benefit – no need to get in your car and drive to the gym, or pay extra membership fees as your levies at an estate tend to not only cover administrative fees, but also the upkeep of all the facilities on-site.

There are also estates that have incorporated shops, restaurants, and schools within their borders for added convenience. Once example in Gauteng is Waterfall Country Estate, where residents have access to private, international preprimary, primary, and secondary schools, as well as shopping centres within the estate. In the Western Cape, De Zicht Estate will be adding a restaurant and lifestyle centre to the community.

Taking Nature into Account

Many estate developments give importance to natural elements, such as green spaces and other outdoor areas. This is perfect for walking your dogs, playing with your children, and having picnics with your friends. Living in the estate, you have the freedom of using these spaces and enjoying being outside in nature while feeling safe and secured. One example is Westbrook in Port Elizabeth. The 128-hectare piece of land boasts 48 hectares of open space to maintain the feel of a peaceful, country setting with parks, wide pavements, and green spaces.

Estate developments do not seem to be slowing down as more and more people are climbing on the estate living bandwagon. With all the benefits associated with living in a gated community, it is easy to understand why so many people are packing up their traditional living arrangement and choosing to live in an estate.

Due to all the benefits of estate living, the property value tends to be higher than for traditional freestanding homes.