Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
It’s the leafy suburb with a little bit of something for everyone
Newlands offers more than just typical luxury family homes
NEWLANDS is home to the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Gardens as well as Newlands cricket and rugby stadiums, and this lush green neighbourhood has the unusual ability to be tranquil, trendy, and vibrant at the same time, according to Gareth Edwards, the Rawson Property Group’s Constantia sales agent who is also active in Newlands.
“Newlands has quite a few different personalities. Each neighbourhood in the suburb has its own atmosphere, from Newlands Village, with its compact convenience and swathe of trendy restaurants, to Hiddingh’s family-friendly houses and parks, and Upper Fern- wood’s contemporary mountainside homes. There’s something to suit almost everyone in Newlands – and it shows in the variety of residents here.”
Edwards says that about half of Newlands residents are long- term owners who have lived in the suburb for more than 11 years, and 70 percent of them are 50 and older, often having raised their children in the area.
“It’s definitely a familyfriendly suburb,” he says. “Its popularity is heavily education-influenced, and some of the best schools in Cape Town are either in the area, or very nearby. This factor may well be the driving force behind younger residents moving in, and 50 percent of recent buyers have been in under 49.
“Another major benefit of living in Newlands is its central location. It’s close to all major access roads, and bypasses a lot of the traffic that other southern suburbs residents face in rush hours. Driving to the CBD can take less than 10 minutes when the roads are clear, which makes it ideal for anyone working in the city who wants to live in a greener, quieter part of Cape Town.”
With an average household income of R65 000 to R75 000 a month, Newlands homes might not come cheap, but there are a variety of price points across the suburb’s neighbourhoods.
The most affordable homes can be found in Newlands Village, with erven ranging in size from 200m to 500m2 and priced from R4 million to 10m. The village is the most densely populated part of Newlands, and it’s the only area with any significant number of apartments on offer. Edwards says the atmosphere is young and trendy.
Hiddingh, on the other hand, is a quieter, more familycentred part of Newlands, with only two access roads making it a particularly tranquil and secure place to live.
“Hiddingh is a very highdemand area,” says Edwards. “Plots are bigger than in the village – around 700m – and there are some lovely parks and river walks that are a favourite for kids and pets. Prices in Hiddingh range from R5.5m to R8m.
“Closer to Kirstenbosch Gardens is Fernwood. Lower Fernwood, below Kirstenbosch Gardens, has the highest ceiling price in the area,” says Edwards. “It’s a beautiful part of Newlands, with its own greenbelt and forested walks.”
Erven in the area range in size from 500m to 2 000m2, and prices have reached R20m for more luxurious properties. There are still homes selling for around R6m, though, says Edwards.
A little higher up, Upper Fernwood is a neighbourhood with some of the best views in Newlands, overlooking the peninsula from the shoulder of Table Mountain’s slopes. Upper Fernwood erven tend to be around 500m most sloping, varying in degree. The houses here are generally quite modern, although there are still a few older options around. Prices range from R5m to R12m.
Edwards says that prospective buyers in Newlands may have some competition, as stock is limited at present, especially in the popular under R6m price range.