Value and safety in the south peninsula enhances lifestyle

THE SOUTH peninsula property market is offering excellent value for money as well as quality of life. Added to this, the independent neighbourhood watches t hroughout suburbs like Fish Hoek, Kommetjie, Glencairn and Scarborough make the south peninsula that much more appealing.

“Independent community watches present in these areas are filling the gap left by understaffed police stations.

“Membership o f t h e s e watches is voluntary, with residents belonging to the teams and neighbours watching out for each other,” says Harold Kolnik, of Jawitz Properties False Bay.

“These watches put up cameras at their own expense, are involved in prosecuting criminals and are selfless in giving up time to protect their communities. They have brought opportunistic and petty crime down by 80 to 90 percent.”

In addition to the bolstered safety in the south peninsula s uburbs, homes are more affordable than in many other Cape Town suburbs.

Buyers from all around South Africa, and in particular from Gauteng and KwaZuluNatal, are migrating to the south peninsula for a better, safer quality of life, and buyers of holiday homes from other Cape Town suburbs like Constantia and Bishopscourt are finding value in the south, too, says Kolnik.

“Kommetjie and Noordhoek are popular suburbs offering an equestrian lifestyle, close to the sea. Misty Cliffs’ prices have decreased and buyers can now secure a property for R5 million, when previously just a plot in Misty Cliffs was priced at R6m.”

Fish Hoek, the suburb with the most independent community watches, offers the most value, with the average selling prices between R850 000 and R1.4m.

Sectional title properties are scarce in Fish Hoek but when they do become available and are priced correctly, they sell fast, particularly to entry-level buyers.

“With the steady demand and the good value these suburbs offer, the buyers of these properties should experience a steady growth in their investment as demand continues to outstrip supply,” says Francois Venter, director of Jawitz Properties.

Fish Hoek’s more popular subsections include the mountainside, where freehold properties can cost from R1.5m. Peers Hill homes are priced from R1.2m to R1.3m, and properties in Silverglades and Sun Valley are priced at around R1m.

“Young families and retired people are attracted to Fish Hoek as it offers a safe, affordable location for a coastal lifestyle, with nearby facilities such as schools, a hospital and many shops,” says Kolnik.

Ou Kaapse Weg, Boyes Drive, Main Road and Chapman’s Peak Drive offer access out of the valley.

“Once the Main Road roadworks are complete, residents will find it even easier to get in and around the south peninsula,” Kolnik says.