Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
BEACHFRONT LIFESTYLE
Ocean-facing Sea Point is a lively, affluent suburb with tidal pools, childrens’ playgrounds, sunset views, the promenade walking route, restaurants, coffee bars and much more
DENSELY populated, with affluent homes worth millions to cheap hotels with rooms by the hour, Sea Point is nothing if not eclectic and colourful, offering residents and visitors a unique lifestyle.
Backing onto Signal Hill, houses are built cheek by jowl towards the surrounding mountainside, while apartment buildings are more common in the central area and toward the beachfront.
“Sea Point is easily accessible from town and Hout Bay, and the introduction of the MyCiti route through the area has greatly improved public transport.
“The area is well located close to the V&A Waterfront, bustling Cape Town city centre and the other popular Atlantic seaboard suburbs of Bantry Bay, Clifton and Camps Bay,” says Farrel Kelman, Pam Golding Properties agent for the area.
“Sea Point offers a desirable beachfront lifestyle with access to a range of amenities including an outdoor gym, Olympic-size swimming pool and play areas for children. This makes Sea Point appealing to families, tourists and young professionals seeking to pursue outdoor activities.”
The central location, beachfront views and cosmopolitan vibe means a mix of rental and investment opportunities. Its popularity with overseas and local visitors makes Sea Point ideal for short-term rentals, says Kelman.
Beachfront apartment living has traditionally been popular with those whose lifestyles had transitioned after children moved out of larger houses, leading them to relocate to a lock-up-and-go lifestyle with the benefit of being able to walk to conveniences and shopping.
However, from about 2011- 2012, the area has experienced an unprecedented surge in demand associated with the relocation of buyers from Gauteng, especially from Sandton, which has changed the demographic of the suburb to be populated by younger profile owners and not necessarily people transitioning, says Pam Golding Properties agent Melanie Truss.
“We have also found Sea Point’s houses, which in the past have lagged behind in pricing when compared to Fresnaye and Bantry Bay, have benefited from the demand surge and prices have escalated significantly, considering Sea Point began this cycle at a far more competitive price point. This resulted in many owners experiencing significant growth in the last five-year cycle,” she says.
Minette Munitz, of Pam Golding Properties’ Sea Point office, says the area has been revitalised, with improvements including a multi-million investment by the City of Cape