Shelly Beach, Margate

Shelly Beach is the central shopping hub of the lower South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. This upmarket suburb has beautiful homes, gated eco-estates and secure complexes as well as a large number of beach front and holiday apartments. The area is highly sought after for retirees and for investment.

Shelly Beach is home to the Shelly Beach Ski Boat club and the famous Protea Banks diving spot and is close to St Michaels main swimming beach.

This popular suburb has 2 large shopping malls, various motor dealerships, industrial and commercial properties, a recently erected private hospital, gated eco-estates, leafy suburbs and a large number of sectional title properties. There are also a fair number of excellent public and private schools in close proximity to the area.

It is conveniently located and has toll road access with on and off ramps from the N2 highway.

An extremely popular cluster-living area, almost half of Shelly Beach consists of sectional title units (1 099), with 372 freehold homes and 12 sectional title units in residential estates. The rest of the suburb is made up of 774 freehold properties.

Most of the residents (41%) have lived in the suburb for upwards of 11 years. The bulk of the owners (38%) who make up the local population of the area are aged between 50 and 64 years. This age group also represents 36% of the recent-buyers property market.

However, Shelly Beach's affordable safe gated village lifestyle is fast becoming more attractive to younger families. In fact, it is the younger generation, between the ages of 18 and 35, who bought the bulk of the properties sold in Shelly Beach in 2018, claiming a 37% market share.

The trend towards a gated village lifestyle is further reflected by the number of sales recorded for sectional title units. These numbered 69, with an average selling price of R1.007 million. This price tag is the magnet attracting younger buyers to the area.

With 36 sales, freehold homes represent the second highest number of sales concluded in the suburb in 2018. While there are still a few freestanding homes available in Shelly Beach for under R800 000, the bulk of the sales were between that ceiling and R1.5 million, with 11 sales in the R1.5 million to R3 million price range.

Another indicator that Shelly Beach is home to a financially stable community is the fact that there was only one sale in execution recorded in 2018.

With its convenient location situated between Margate and Port Shepstone, its good sporting facilities, safe swimming beaches, shopping outlets and local schools, it is easy to understand why younger families are choosing Shelly Beach as the place that they call home.