How a UIP has transformed Ballito

A few years ago, Ballito was suffering from urban decay, increased crime, pollution and a lack of general maintenance and by-law enforcement that was threatening to get out of hand as the town expanded. 

However in December 2015, the KwaDukuza municipality and a proactive group of local property owners formed a partnership known as the Ballito Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) and started to take a stand against the degradation of the town. This initiative has now restored the town as a sought-after residential, holiday and commercial destination.

Bernadine Roos, the Chas Everitt International sales manager in Ballito, says the initiative has been very successful in improving Ballito’s public spaces and creating a clean and safe environment, and has done much to improve the overall quality of life in the town and promote investor confidence. (See https://ballitouip.co.za/site/)

“In addition, it has had a major role to play in boosting the town’s residential property market. Figures from property data company Lightstone reveal that over the past 12 months, a total of 468 property transfers worth a total of around R1,3bn have taken place in Ballito. This is evidence of the high demand for homes here, which has also caused property values to rise over the past 10 years. The data shows that freehold homes here have appreciated in value by 84%, and sectional title homes by 24%.”

Meanwhile, she notes, gated residential estates in Ballito are also attracting home buyers from around the country due to their excellent location, unique lifestyle and state-of-the-art-security.

“We are witnessing an influx of families relocating to Ballito who are opting to move into gated estates, and the town’s real estate market is expanding rapidly as a result, with new estate developments mushrooming to meet demand.”

Roos says the security measures implemented on these estates ensure that residents are well-protected in an environment where they can enter and exit their homes safely and their children can play freely. “In addition, these estates offer an outdoor lifestyle and family-orientated common areas that effortlessly integrate with the security features and usually offer residents more leisure facilities than most ordinary suburbs, including clubhouses, restaurants, swimming pools, and cycling and bird-watching trails.”

Ballito has a variety of estate options to suit different lifestyles and budgets. Three of the most sought-after are Seaward Estates, Palm Lakes Estates and Simbithi Eco Estate.

“Seaward upholds luxury, security and an innate respect for its surrounding natural environment. The estate spans 100ha of which 78ha is occupied by residents’ homes, with the remainder being an amalgamation of breathtaking coastal forests, wetlands and open-spaces. Residents can easily access Ballito’s main beaches from the estate and they are also within walking distance of key shopping centres such as Ballito Lifestyle Center and Ballito Junction Regional Mall. The estate also has a commercial zone that houses the Netcare Alberlito Hospital and The Well Centre, which provides residents with quick, easy and professional medical assistance.”

Palm Lakes, she says, is located amid Ballito’s lush tropical vegetation, rolling green hills, lakes and indigenous bird and plant life. “The homes here are designed according to contemporary guidelines, defined by clean lines and natural earthy tones and the estate is built with environmental preservation in mind. Flowers such as iFafa lilies, Aloe Vera, Bromeliads and variegated Hibiscus flourish here and communal facilities are intended to enhance family living and an active lifestyle.

“These include a clubhouse with a restaurant, pools and slides, dams for fishing, an AstroTurf sports field, a children’s clubhouse, a driving range and walking and cycling tracks. Two prominent educational institutions are also located here, namely Trinity House School and the Prestige Baby Academy.”

And then there’s Simbithi, one of the most luxurious lifestyle estates in SA. “There is a mix of housing opportunities here, ranging from spacious plots to free-standing sectional title units, apartments and upmarket homes,” says Roos. “Some of the facilities on the estate include community centres with swimming pools, tennis courts, an 18-hole executive golf course, a clubhouse and an equestrian centre. There is also a restaurant known as The Fig Tree that is headed by the award-winning signature chef, Gerard van Staden.”

In short, estate living in Ballito is characterised by modern and secure homes and facilities that effortlessly embrace the natural environment. To find out more about homes for sale or to let in the town’s most sought-after developments, contact Chas Everitt International in Ballito on 032 586 0154 or visit www.chaseveritt.co.za