Outpacing the rest of SA, Cape property retains the yellow jersey

Come March and the Western Cape is transformed into a veritable biking bonanza as cyclists from around the country – and indeed the world – descend in droves for a month of on- and off-road racing.

The events kick off with two days of mountain biking action through 55km of the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy, followed by the five-stage Bestmed Tour of Good Hope, which covers 490km of the Paarl-Franschhoek valley and finishes on Friday the 10th.

Die-hard cyclists, meanwhile, gear up for the grueling Absa Cape Epic, which starts, this year, in Hermanus on 19 March and takes riders through an undulating 691km of the Western Cape countryside before finishing a week later at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl.

But it’s for the world’s largest individually timed cycle race on Sunday, 12 March, that the vast majority of cyclists – some 40 000 in total – flood the province. The famous Cape Town Cycle Tour takes in 109km of the Peninsula’s most spectacular southern suburbs, all of which, going by the price of property, are themselves in the midst of a record winning streak.

From the race’s start on the city’s Foreshore, it takes just 14km of persistent pedaling to reach leafy Constantia, a firm favorite for families who want to be close to the quality schools and university in neighboring Wynberg, Claremont and Rondebosch.

“The influx of buyers from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal has certainly driven up the demand for smaller, low-maintenance homes in secure lifestyle complexes, but the rambling estates for which the area is famous are still to be found,” says Sally Gracie, Chas Everitt International’s area specialist in Constantia Upper.

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Set in nearly 1ha of landscaped grounds, this gracious two-level home is for sale through Chas Everitt International for R20,5m. Located in the prestigious Bel Ombre area of Constantia Upper, it boasts a sweeping driveway, marble entrance hall, and double-volume formal lounge, as well as four spacious upstairs bedrooms. For more details, click here.

Constantia provides easy access to the M3 expressway, which cyclists will follow for a further 6km before heading seawards, through the quaint False Bay suburbs of Muizenberg, St James, and Kalk Bay.

The latter, in particular, has seen phenomenal growth over the past three years, says Chas Everitt International area specialist John Silva. “Most homes here are positioned in the R7m to R12m price bracket. Although we’ve come close to it, we’ve yet to top the R15m mark, but even a 500sqm stand – of which there remain very few – will sell now for between R6m and R8,5m.”

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Possibly the oldest house in Kalk Bay, this historic double story offers both ocean frontage and a sprawling garden. It features five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage and is ideal for the visionary investor willing to sensitively restore it to its former glory. For more details, click here.

Skirting the water’s edge, the easy 4km from Kalk Bay to Fish Hoek follows the tracks of the train that takes commuters all the way into the city. Surrounded by rugged mountains and boasting a family-friendly Blue Flag beach, Fish Hoek is fast shedding its retirement-village image and has seen solid year-on-year house-price growth, says Charlene Faint, Chas Everitt International’s specialist in the suburb.

“The homes here tend to be older and quite often in need of renovation, but this seems to appeal to younger and upcountry buyers who purchase them at a good price and then completely update them for contemporary times,” she explains.

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This centrally-situated three-bedroom home in Fish Hoek is for sale through Chas Everitt International for R2,89m. Recently upgraded, its high-end finishes include quality flooring and tiling, and Caesarstone worktops in the kitchen. The property features a separate self-contained studio flat, ideal for generating an additional income. For more details, click here.

From Fish Hoek, it’s on through the charming naval town of Simon’s Town, followed by a desolate stretch of leg-numbing pedaling around Cape Point, where the warm Indian Ocean meets the mighty Atlantic. After passing through the eerily enshrouded hamlet of Misty Cliffs and the neighboring Scarborough conservancy, the route veers briefly inland before reaching Noordhoek – and the last and toughest 34km of the race.

This rural suburb, where horses are a common sight on the expanse of sandy white beach that stretches all the way to Kommetjie, is popular with those seeking a life of “country by the sea”, says Chas Everitt International area specialist Giselle Donaldson-Cross.

“The property market here is consistently strong, particularly in the R5m to R6m price range. Homes on 1000sqm properties in Belvedere, just above Silvermine Road, enjoy a greater elevation with panoramic sea views, and go for at least R6,5m, while the larger 10 000sqm equestrian estates in Crofters Valley, which stretches from Dassenberg Road to the bottom of Ou Kaapse Weg, will fetch around R13m,” she says, noting that the suburb is a firm favourite with families thanks to its relative proximity to a number of good schools, including Reddam House Constantia and Sweet Valley in Bergvliet.

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This newly renovated four-bedroom home in Noordhoek is for sale through Chas Everitt International for R5,999m. The property features a brand-new kitchen and all the bedrooms have doors that lead to the patio and 4912sqm garden. There is also a separate three-bedroom flat as well as a pool, Jacuzzi and entertainment room. For more details, click here.    

Leaving Noordhoek, the infamous Chapman’s Peak Drive awaits. Widely regarded as one of the most scenic drives in the world, this 9km winding road – a feat of civil engineering – is the make or break of cyclists, many of whom succumb to the so-called “walk of shame”. Although scenically spectacular, the road’s 114 curves require all eyes on the road, at least until the well-deserved freewheel down into Hout Bay.

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Boasting top-of-the-range fixtures and fittings, a duplex in Hout Bay’s brand-new Willowdale development is for sale through Chas Everitt for R2,995m. With three bedrooms upstairs and, beneath them, an open-plan living room and kitchen that leads onto a private patio and garden area, the unit includes a parking bay and carport. For more details, click here.

The dreaded Suikerbossie is the final climb of the Cycle Tour and has certainly seen its share of pain and perspiration. The challenge is won as cyclists reach the summit and are rewarded by the sweep of Llandudno and the last easy 14km of the race. Now it’s time to settle into a comfortable cadence as they spin past the wreck of the Antipolis and on through Camps Bay, Clifton and Bantry Bay, some of the most desirable (and highly priced) property in the country.

Of the blue-chip suburbs on the Atlantic Seaboard, Camps Bay has proven to be the most dynamic, recording an average price growth of 50% in the past five years, says Rory O’Hagan, CEO of the Luxury Portfolio division of Chas Everitt International, a South African affiliate of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World© that is currently marketing the cream of the country’s homes to millions of high net worth individuals around the world.

“The suburb is attractive to families, who are drawn to its larger homes set on good-sized stands. Over 60% of Camps Bay’s residents are stable owners between the ages of 35 and 65, and 46% of recent buyers are under the age of 50, many of them Gauteng emigrants who will stay on at least for the duration of their children’s schooling.”

At an average price of R12m for a three-bedroom house, Camps Bay also offers great value compared to its neighbors, he says. “In Clifton, you’ll struggle to find a two-bedroom apartment for that price.”

Just 20km from the center of the city, the “Republic of Hout Bay”, as it’s affectionately known to locals, offers some of the most coveted property in the Cape. “In the past three years, we’ve seen house prices increase by 60% and apartments by 70%. The average price for a two-bedroom home in the suburbs now tops nearly R3m,” says Greg Walton, co-principal of Chas Everitt International in Hout Bay.

He says buyers are a mixed bag: “Young professionals are drawn to Hout Bay for its proximity to the CBD – just 25 minutes in traffic. With a sheltered beach, mountains and even vineyards, the area is also seen as a prime tourist destination and both upcountry buyers and foreigners are scrambling for a piece of the local property pie.”

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With uninterrupted vistas across the Atlantic, this four-bedroom Camps Bay house, which is for sale through Chas Everitt International for R22m, leaves those who visit completely speechless. North facing, it enjoys light throughout the day, while stacked doors open up its entire façade to the ocean. A separate stand to the rear of the property could be subdivided for a great return on investment. For more details, click here.  

From Camps Bay, there remains less than 10km of the race. The home stretch along the Sea Point Promenade is flat and fast and once through the finish line at Green Point Stadium, a hard-earned medal and a reviving glass of something cold awaits.

Issued by Chas Everitt International

For more information please contact

Maria De Villiers on 083 251 3008

Or visit www.chaseveritt.co.za