The average price of a home on the East Rand is still under R1m, while magnificent upmarket homes can still be had from R2m upwards.

So says Nelson Ferreira, East Rand area principal for Pam Golding Properties (PGP), who adds that "there's also a definite upsurge in the rental market".

"It's interesting to note the marked demand for upmarket rental properties from business people who are accumulating equity for a substantial deposit on their dream home," he adds.

"First-time buyers can still acquire a home for as little as R445k, which would typically be a three-bedroom, one-bathroom home with single garage on a 900sqm stand on the borders of Brakpan or Boksburg. We recently sold a house in Bonaero Park, a suburb of Kempton Park, to first time buyers for R540k. This home comprised three bedrooms, one bathroom, double garage and staff quarters on a 990sqm stand."

Elizabeth Masemola, who recently opened a RealNet agency in the town, says homes in the affordable sector of the market are selling readily in Springs in spite of continuing problems with obtaining bonds.

She reports that there is particularly healthy demand for properties costing less than R500k, but that properties across the price spectrum are still drawing buyers.

Masemola says basic two-bedroom units in KwaThema can still be had at prices starting from about R200k. "Most transactions are indeed taking place in the more affordable price spectrum, but there is a sprinkling of sales in price categories up to R2m. The Springs property market is mainly supported by local buyers upgrading or entering the market thanks to lower interest rates, but buyers transferred to the East Rand by their companies are also evident," she says.

Harry Nicolaides of CENTURY21 Deal Design says the East Rand is characterised by leafy residential suburbs situated close enough to industrial and commercial nodes for convenience but far enough away not to interfere with the peace and tranquillity of home life.

"The East Rand, inclusive of Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan and Kempton Park has thrown off its old image of a mining and industrial area. There's definitely activity, our show house days are well attended and business is being done.

"Industry is in fact still very much part of the make-up of the East Rand in the form of Isando and Dunswart. However, it now also has a well-balanced residential and commercial economy, offering an enormous variety of properties from entry-level homes to upmarket luxury mansions," Nicolaides says.

"Coupled with this is the fact that the East Rand includes the Gautrain stations of Airport and Rhodesfield (Kempton Park), two hubs around which development activity has become energised. This is evident in the established business nodes of Jet Park and Isando as well as the emerging area of Pomona in Kempton Park. Around OR Tambo Airport there is already some 40,000sqm committed for development – both turnkey and speculative, while alongside the Rhodesfield Gautrain station site development plans are afoot for 80,000sqm of hotel, offices and retail which will link into the station and across to the airport," Ferreira says.

"In addition to the Gautrain stations, these areas are extremely well served with good highway access as well as railway and shuttle services. Major highway improvements currently under way in the East Rand include widening of highways, new and improved off ramps and additional provincial roads which will facilitate the flow of traffic between Kempton Park, Boksburg and Benoni," says Ferreira.

PGP East Rand recently achieved a record price for the area of Parkrand, Boksburg, with R4,7m achieved for the sale of an unfinished home in the upmarket development Golden Crest.

"The East Rand is rapidly becoming a Top Billing-type home destination, attracting home buyers seeking a location that offers style and convenience thanks to its central positioning, with an excellent road infrastructure providing easy access to OR Tambo International Airport and the CBD's of Sandton and Pretoria, as well as top private and government schools, plus two top residential golf estates and several other top golf courses. Testament to this is that we are receiving numerous enquiries from senior executives who commute to the workplace in these CBDs, who appreciate that they can purchase a luxury home on the East Rand for about half the price of a comparable home in Bedfordview or Sandton only some 20-30 minutes away," says Ferreira.

"The more expensive and exclusive Benoni suburbs are very much in demand and we have had several enquiries in the price range from R3-7m in Rynfield, Lakefield and Alphen Park in Benoni, Sunward Park and Bartlett in Boksburg and Glen Marais in Kempton Park. – Eugene Brink

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