Prime property in Cape Town’s Newlands

A steady stream of buyers and a property market that just ticks over month after month is how the Newlands area in Cape Town can be described.

This house offers three bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge with fireplace, fitted kitchen, established garden and garage. It is on the market for R4.9 million – click here to view.

This is according to Seeff agents, Barbara van der Westhuyzen and Vanessa Clerke, who say the suburb has become sought after and if a buyer finds what they are looking for, they will still put in a good offer.

The location right next door to Bishopscourt and the two key landmarks, the Newlands rugby and cricket fields, makes the suburb prime property. The close proximity to UCT also adds to the attraction.

It offers a suburban lifestyle in pretty surrounds that include beautiful old Oak trees, an abundance of greenery and Table Mountain "practically in your front garden". There is also the world-acclaimed Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens on the doorstep.

The agents say Newlands is rightfully considered a heritage suburb, with excellent property value retention and growth.

Consequently, you now see an average selling price of just over R5.7 million for freehold houses based on the latest Propstats data, about R1.7 million higher compared to five years ago when it was around the R4 million mark.

Where over 80% of all sales fell below the R5 million price band five years ago, this year they have seen less than 40% fall below this. In fact, the average selling price for the suburb has risen steadily year-on-year, and more than 60% of all freehold house sales now fall in the R5 million to R10 million price band.

This Newlands home has five bedrooms, five bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen and reception areas, home theatre, landscaped garden and double garage. It is selling at R17.5 million – click here to view.

Lightstone data also shows that Newlands is a stable suburb, with about half of all properties in the hands of the same owners for 11 years and longer. According to the agents, although more than 60% of property owners are in the 50-plus age bracket, there is a good mix of buyers.

The post-2007/8 period showed a steady annual improvement in activity in the market, peaking in 2014 with a total of 145 registrations for the year.

“As with most of the country, activity has slowed slightly over the last year and we are beginning to find that buyers are resisting overpriced properties. Nonetheless, if you are looking to sell and your price is in line with the market, you are likely to find a buyer and a good offer.”

Almost 70% of all property in the suburb is freehold, and the suburb offers an excellent mix of property options. Sectional title prices fall predominantly in the R2 million to R5 million-plus price range while family homes tend to be upwards of R5 million.

What most people don’t know is that there is also an exclusive security estate in the suburb, the Serene Estate, which offers 24-hour security and a fantastic location on Riverside Road, right on the river.

The estate is quite new and was built about seven or eight years ago. It is located on the border of Bishopscourt and falls within the sought-after ‘ambassadorial belt’.

This property offers three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a lounge with fireplace, fitted kitchen, garden and garaging for three cars. It is on the market for R11 million – click here to view.

It offers just four exclusive homes of about 550 square metres to 600 square metres in size, designed in a beautiful Cape vernacular architectural style with washed brickwork.

There is currently a rare opportunity to buy in the estate. The beautiful home offers stunning mountain views and plenty of extras such as a home theatre or games room, study nook, air-conditioned wine cellar, high ceilings, air-conditioning and underfloor heating, solar heating as well as a fireplace in the lounge.