Waterfront living is a lifelong dream for many South Africans who are attracted to the outdoor lifestyle that usually comes with a home on the beach or on the shores of a lake or river.
This brand new home in for sale in Rynfield, Benoni, is set in the Ebotse Golf Estate, which is situated on the bank of the CR Swart dam. It has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. It is selling for R6.3 million - click here to view.This is according to Steve Goosen, Rawson Property Group’s Fourways franchisee, who says some of the reasons for wanting to live “on the water” include spending quality time in nature, being able to indulge in water sports like yachting, boardsailing, skiing and fishing, and having a gorgeous sunrise or sunset view every day.
Goosen says the growing demand for waterfront properties, even in landlocked Gauteng, accounts for the increasing popularity of such locations as Hartbeespoort Dam, which used to be thought of as far out of town.
“It is, however, only a 25 minute drive from Fourways, and with the massive development that has taken place there over the past decade and the establishment of two new private schools, it is no wonder that Hartbeespoort has attracted an influx of permanent residents who love the tranquility of living on the water.”
Goosen says thanks to the establishment of Pecanwood College and Doxa Deo Xanadu, the Pecanwood and Xanadu estates, for example, now have many permanent residents whose children can walk to school.
“The dam boasts a plethora of other developments, too, and there is never a shortage of homes to buy in Hartbeespoort, many of them with private jetties, boat lifts, rim-flow pools, pavilions and entertainment decks overlooking the water.”
This four bedroom house in Hartebeespoort A H, Hartbeespoort, has a study, library, music room, air conditioning, underfloor heating and an open-plan entertainment room. It is on sale for R10.9 million - click here to view.Johann Jordaan, owner of the Rawson franchise currently marketing homes in the Sable Hills Waterfront Estate, says another popular location for waterfront living is the Roodeplaat Dam to the north-east of Pretoria, where buyers are prepared to pay quite a premium to achieve their dream.
“This development is attracting some of the city’s wealthiest buyers to its exclusive shores. A substantial percentage of the properties are on the water and the residents have direct waterfront access, whilst others can reach the waterfront by means of other access ways,” he says.
Jordaan says buyers are clamouring for the stands, at prices from around R700 000 and upmarket homes at prices from around R2.5 million to R7 million, because they either love water sports or want to enjoy the waterfront lifestyle.
“There are also other attractions, such as the state-of-the-art security and the adjacent Curro Private School. Children who live here can walk to school in total safety. The estate also has an Olympic-size swimming pool with a sun deck,” says Jordaan.
Across the road from Sable Hills is Leeuwfontein Estate, a wildlife/eco estate that also has riverfront stands.
“Some waterfront buyers are drawn to this estate instead because of the free-roaming wildlife. The stands in this area are 1ha in size and residents may not fence them off, with the result that zebra, blue wildebeest, kudu, impala and warthog have free passage across the whole estate,” says Jordaan.
“The limited number of properties on or near the water means they are good investments.”
To the south-west of Pretoria, the Rietvlei Dam also offers opportunities for sailing and angling, especially to the residents of estates such as Rietvlei Ridge and Rietvlei Heights, although it is not possible to live right on the water.
Goosen says the growing demand for waterfront properties, even in landlocked Gauteng, accounts for the increasing popularity of such locations as Hartbeespoort Dam, which used to be thought of as far out of town.“The dam lies adjacent to the 3 800ha Rietvlei Nature Reserve, which is one of the world's largest urban nature reserves, and residents of the country estates in the area enjoy being close to the rhino, cheetah and various antelope species for which the reserve is a sanctuary,” says Johan Campher, of the Rawson Property Group’s Pretoria South East franchise.
Campher says there is a little known development next to the former brickworks in Erasmuspark that also offers living next to a tranquil lake built in the Apies river. This security complex with 24-hour guarded security offers affordable housing and access to non-motorised water sports.
While the other estates’ location close to water, but often far from the city and access routes sometimes present problems, the waterfront living opportunities in Pretoria South East are both close to the major access routes, he says.
Anthony Hutton of the Rawson franchise in Benoni East, says the East Rand town of Benoni, known for its series of lakes, also offers several options for waterfront living, inside and outside security estates.
The Ebotse Golf and Country Estate, developed around the picturesque 40ha Rynfield Dam, is a good example.
“A security and golf estate with some sectional title properties and a range of luxury homes priced from R2.5 million and upwards, this development offers everything that comes with waterfront living: boating, fishing, scenic walking trails and birdwatching, all in a safe environment,” says Hutton.
He says Benoni also has an active sailing club and residents have enjoyed waterfront living on the Homestead Dam for decades.
“Security was not as much of an issue when these homes were built, but homeowners ensure that the area is patrolled by armed response vehicles. No motorised boats are allowed on this dam and it is mainly used for windsurfing and rowing.”
The homes along the Farrarmere side of the dam are priced from R2 million and upwards, and those on the Lakefield side from R4 million and more, says Hutton.
Print
