Luxury golf estates soar in popularity among local and international buyers

Luxury golf estates offer many appealing features to buyers; as sales indicate, price is no object.

With a remarkable 8% to 10% average growth rate in property value, golf estates have emerged as a smart investment in the post-COVID real estate landscape. This data, courtesy of Seeff Property Group, suggests that these homes are more than just a luxurious lifestyle choice. In some premium estates, particularly those in the Cape region, the value has even doubled over the past five to eight years.

But it's not just local buyers who are taking notice. Golf estates are also gaining traction as second-home destinations for both domestic and international investors.

Additionally, golf estates are becoming popular for "semigration," attracting buyers to the Cape and other key locations such as Centurion, Pretoria East, Zimbali, and Hartbeespoort.

What Are the Prices of Golf Estates?

With the most golf estate sales transacting between R3 million to R14 million, it's evident that buyers are recognising value and luxury in these properties. The cream of the crop, the upper-end estates, have seen sales ranging from R6 million to a staggering R18 million, with a select few even surpassing the R20 million mark.

Cape golf estates stand out among these, commanding some of the country's top price tags. Take Steenberg in Constantia, Cape Town, for instance - widely regarded as one of the nation's premier golf estates, its median price this year stands at an impressive R13.9 million. Fancourt in George isn't far behind, averaging around R8.4 million.

Other noteworthy estates include Johannesburg South's Eye of Africa, priced at an average of R4.55 million. In Roodepoort, Eagle Canyon and Jackal Creek command average prices of R6.1 million and R3.4 million (for freehold), respectively. Meanwhile, the scenic Magaliesberg is home to the Pecanwood Estate, with properties averaging R3.65 million.

Popular Areas for Golf Estates

• Rental rates for golf estate homes are growing, particularly in luxury areas like Constantia and the Winelands, where monthly rentals are soaring past R60,000 and even exceeding R100,000.
  
  
• In the Stellenbosch and Paarl region, estates like Boschenmeer and De Zalze have doubled in price over the last decade. In fact, De Zalze made headlines last year with multiple sales north of R20 million, boasting a current median price of R12.7 million—placing it among the country's elite golf estates.
  
  
• On Cape Town's Blouberg side, Sunset Links and Atlantic Beach Golf Estate are commanding median prices of R7.45 million and R6.1 million, respectively, positioning them among the top-tier estates nationwide.
  
  
• Along the Garden Route, Fancourt remains the top golf estate in the country. Yet surprisingly, its median price over the last year achieved only R8.4 million.
  
  
• Pieter Jordaan, the licensee for Seeff George, highlights Kingswood as an emerging favourite among semigration buyers, with a respectable median price already at R4.65 million.
  
  
• Herman Spies, Sales Manager of Seeff Mossel Bay, notes that Pinnacle Point remains a top pick for its stunning views, reflected in its median price of R4.1 million. Lightstone data reveals that sales over the past year ranged between R7 million and R9.5 million.
  
  
• In Knysna, Pezula and Simola continue to hold their own, with average prices at R5.5 million and R4.4 million, respectively. Both estates reported sales in the range of R7 million to R11 million over the last year. St Francis Links Golf Estate also remains a popular choice.
  
  
• In Kwa-Zulu Natal, Zimbali leads in both golf and lifestyle, with an average price of R8.55 million. The highest sale recorded by Seeff over the past year reached R17.95 million, says Andreas Wassenaar, licensee for Seeff Zimbali. 
  
  
• In Gauteng, golf estates such as Woodhill, Silver Lakes, and Blue Valley in the Pretoria/Centurion areas and Dainfern in the Midrand area have seen significant sales activity throughout the pandemic.

Golf estates have proven to be more than just a lifestyle choice - they're a smart financial move with promising returns.

If you're considering investing in premium real estate, now is an opportune time. Reach out to Seeff Property Group to seize this opportunity, backed by expert guidance and market knowledge.