Says Seeff Queensburgh Licensee Jan Vermeulen: “December 2018 and January 2019 have been exceptionally busy in Queensburgh. We have noted that a lot more first-time home buyers are now in the market, and I believe that they had been holding off and have now decided to buy. Influences could be the decreased fuel price, people who have transferred from Gauteng, and the fact that while Queensburgh is only 15 minutes away from Durban and Pinetown, properties here are much more affordable than in other areas.”
Vermeulen says that prices in the area range from R520 000 for a 2-bedroom flat or simplex, and from R800 000 for a 3-bedroom house, and that anything under R1 million with good property offerings sells within a week. “We just listed a sole mandate property on a Monday for R980 000 and received two written offers by the Wednesday for R900 000, both of which offered large deposits. This property was a 3-bedroom house with a swimming pool, granny flat, workshop area and carports in Bellair/Mount Vernon. We listed another property around the corner from that one at the same price of R980 000, offering 3 bedrooms, a granny flat, garage, carport and pool. This was listed on Saturday 19 January and a signed cash offer was received on 20 January.
“We have also noted many properties coming onto the market in the R1.3m to R1.6m bracket, these being in the Malvern, Escombe and Northdene areas, generally with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, either with a granny flat or with potential for creating one. We currently have a very well-situated family home in Escombe on the market at R1.53m, which offers 3 garages, a large granny flat, double carport, 3 bedrooms, deck and swimming pool. This property really offers great bang for your buck. Our 3-bedroom homes with lock-up garages and granny flats are sold before you can blink.
“The property featured on the photo is in Northdene and has 3 good sized bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (main en-suite), and a spacious lounge and dining room with French doors leading from the lounge into the level garden with its swimming pool. Off the dining room is an additional room that can be used as a guest room, play room, TV lounge or home office, and there is a very spacious kitchen with granite tops, loads of food prep areas and sufficient cupboards. On top of this is an additional area that can be converted into a spacious granny flat, with the potential of an open-plan lounge and kitchen, bedroom and en-suite bathroom, by incorporating the current office space and staff accommodation and bathroom. There are French doors leading from the existing office to the covered patio. There is a greenhouse as well as a shed for storage and double carports. It is fully walled, with access via automated gates, all close to Northdene Preparatory School, the M7 and M13 highways and Firwood Sports Club. This home is priced at R1.59m and won’t be on the market for long.”
Vermeulen says that on the rental side there is great demand for 2- or 3-bedroom properties at monthly rentals from R5500 up to R10 000 for the larger, newer units. “There has always been a great demand for rentals in Queensburgh, but stock is always a problem, especially in the more affordable range. We just don’t have enough stock. Two- and 3-bedroom simplexes with 2-bathroom units at rentals from R6000 are in especially high demand - but there is definitely a shortage of these, as most stock coming in takes the form of flats and duplexes with 1 bathroom. However, families want something with a garden for the children to play in within a secure environment. There is also a great demand for rentals situated near shops and schools.”
Another ‘hot item’ on the list in Queensburgh is land. “There are great opportunities for new developments in Queensburgh, which is reflected in a large appetite for land of 1000sqm and bigger, at prices from R500 000 to R2m."
Contact Seeff Queensburgh Licensee Jan Vermeulen on 081 300 8489, office
031 464 7374, email janv@seeff.com. See more information on the featured R1.59m property in Northdene at www.seeff.com, web ref. No. 3263816.
Author: Leverne Gething, 25 February 2019, Area Focus