In most peoples repertoire of a dream home is a beachside house. A beachside property has become a high fashion investment for old and young, but prices seem to mar most peoples attempts of investing in them. Yet, thanks to a favourable exchange rate, South Africa is becoming a world famous destination for buying, renting or leasing beachside property and real estate, especially in the Western Cape. Whether you are looking for a modern beachside flat along the Atlantic Sea Board in Cape Town or a spacious four bedroom house in Gansbaai, the Western Cape in South Africa has a variety of beachside properties available to rent, lease or buy. Destinations with enormous potential for beachside investments are Hermanus, Gansbaai, Cape Town, the Helderberg and the Overberg, all of which have quite a selection of beautiful and luxury real estate.
Why South Africa?
Situated on the “horn” of Africa, the Western Cape shoreline is the meeting point between the warm Indian Ocean and the cold Atlantic Ocean. The two currents meet at Cape Agulhas and make for some spectacular sea life and scenery for locals. Marine life is active and the beaches along the coast are the top whale spotting sites in the world. The weather is Mediterranean and favourable: hot dry summers and mild wet winters. Popular among tourists and locals alike in terms of beachside property is Cape Town. Yet there are a few under rated spots along the south west coast: Gansbaai, Hermanus, the Helderberg and Overberg.
Cape Town has many suburbs famous for luxurious beachside properties. Camps Bay, Clifton, Llandudno, Green Point and Sea Point are all locations with fine properties along the shore with incredible views of the sea. The properties come at a high price but are worthy of the investment. Cape Town has top schools, a thriving CBD and talented workforce and the best facilities. Quite literally, one can exit the office after a hard day and head straight for the beach to enjoy a relaxing surf.
Properties outside Cape Town
The Overberg is an area outside of Cape Town, stretching from past Grabouw to Witsand and Barrydale. Two beachside towns in the area which offer great potential for a sound investment in real estate are Hermanus and Gansbaai.
Hermanus is a world renowned whale spotting site and a busy town during peak season. Spring sees the arrival of whales and the Whale Watching Festival, and in summer the town is relatively busy with tourists. Thanks to a great emphasis on the fishing trade, Hermanus appeals to many because of its fresh seafood. It’s a great place to relax and unwind the entire year round and is a very amiable town in which to set up home. Local schools are very much up to scratch with keeping young minds learning, and Hermanus and its surrounds are an ideal place to raise a family.
Gansbaai is a small bay situated within the larger Walker Bay, further to the south of the coastline of the Overberg. The area is quieter and less populated than Hermanus, so Gansbaai is a good choice to buy beachside property if you are looking for seclusion and peace. The water is very clear, the views are worthy of parting with your cash to own a beachside property and a large amount of the area is a protected nature reserve.
As aforementioned, the Helderberg is an area with some promising sites for investing in beachside property. Closer to Cape Town than the Overberg, the Helderberg is ideal for families, young couples and retirees alike as the drive to Cape Town is approximately half an hour and all amenities are close at hand. Prime beachside property for sale in the Helderberg stretches from the east end of False Bay and includes Gordon’s Bay, Strand, Bikini Beach and Kogel Bay. These beaches are on the side of the peninsula that has warm water and are favourite bathing spots amongst locals and visitors. Finding a luxury house, apartment or flat to rent, buy or lease is quite favourable in this area as prices are reasonable for luxury properties.
When you purchase your property
If you decide to purchase a beachside property in the Western Cape, make sure that you make the investment through a property consulting company which specializes in beachside properties and real estate, especially if you are looking to lease your property to ensure you get good rental returns. Buying beachside property in the Western Cape of South Africa is quite a pleasure because of the great selection of beaches and the very favourable exchange rate against foreign currencies.