The past couple of years had everyone running scared when it came to buying and selling property, but the good news is that real estate is strengthening right across the board.This put property rentals back on the map in a big way, but real estate sales are picking up, which is bound to have an impact on the rental market once more.There is a definite upswing in the economy world wide; the first indication is when residential real estate recovers, making a definite upturn in the real estate property market.Certain suburbs have shown very strong real estate sales, whereas some are a little slower, with prospective buyers always looking for value for their money. This applies to all nine provinces in South Africa.Graphs indicate that Gauteng is the top province in South Africa, selling the most properties over the past three years from the period 2008 to 2010, inclusive.Bryanston tops real estate sales in Gauteng with the most properties being sold over the past three years, with no fewer than 1300 residential properties changing hands. Most of the erf sizes of these magnificent homes are on 2000 plus square meters, selling in the millions.Dainfern indicates the second highest record of real estate sales during this period of time in Gauteng, with real estate sales of 238 homes.Eagle Canyon Golf Estate, Fourways Gardens, Houghton Estate, Hyde Park, Parktown North and Saxonwold show sales ranging from 100 plus properties to 200 plus properties, during this period. Weltevreden Park had a whopping 338 real estate sales during 2010, and Protea Glen showed sales of 340 residential properties which proves that more affordable housing and value for money is what matters most to the majority of home buyers.The City of Tshwane boasts high sales in the suburbs of Faerie Glen that show real estate sales of 329 properties being sold during this period; Moreleta Park had 335 residential sales during this same period.When looking for a property to buy or to invest in, it would be prudent to find out which areas are buoyant in South Africa, and not stagnant, especially for resale purposes. Purchasing any residential property is an expensive exercise, therefore select where you live with caution. When relocating choose areas that sell well, where sales are at the top of the real estate residential list, and find out which suburbs have sold the most real estate property in the past year or even better, the past three years.Real estate sales in Gauteng show that this is the strongest residential property real estate growth area in South Africa, with the Western Cape coming a close second, KwaZulu-Natal third, the Eastern Cape follows hot on the heels of KZN. The Free State is next on the list, with North West and Mpumulanga following, with Limpopo and Northern Cape being the smallest indicator of real estate sales for the past while.Strong real estate trends have almost no indication of the credit crisis biting over the past couple of years in KwaZulu-Natal, with sales in Umhlanga and Ballito, for example, showing hardly any slowing down at all.Howick, South Beach, Amanzimtoti and Margate are all sought after areas with sales of 262, 108, 226, and again 226 real estate sales taking place in these suburbs in the past year.South Africa is a diverse country with so many different places to choose from. Obviously you will be taking into consideration jobs, schools, raising families and of course your budget when putting down your roots and raising your family. There is a little bit for everyone, regardless of where you decide to live.If in doubt, a really good idea is to find property to rent in the area of your choice, and to seek the advice of the experts.