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10 of the most expensive houses in South Africa

Private Property South Africa
Tahir Desai |
10 of the most expensive houses in South Africa

These super luxury houses with enormous price tags will induce some serious house envy.

A recent study by property group Seeff, based on data from Lightstone and Propstats for the period 2011/2 to 2016/7 revealed that Cape Town is home to nine of the ten richest suburbs in South Africa. Only one suburb in Gauteng, Sandhurst, cracked the top 10 on the list.

The top 10 most expensive suburbs in the country by average selling price:

  • Clifton – R23 million
  • Llandudno – R17 million
  • Bantry Bay – R16.9 million
  • Sandhurst – R16.5 million
  • Camps Bay – R16.2 million
  • Fresnaye – R16 million
  • Waterfront – R16 million
  • Higgovale – R16 million
  • Bishopscourt – R15.1 million
  • Constantia Upper – R11.6 million

Long popular with wealthy locals, semigrants from other provinces and forex laden foreigners, Cape Town has been a rare success story in an ailing property market.

A quick look through the pages of Private Property confirms that Cape Town does indeed dominate the list of expensive property. However, there are noteworthy properties in other areas across the country too. From modern masterpieces to classic cribs, South Africa has an array of upmarket property to satisfy even the fussiest billionaire.

Check out ten of the most expensive properties in South Africa, currently listed on Private Property.

1. 7-bedroom house in Fresnaye, R185 000 000

The most expensive property currently listed on Private Property is this opulent villa built on the slopes of Lions Head. Set on a large plot, this immaculate manor home enjoys epic views of the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. With 2 swimming pools, a luxurious formal lounge with a fireplace, and seven regal bedrooms – all with en-suites, this home will satisfy even the most discerning investor. The property also has a gym, domestic quarters, as well as security guard office, 3 garages and additional parking for 7 cars.

Assuming you had a 10% deposit to put down on this house, the monthly bond repayments would be a staggering R1 634 436!

7-bedroom house in Fresnaye, R185 000 000

View more here.

2. 5-bedroom house in Clifton, R150 000 000

Feast your eyes on the breath-taking views of Cape Town from this Stefan Antoni designed masterpiece in Clifton. The double volume entertainment space is the perfect spot for hosting high society parties. The property also enjoys a Zen-like garden set against the mountain and a private pool deck. Additional features include elevator access to all floors, a cinema room, a gym and fully automated curtains and blinds.

Monthly bond repayment, with a 10% deposit is R1 325 219

5-bedroom house in Clifton, R150 000 000

View more here.

3. 6-bedroom house in Clifton, R145 000 000

This exquisite home can be found in Nettleton Road, which is reputed to be the most expensive and most sought-after street in Africa. Designed by South African architect extraordinaire, Stefan Antoni, this home is perfect for entertaining on a grand scale or enjoying a life of luxurious seclusion. Just some of the features in this 6-bedroom house (all en-suite with super king-size beds) are a library, private cinema, wine cellar, gym, massage room and private steam room.

Monthly bond repayment, with a 10% deposit is R1 281 045

6-bedroom house in Clifton, R145 000 000

View more here.

4. 4-bedroom house in Fresnaye, R125 000 000

Another glamorous Fresnaye beauty comes in at 4. This home has the obligatory breath-taking views from the pool and your personal olive grove. If you like to throw a party or two, you’re spoiled for options with multiple entertainment decks, patios, bars and six (yes, six) reception rooms. This opulent mansion has four bedrooms all en-suite, gourmet-style kitchen, wine cellar, bar area and steam room. Other notable features include world-class finishes, air-conditioning, underfloor heating and excellent security.

Monthly bond repayment, with a 10% deposit is R1 104 349

4-bedroom house in Fresnaye, R125 000 000

View more here.

5. 8-bedroom house in Houghton Estate, R110 000 000

The magnificent ‘Gatsby Mansion’ took more than 6 years to complete. Set over four-levels this enormous 2000sqm home enjoys spectacular views over the City of Gold. Recently featured on Top Billing, it has eight bedrooms and several lavish living and dining rooms. If you fancy a bit of a dance, this home has its own private nightclub. It also has a spa, a library, a gymnasium, boardroom/conference facilities and both indoor and outdoor pools. Outside the incredible terraced gardens are based on the Peterhof Palace in Russia.

Monthly bond repayment, with a 10% deposit is R971 827

 8-bedroom house in Houghton Estate, R110 000 000

View more here.

6. 5-bedroom townhouse in Clifton, R100 000 000

Perched atop the landmark Clifton Terraces, the twin North and South Villas redefine the meaning of luxury in Cape Town. Beautifully aligned with Clifton magnificent coast line, The Villas enjoy breath-taking views and provide ideal residences for the discerning and discrete buyer. Whether lived in as a primary residence or as a summer home, each Villa provides that perfect balance of central location, comfort, privacy, lock-up-and-go security and understated luxury. The Villa has a private swimming pool, private lift and one storage unit.

Monthly bond repayment, with a 10% deposit is R883 479

5-bedroom townhouse in Clifton, R100 000 000

View more here.

7. 6-bedroom house in Bantry Bay, R90 000 000

Spread across six levels to maximise the ocean views and living space, this home boasts 6 bedrooms with en-suites. You needn’t worry about walking up and down those stairs though, this home has elevator access to all floors. You have a choice of two rim-flow pools to enjoy as well as a steam room, TV room, 2 lounges, modern kitchen and a safe room.

If you put down a 10% deposit and took out a bond over 20 years at the current exchange rate, you would pay R109 831 440 in interest alone on this property!

6-bedroom house in Bantry Bay, R90 000 000

View more here.

8. Gentleman’s estate in Bishopscourt, R88 500 000

Enjoying an elevated position in Cape Town’s Southern Suburbs, this beautiful home is set on a massive 1.9ha of land. The entire property consists of a comfortable quality 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom main residence, a separate 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom guest cottage, tennis court and swimming pool with pool/entertainment room. With this much land, there is the possibility for development or you could retain it all for your exclusive enjoyment.

The purchase price excludes VAT, so make sure you budget for the additional R12 390 000 that will be due to the tax man!

Gentleman’s estate in Bishopscourt, R88 500 000

View more here.

9. 6-bedroom house in Bantry Bay, R85 000 000

Buy this property and you will be the proud owner of one of five exclusive residences in Cape Town where you are able to view both Cape Town’s spectacular sunrises and sunsets. This impressive home is set high up in the mountains at the end of a private road. Absolutely no expense has been spared on the finishes in this home. Some of the notable features in this home include a gym, 4 lounges, a wine cellar, walk-in safe for your valuables, sauna, 2 pools (1 heated), and a fully imported German kitchen.

Monthly bond repayment, with a 10% deposit is R750 957

6-bedroom house in Bantry Bay, R85 000 000

View more here.

10. 5-bedroom house in Sandhurst, R80 000 000

The breath-taking home is set on a huge piece of prime real estate in upmarket Sandhurst. Located just two kilometres away from the Sandton CBD, this majestic home enjoys panoramic views of Sandton’s leafy suburbs. Set over four storeys, this home was designed by renowned architect Jeremy Williams of MWLF and took over four years to complete. This home has been designed to seamlessly integrate the luxurious inside with the manicured gardens outside. It’s an entertainer’s dream with formal and informal lounge, illuminated wine cellar & cigar lounge as well as formal and informal dining and breakfast areas. The 5 bedrooms have been luxuriously appointed and the main bedroom has epic views over the landscaped gardens and surrounding neighbourhood.

Monthly bond repayment, with a 10% deposit is R706 783

5-bedroom house in Sandhurst, R80 000 000

View more here.

So there you have it, ten magnificent properties that will unfortunately remain out of reach for mere mortals like us – but we can dream, right?

Explore neighbourhoods mentioned in this article

Atlantic Seaboard
Beautiful views, beautiful people
Living in the Atlantic Seaboard is the perfect culmination of all things great. The Atlantic Seaboard is comfortably wrapped between the coastline and the mountains. It is an exclusive area with beautiful homes on the mountain, allowing for incredible sea views. Waking up to the fresh smell of the ocean and going for a run along the promenade is standard practice among residents in these areas. It is close to the city centre, with easy access to the national highways, and right on the beachfront.
Cape Town Southern Suburbs
Affluent Village Feel
The Southern Suburbs make up some of the most popular residential areas in Cape Town. With large plots of land and roomy homes, the area attracts a fairly affluent crowd. The suburbs in the area include Rondebosch, Claremont, Plumstead, Ottery, Wynberg, Newlands, Constantia and Bishopscourt, Pinelands, Observatory, Tokai, Bergvliet, Kenilworth and Steenberg. Peaceful, quiet and leafy, the Southern Suburbs are seen by many as the perfect place to bring up children.
Sandton
Work hard, play hard...then relax
Sandton is a vibrant, modern neighbourhood that contains the richest square mile in Africa. It is the business gateway into Africa for many large corporations and attracts thousands of ambitious people seeking their fortunes. But Sandton is not just about big business, residents find plenty of time for leisure too. World class shopping centres, and a buzzing social scene are a huge hit with the young and young at heart. Perhaps surprisingly, there is a huge amount of green space in the area that residents take advantage of to exercise or just take a breather.

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