With climate change and sustainable living high on the agenda, it is good to know that property owners now also have the choice of living in an eco-estate according to the Seeff Property Group.
Modern living means some 50% of the world’s population now live in constructed urban environments. This is driving an increasing desire to live in spaces that facilitate not just a sense of community, but also solves the problems of energy consumption, climate change and carbon emissions. Eco estates are an ideal solution, says Seeff. Eco estates also play an integral part in securing and rehabilitating vital ecosystems, encouraging sustainable building practices, building communities and reconnecting people with nature.
The opportunity for eco living abound in the Cape with its mountains, sea, vineyards and fynbos as far as the eye which area an ideal backdrop for eco estates. One popular area is Hout Bay on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard where you will find several estates with luxury homes in the R4 million to R20-plus million price range.
The new Applegarth Estate is a good example according to Mr Ashley Larter from Seeff. It offers homes arranged around a lush greenbelt and landscaping which incorporates the natural wetland and trees. Plots are laid out with minimum disruption of the natural surroundings and the natural mountain colours and textures are also reflected in the stone cobbles and stone cladding used.
There is a choice of modern homes and locations in three to four bedroom options with optional swimming pools. It is one of the most affordable, priced from R1.99m for plots and R4.995m (plot-and-plan) inclusive of VAT and with no transfer duty payable. Buyers do have the choice of using their own architect, but strict building guidelines are in place.
Eco estates appeal to a broad spectrum of buyers, from those looking to scale down to foreign “swallows” from abroad and are ideal for families given the security and close proximity to top schools, says Mr Larter.
The new Kerzner Estate, spearheaded by the Kerzner family (Mr Sol Kerzner fame) is located high on the slopes of Leeukoppie, just off Victoria Road and offers fabulous vistas towards Chapman’s Peak, the bay, valley and mountains. It offers super luxury architectural homes in an eco-setting, priced from just over R20 million inclusive of VAT with no transfer duty payable.
Other popular estates in the Hout Bay area include Kenrock Country Estate and Tierboskloof, but there are many options to choose from. The Southern Suburbs also offers a choice of estates in the Tokai area according to James Lewis, managing director for Seeff Southern Suburbs and Hout Bay. Options include Stonehurst Mountain Estate but expect to pay well into the upper millions for a luxury home here, he says.
The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is home to a number of eco estates according to Tim Johnson, Principal of Seeff North Coast. The latest additions are Elaleni, priced from R1,635m for plots and R3.85m for turn-key homes and Zululami with plots from R910,000, houses from R3,9425m and sectional title options from R2,024m-R4,19m.
On the KZN South Coast, you will find eco estates such as The Farm, Tabamanzi and Bayhill, generally in the R1,9m to R3,5m range.
A popular option for those looking to invest in an estate with free roaming game includes the Thorny Bush Estate in the Mokopane region. Price range from R450,000 to R1,25m.
In the Pretoria East area options include The Hills Lifestyle and Eco Estate which includes roaming antelope. Plots and small sectional title properties range from R1m-R2m and houses from R3m to R15m. Silver Lakes is another popular option with 140 bird species and game such as kudu, nyala, springbok and impala. Plots range from below R2m, two-bed apartments from R1,2m and luxury homes in the R15m to R20m range.
A popular option in the Johannesburg area is the Meyersdal Eco Estate with prices from R7m to R22m.