The school run advantage beckons home buyers

There is strong demand for places in top schools around the country, which has resulted in many South African families changing suburbs – and even cities – to get into areas close to these schools.

This has major implications for the residential property markets in areas close to good schools, says Annien Borg, regional head for Pam Golding Properties, Boland and Overberg.

“The number of parents keen to find homes in these areas keeps increasing while the existing residents generally want to stay for 15 to 20 years. This results in an ongoing undersupply that supports continuous price growth.”

The Western Cape Education Department has not determined any feeder zones for public schools in the Western Cape, and the new Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act does not specify that public schools may only admit pupils who live nearby. However, because of the strong demand for places, admission policies for the top schools tend to favour children who live in the surrounding suburbs. In addition, most parents want to live within a reasonable distance of the schools their children attend to avoid time-consuming commuting in heavy traffic.

“Cape Town’s northern suburbs along with Boland and Overberg towns have some remarkable schools, providing exceptional education and creating tight-knit communities and long-lasting friendships. Families tend to stay in homes in these areas until their children move out,” says Borg.

Durbanville and surrounds are home to some of the oldest and best schools in South Africa, driving up demand and prices for nearby properties. Durbanville Prep is a big attraction in Valmary Park, where house prices start at over R5 million. D’Urbanvale is close to Reddam Prep and prices here start from just over R2 million. Reddam High School is in the Clara Anna Fonteyn Estate, where we are selling homes priced between R14 million and R22 million, says Borg.

“Durbanville Primary and High Schools in Durbanville Central are popular choices and townhouses in the area seem to attract higher prices, especially among semigrants from other provinces. Prices here range from around R3 million for a three-bedroom townhouse to R5.5 million for larger freestanding properties. In luxury estates like Heerenzicht and Everglen Manor, which are close to Fairmont High School, we are selling homes priced from R6 million to over R14 million,” says Borg.

“Curro Durbanville is close to Sonstraal Heights, which offers diverse residential options ranging from one-bedroom apartments to spacious six-bedroom homes. You can buy an attractive three-bedroom house for around R2.5 million in Sonstraal Heights, which makes it an inclusive neighbourhood for many families, within reach of an excellent school.

“Uitzicht was considered a little remote from Durbanville, but is more appealing since the advent of Curro Uitzicht, attracting many new residents. For example, the property on Stepping Stones Street, directly opposite the school entrance, definitely commanded a higher sale price due to its prime location,” says Borg.

Popular estates in this area are Graanendal, Welbevinden, Avalon and Pinehurst, with prices ranging from just under R3 million to around R9 million.

Other sought-after northern suburbs schools are Stellenberg High in Bellville and Kenridge Primary in Durbanville.

The Boland towns of Paarl and Stellenbosch are also popular with family buyers.

“Many people move to these towns in the Boland specifically for schools, which are difficult to get into,” says Borg.

“Families who live in Paarl or nearby get the chance to send their children to some of the best schools in the country. The two most famous schools here are Paarl Boys High and Paarl Gimnasium (Paarl Gim). La Rochelle, Bridge House, Courtrai Primary, Paarl Girls High and the Green School are some of the other top schools in this area,” adds Borg.

In nearby Wellington the entry price for family homes is around R2.4 million, and in Paarl and nearby secure estates you can buy a small three-bedroom home for R3.5 million. In the luxury estates prices start at around R2.9 million for townhouses and from R5 million for full title properties. In Franschhoek freestanding, full-title homes are priced from around R7.5 million.

On the north east side of Stellenbosch in the Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch high and primary schools are renowned for excellence in academics and sports. For many years primary school applications have exceeded availability, and Borg says parents apply years in advance to secure a place for their child. This makes the five residential areas surrounding these two schools – Mostertsdrift, Karindal, Rozendal, Uniepark and Simonswyk – extremely desirable.

Prices for Mostertsdrift homes have increased dramatically in the past three years and it is difficult to pinpoint an average price. You could pay R8 million or more for a 1960s fixer-upper, depending on the erf size and position, says Borg.

“Simonswyk’s entry level price three years ago was still in the late R3 millions, but now the minimum is the upper R4 millions, with Uniepark in the mid to upper R6 millions. Rozendal, Uniepark, Dalsig and Brandwacht have had an injection of renovations over the last couple of years and resales are taking place at over R10 million.

“The growth has been tremendous. The new developments in Paradyskloof – further out but still close enough for a 15-minute drive to school – have exceeded all expectations in sales and price growth. Prices here start at around R7 million, with secure estates like Brandwacht aan Rivier, Kingsview and Welgegund exceeding the R10 million mark.”

On the R44 west of Stellenbosch are the dual medium Paul Roos Gymnasium, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof and Rhenish Girls High, as well as two exceptional primary schools – Eikestad Primêreskool and Rhenish Primary. The catchment residential areas closest to these schools are Krigeville, Die Boord, Dalsig and Brandwacht.

“Krigeville, the lower part of Dalsig, die Boord (De Bosch) are cycling options for many pupils,” says Borg. “The homes in Krigeville are 100m to 200m from the school gates and definitely sell at higher prices than those in Dalsig, where we are marketing a five-bedroom house for R19 million.”

On the other side of the Hottentots Holland mountain range, Overberg towns that are sought after for their top schools include Hermanus and Onrus, where house prices start at just under R3 million.

Says Borg: “Curro, Hermanus High School, Hermanus Primary School and Northcliff House College are all top schools attracting more and more younger families to the area.

“Around 40% of buyers in Hermanus and surrounding areas over the last 12 months are aged between 39 and 49, confirming that post Covid the area has attracted younger buyers with school-going children.”

Hermanus high and primary school are popular public schools, while private school options include Generations, Northcliff House College, Montessori and Curro, situated between Hermanus and Onrus.

As a result of increased interest in the area, demand for long-term unfurnished rentals also far outweighs the supply of property in Hermanus and Onrus.

“There is no doubt that proximity to a top-rated school is a major factor in home buying decisions for families – and a strong marketing advantage for sellers,” says Borg.

For further information www.pamgolding.co.za.

Issued by Gaye de Villiers

Tel: 083 325 1939

On behalf of Pam Golding Properties

Posted by The Know - Pam Golding Properties