Bumper holiday letting season ahead for St Francis Bay
Home buyers looking for value for money in prime coastal areas, both for permanent relocation and holiday use, are finding that St Francis Bay, with its attractive beaches, canals and position on the lower Eastern Cape coastline close to the Garden Route fits the bill.
This four bedroom house in Canals, St Francis Bay, has three reception rooms, wooden floors, a covered veranda and landscaped garden. It is on the market for R5.75 million - click here to view.
This is according to Richard Arderne, area principal for Pam Golding Properties, who says apart from good residential property sales, they are seeing a significant increase in holiday rental enquiries with bookings flooding in for the December to January holiday season.
PGP rentals agent, Emily Obray, says there’s not only a greater demand, this festive season their holidaymakers are staying for longer rental periods from 14 to 21 days, with some even as long as four weeks.
“Most of these are families living in Johannesburg,Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, although we also receive a few overseas bookings.”
Obray says rentals start at R1 600 per night, ranging up to around R12 000 per night. Leases for holiday rentals have an average value of R65 000, with a few around R150 000, and one over R250 000 confirmed for the forthcoming festive season.
St Francis Bay and the surrounding areas continue to grow in popularity as the summer holiday destination of choice for many local and international holidaymakers.
This four bedroom house in Village, St Francis Bay, is on sale for R2.995 million - click here to view.
“We have the best of all worlds with a wide variety of activities available, for example, world-renowned surf spots, a world class golf course, The Links, water skiing on the Kromme River, jet skiing, canal boat trips, wind surfing, paddling and scenic walks, not to mention the much sought-after events and entertainment organised for both young and old throughout the season,” she says.
“Having experienced record property sales in 2014, we’ve achieved buoyant sales for this year to date with many buyers, even through the winter months. However, buyers are becoming more discerning, looking for bargains.”
“A few of our recent sales include 10 stands on St Francis Links in October and stands on the canals which fetched R1.4 million, R1.7 million and R3.5 million, with all three buyers planning to build next year (2016).”
Sales of existing homes include an old thatched house on the hill with a good view which fetched R1.5 million, an apartment in Port St Francis which was acquired for R1.1 million, a modern thatched home in an estate just off the canals which was sold for R1.8 million and two older small houses on the canals which each fetched R2.7 million.
Arderne says at the higher end of the market, stylish or more modern luxury homes sold at prices ranging from R2.6 million and R3.6 million, to R4.4 million and R4.5 million.