Lifestyle estates are increasingly becoming the residence of choice for SA’s super wealthy in their quest for safe spaces during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is according to Sandton-based global wealth intelligence group New World Wealth, which has released its pick of top 10 lifestyle estates worldwide for this year.
Both SA and the US, where estate living has proven popular, secured three estates on the list, while estates in the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Italy and New Zealand also feature in the top 10.
New World Wealth’s top 10 lifestyle estate picks for 2021 include:
- Yellowstone Club in US
- Val de Vie in SA
- Bighorn Golf Estate in US
- Steyn City in SA
- Kukio in Hawaii, US
- Fancourt in SA
- Anahita in Mauritius
- Jumeirah Golf Estate in the UAE
- Jacks Point in New Zealand
- Toscana Castelfalfi in Italy
The criteria for the top picks included communal gardens and parks, design and space, maintenance, location, views and scenery and security features, as well as activities and facilities available on estate.
“Estate living is already very popular in US, SA, Spain and Portugal, and is starting to take off globally, especially in the UAE, New Zealand and Mauritius.
“It’s becoming increasingly popular among the world’s wealthy as they search for more privacy and safety,” said Andrew Amoils of New World Wealth.
When it comes to SA, the wealth brigade are attracted to buying flats and homes in these estates mainly because of safety, shared facilities, communal parks and controlled traffic.
“Buyers are increasingly moving towards estates that have flats.
“In line with this, most new luxury developments in SA focus on flat living rather than houses – notable examples include Brookfield at Royal, Umhlanga Arch and Steyn City’s 104 on Creek.
It's becoming increasingly popular among the world's wealthy as they search for more privacy and safety.
— Andrew Amoils, New World Wealth
“There is also a general move away from traditional golf estates and towards wildlife and eco-estates. Retirement estates have also become more popular,” said Amoils.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic pushed moneyed buyers to “lifestyle estates with nice parks and wilderness areas, which have become more popular as they seek more open space”.
“Many people have chosen to work remotely and live in smaller towns. For instance, a large number of people are now working remotely from affluent small towns such as Hermanus, Plettenberg Bay and Franschhoek. Lifestyle estates in these towns have benefited.”
According to Pam Golding Properties, George on the Garden Route has seen “a continuation of the trend towards security estates, but noticeably locations with a sense of space such as Gondwana Game Reserve, coastal estates such as Pinnacle Point, Springerbaai and the sought-after golf estates Fancourt and Kingswood Golf Estate, or the Kraaibosch and Welgelegen estates with their scenic, expansive views.
“Fancourt in particular is generating interest in the limited remaining vacant stands in the various precincts of different architectural styles.”
The Seeff Property Group has also noted an uptick in sales of suburban homes.
“This includes full title and freehold houses in gated and security estates and reflects the Covid-inspired migration back to the suburbs,” said Samuel Seeff, chairperson of the Seeff Property Group.
“Buyers are saying that if they have to spend more time at home, often now working from home, they prefer to do it in a more suburban setting.”
Seeff said there was “a notable energy in the market for freestanding and estate houses including in the luxury suburbs of the major metropolitan areas”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.