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Plattekloof area has taken off, prices still reasonable

2008-06-09

Rawson Properties' Plattekloof franchise, the fifth to be taken over by Marc and Esme Vladislavich (the others are Milnerton, Bothasig, Edgemead and Century City - and there is a Rawson Properties' office at Summer Greens) has blossomed in a quite remarkable way, says Bill Rawson, Chairman of the Rawson group - and Esme Vladislavich agrees.

"Plattekloof always was a prestige, high priced area, but in the last few years it has seen unprecedented growth and this has added greatly to the values of all the surrounding precincts - Plattekloof Glen, Monte Vista and Welgelegen. The launch of Burgundy Estate, on which a host of developers will build over 5,000 homes, has given an added boost to the area," said Vladislavich.

Prices in the last three years throughout the area, said Vladislavich, have risen by just over 40% (42% in fact) and although this may appear to have bucked the national trend, her figures indicate that price rises of between 6% and 10% are still being achieved per annum.

Asked to outline the levels at which prices are now pitched in the area, Vladislavich said that they range in Plattekloof itself from R2 to R15 million, in Plattekoof Glen from R800,000 to R1,5 million, in Monte Vista from R900,000 to R1,8 million and in Welgelegen from R1,5 million to R8 million.

“With a price range as diverse as this,” she said, “we can accommodate almost any middle class buyer and we have helped many come in at one level and then upgrade to another. Having once lived here, people are very reluctant to leave the area.”

New developments such as Kleinmeer, Baronetcy and Leopard Rock, she added, are bringing new homes to the market in a price range of R1,2 million to R2,5 million. These, too, she said, have done much to add lustre to the district.

The attractions of Plattekloof, said Vladislavich, are:
· its convenient central location, only 12km from Cape Town;
· its panoramic views, especially from the higher lying areas, such as Plattekloof itself. These take in the whole of Table Bay and the East Face of Table Mountain;
· the new upmarket retail centres which have been brought to the area and the close proximity to Century City and its Canal Walk, where so many Plattekloof people now shop;
· the international standard hospitals such as Panorama Clinic, some of which have intensive care and cardiac units;
· many new and existing retirement villages;
· excellent state schools, many giving education in both languages - which, commented one Rawson Properties spokesman, makes life so much easier for anyone living in South Africa;
· the beautiful, well kept encircling vineyards such as Durbanville Hills and the newly popular De Grendel. Many of these offer wine tasting and some are open for walking.

“All in all,” said Vladislavich, “the Plattekloof precinct gives Capetonians everything that is epitomised in the concept of enjoyable Cape living - and yet is has been only recently that many people have come to recognise this. The good news, therefore, is that because this recognition process has taken so long, prices are still way behind those of many Southern Suburbs homes offering far lower standards. Now, therefore, could be the right time to get onto the property owning bandwagon and secure a foothold in this flourishing area.”