UK investors snapping up Garden Route properties


More and more real estate agencies tend to focus on the international market to lure foreign investors to South Africa. For decades South Africa has been the best kept secret in the world – for a foreign investor to buy residential property in our country was the exception.

Due to the successful transformation process coupled with political stability and progressive fiscal policies, South Africa has steadily become more and more popular as an alternative foreign investment avenue for international buyers. The dramatic decline of the Rand against the Dollar, Pound and Euro has made South African property an attractive investment.

The Garden Route is experiencing unequalled growth in both residential, as well as the business property markets. Both Knysna and Plettenberg Bay are considered as prime lifestyle and retirement investment centres. During 2002 and 2003, Seeff Knysna and Plettenberg Bay participated in a series of international home shows in the UK, and noticed a dramatic increase in the interest in coastal property, significantly from the smaller towns outside London, in particular from Canterbury, Doncaster, Ascot, and Epsom .

Due to this increased interest in South African property in the UK, Seeff as the only South African member of the Guild of Professional Real Estate Agents of the UK, were recently invited to give a presentation to all the Guild’s members who might be interested in getting involved in selling South African property in the UK. This was a first and unique opportunity for a South African estate agency to showcase available property and to highlight the investment opportunities of buying property in South Africa. Seeff have since seen a definite increase in the demand for property over there, with many property professionals from the UK visiting South Africa to foster closer ties with their South African counterparts.

Seeff is again planning to participate in international home exhibitions in the UK, starting with a dedicated South African exhibition at the offices of the Guild on Park Lane in September, 2003, followed by the International Home Show at Earls Court, followed by another International homes exhibition at the Ascot race course in November, 2003.

As a consequence of these developments Seeff would like to invite all homeowners in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, who are considering selling their properties, We believe that due to the tremendous interest of overseas buyers in buying property in Knysna and Plett, this is a marketing opportunity not to be missed.

Photo: Discovering SA - Henry Greyling