Durban Property

A number of people are looking into investing in holiday flats. Some people believe one is investing in the best of both worlds, rental income and a free holiday all year round. However when it comes to purchasing property, investors should follow their head and not their hearts. Before making any property investment, ask yourself these questions:

1. Why should I buy real estate?
2. What will be the end result of this particular property?
We look at some pros and cons of investing in holiday properties:

• Ensure you purchase in a prime location
Always choose a prime location that offers beach views. This includes the ‘must haves’ such as shopping centres, cafes, restaurants and tourist hotspots. Some holiday investment properties tend to have a low occupancy rate and no investor wants to suffer because of this. Buy property in a city or town that has major infrastructure.

• Understand how holiday rental work
In a number of prime spots the average period of high demand for holiday rentals is 6 to 10 weeks a year. Rental returns can fluctuate extensively for holiday homes; this depends on the time of year. Holiday properties are far more in demand in humid locations, but this applies for key properties. Things such as sea views and proximity to the beach are major factors that contribute to the success of your holiday flat to rent in Durban.

• Choose self-contained
A number of holiday apartments were initially built for short-term renting and thus have smaller rooms. Smaller apartments have a bigger rental return on the selling price however investors should consider a self-contained apartment. This includes a separate kitchen, bathroom laundry, bedrooms and larger rooms. This type of apartment offers you more capital growth and this allows you the owner the option of moving in at a later stage should you wish to live near the beach.

Visual Courtesy of : safarinow.com

The relaxing vibe of Pinetown, just outside its boisterous big brother, Durban, may be in part due to the laid back influence of the sea, a gentle onshore breeze, or because of the Marianhill Monastery. Local residents in the area will appreciate the history and the sense of serenity contributed to Pinetown by the monastery, which lies on the outskirts of Pinetown near Marianhill Park.

A visit to the Marianhill Monastery

If you’re new to the area and looking at Pinetown houses for sale, do yourself a favour and stop at the Marianhill Monastery for tea or lunch. You may just make up your mind about relocating here. The Trappist monks in the late 1800’s were responsible for the establishment of the Monastery, under Abbot Francis Pfanner. These contemplative monks embraced the concept of prayer and labour, which today provides a space for visitors to enjoy the history of the monastery in the Monastery Museum, as well as enjoy an organic meal or drink in the tea garden. The organic produce includes dairy delicacies like cheese, milk, and yoghurt, which can be savoured in the beautiful shady garden, with the soft chanting of the monks providing the perfect soundtrack to your relaxation.

What to expect

The recognisable architecture at the monastery gate at 1 Abbot Francis Road, will lead you into the monastery grounds and towards the cathedral. Inside, look up at the ceiling to appreciate the beauty of the frescos and the light streaming in through the custom-made stained glass windows. Visitors will undoubtedly go into the same quiet, contemplative space that inspired the building of the Marianhill Monastery in the first place.

Visuals courtesy of: mariannhillmonastery.org.za

Residents on KwaZulu-Natal’s coast may have referred to the Bluff as “Durban Bluff” in the past, but it’s now a prominent tourist destination in its own right. It’s not only popular with tourists, but is an attractive place in which to settle down and plant some roots. With its dune-lined beaches, protected greenbelt, great sea views, and proximity to the main centres along the coast, the Bluff consists of some of the most attractive property Durban has to offer. Read the rest of this entry »

What could be better than living by the ocean? That’s a rhetorical question because we know that living at the coast is a very popular location. It’s no wonder that coastal areas are usually quite crowded, or if people have a primary domicile inland, those that can afford a second property will invariably opt for a “cottage by the sea”. Read the rest of this entry »

Think about it – every time you need a change of scenery, you browse the online property pages for garden cottages to rent. One day you come across a property that steals your heart and you would love to own it and live there long-term, but there’s no way the bank will give you a 100% home loan in our current economic climate, and it will take you at least a year (if not more) to save up for a sizeable deposit. Read the rest of this entry »

You give me a Jeffrey’s Bay property that’s not a beach house and I’ll give you a real estate agent who’s still trying to sell it, right? Right…

Let’s talk beach houses and colour. Usually beach houses are best painted in white – I’m not sure why; perhaps the clean surfaces don’t show sea salt crystals that have formed when the owners have been away for a while, or white is simply a timeless colour that doesn’t need to be renovated Read the rest of this entry »

When you’ve been on a cruise liner for a few days or weeks, you’ll probably feel somewhat relieved to step onto dry land again and explore what your visiting port has to offer. If that visiting port is Durban, you’re in luck, as it’s one of the most cosmopolitan ports in South Africa Read the rest of this entry »

2012 seems to have come and gone in a flash, but in the midst of this very busy, challenging year, it felt like time was taking forever to get to the most coveted quarter of the year – the wind-down to December. True to typical Gauteng style, we’re all going to crowd the east coast for the December holidays. Read the rest of this entry »

December rocks, man. It’s that time of year that us land-locked fogies can get out to the coastline and escape the city limits for a while. Up in Jo’burg, we are consumed by on-roading in the morning traffic, playing sniper-sniper at a paintball venue, bungee jumping in Soweto, hunting Lonehill property for sale and pretending to be beach-volleyballers on some sand-covered warehouse floor in Deco Park.

The real action always takes place on or next to the ocean, which is why we all come and invade your beaches, rent out your property in Umhlanga, and just generally take over during the Christmas period. Some of the sporting attractions that us Gautengers are gunning for include:

Golf

Now, there is definitely a wide variety of golf courses in Gauteng and the rest of inland South Africa, but the courses available on the coastline provide unique challenges not available in the less humid, less windy parts of South Africa.

Dusi Canoe Marathon

This early January popular attraction has everyone paddling in the rivers in the months leading up to the Dusi. We would be lying if we said we didn’t enjoy three solid days of navigating boiling rapids while baking in the KZN summer heat, but the reward comes at the end of the marathon when paddlers pop out at Blue Lagoon, near Umhlanga.

Field sports

Cricket at Kingsmead, soccer at Moses Mabhida, and rugby in the Shark Tank – need we say more? Durban’s thriving sporting fraternities always bring the summer magic, especially with your world-class stadia and championship teams. We can safely report a vast undercover network of Sharks supporters in Gauteng.

Surfing

The Durban coastline – actually the one that stretches all the way from Umhlanga, through Durban north and central, and down along the south coast (known to us as “Durban”) – never disappoints when it comes to riding consistently good summertime waves. Beach Africa, the winter beach festival, showcases surfers from around the world in the day and night surfing competitions. At the beach festival, there are plenty of other water-based activities to partake in, including the jetski festival, beach volleyball, beach parties and much more. It’s like the Durban July, just at the beach… and without the horses.

Other seaside sports

The beach is good for more than just babes, swimming, and surfing. Kite-surfing has taken the world (and Capetonians) by storm, and it’s now hotting up the shores in and around Durban and Umhlanga. Lessons are available from seasoned professionals. Wind-surfing on the lagoon, as well as paddle boats and other floatation devices can be enjoyed on calmer waters. Beach volleyball, touch rugby, and beach cricket are also firm favourites with holiday-makers.

Umhlanga, here we come!

Image courtesy of:

Beach houses work best in white as it’s a classy colour that hides the appearance of encrusted sea salt and dust (especially in a beach house that’s only used seasonally), and maintains a seaside look that has transcended time and trends. However, in order to stamp your individuality on your beach house without going all Andy Warhol on the interior, try these simple tips to add some colour:

1. Add a sofa fringe

These days, sofas come with versatile slip covers that can easily be chucked in the wash if the kids spill juice and other sticky messes on the couch. Why not add a colourful fringe to your slip cover? It will instantly create a striking effect in an otherwise neutral room.

2. Paint your front door

You won’t make a lifelong commitment to a particular colour when you paint your front door, but your beach house will stand out from the others on the coastline. Greens, blues and reds are particularly beach-friendly, and if you get tired of it after a while, you could simply paint over it or even get a new door.

3. Colourful room dividers

Japanese screens have been the inspiration for room dividers for many years now. While you don’t have to go all Asian on the Indian Ocean coastline, you could either find a colourful room divider, or buy a plain one and paint it yourself. Or, if you don’t have steady paintbrush hands, you could simply cover it in floral wallpaper and let the design do the talking.

4. Colour in the kitchen

Beach house kitchens are the one area where owners tend to overdo it a bit on the colour. If you want to introduce a touch of colour in a white kitchen, go for trendy, colourful sets of crockery and glassware. A bright lightshade will also work well. Pair it with fruits of a similar colour placed in a bowl just below the light, for a true organic feel.

5. Colour accents and trim

Beach house décor might get tired after a few seaside seasons, which is why many home owners add colour to rooms in a non-committaed way that allows maximum effect with minimum effort. Throws, scatter cushions, vases, rugs, and other “removables” are the ideal way of adding colour in a non-permanent way. Plus you get to go shopping every other season for new goodies to reinvent your space at the beach.

Image courtesy of: frontdoor.com