There are a few suburbs in Johannesburg that seem determined to confuse the causal observer simply by their name. Kensington B, unlike its namesake, sits firmly in the ‘Randburg’ list of suburbs rather than in the ‘old Johannesburg’ list of suburbs.
This does not mean that Kensington B does not have its own allure, it simply isn’t the same as that of the original Jo’burg Kensington. Tucked in between Randburg proper and Bryanston there are vast differences between the various parts of the suburb. Get closer to Bram Fischer Drive and you will find car dealerships and small businesses operating out of converted houses, further away you quickly move into suburbia and closer to Homestead Road the difference between the suburb and the Bryanston houses across the road is relatively small.
Of course the selling price difference between the two suburbs is not small with the average selling price for freehold properties in Kensington B only R1.3 million in 2011. While there were two sales in the past 12 months under R800 000 the rest sit between R800 000 and R3 million with nothing above the magic R3 million mark. The R800 000 to R1.5 million bracket accounts for the largest amount of sales – 17 out of 27 - with 8 in the higher bracket. Sectional title schemes make up about a quarter of the stock in the suburb and the average selling price in that market is only R538 000.
The stable owners in Kensington B tend toward the older end of the spectrum with more than 20 percent over 65 and less than 10 percent under 35. In the recent buyers category, however, under 35’s dominate with almost 60 percent of purchasers in that category. This would indicate that the suburb is starting to see a younger demographic move in and this will change the face of the suburb going forward.
Location-wise the suburb is ideally positioned for access to the north, with Bram Fischer a direct route to Fourways and a short detour through Ferndale leading to Malibongwe and the N1 highway. Going down Bram Fischer, away from Fourways, it is a straight shot to Jan Smuts Ave and Hyde Park and Rosebank. These routes do get quite cluttered during rush hour but a slight deviation on either side of the peak times and the traffic is manageable.
Some of the top Jo’burg school are close by with St Stithian’s within walking distance and Brescia House close by. Other educational establishments in the vicinity include The Kings School, the American School and Radley College, making the choices for parents wide open.
