Apartment living has changed quite a bit in recent times. In the bad old days, living in an apartment was viewed as a stepping stone before you took the plunge and moved into a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in suburbia. There may have been the odd penthouse apartment available but, generally speaking, this form of accommodation wasn’t really regarded as an upmarket investment.
Still think apartment living is boring and “boxy”? Think again! Designer pads aimed at seducing those who want the best of everything have become the order of the day.
A pearl of a home
If there was a manual on where to buy upmarket real estate, The Pearls in Umhlanga would be on the cover. Towering above the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, these apartments offer luxury living at its very best. With high-end security and uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean, it's no surprise that everybody who is anybody has chosen to invest – or live – in this large development.
A penthouse measuring 507m² on three levels and selling for R33-million is being showcased in Private Property’s Win A Home competition tonight (SABC3; 8pm). This sectional title property comprises four bedrooms and is a modern masterpiece when it comes to technology. Equipped with an automation system, owners can open or close the blinds, turn on any of the four television sets (two of which drop down from the ceiling) dotted around the home, and switch on the air-conditioning and lights.
Lusting after Clifton
Location is and will always be the most important factor in real estate investment, and Clifton on the Atlantic Seaboard in Western Cape is always going to be the “right address”. Playground to both the local and international jet-set, the area is the ideal location to find that perfect high-end home.
The second luxury apartment to be featured on Win A Home tonight offers everything that a discerning buyer could wish for. Priced at R39.5-million, this gorgeous home is literally a stone’s throw from Clifton’s famous second beach. A recently-renovated 300m² home that is new on the market, with ceiling-to-floor windows that showcase some of the most famous views in the world, it is open-plan living of the highest order.
Sandton in the city
Michelangelo Towers is ideal, for those looking for an apartment in the middle of all the action. Situated in the heart of Sandton's entertainment district, this hotel development has been a popular choice for those who want the best of everything, since it was first launched, and has hosted international stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga. It has also proved popular with heads of state and Barack Obama recently stayed there.
A three-bedroom apartment here is for sale on Private Property’s website – for R18-million. Pipped as the most exclusive address in Africa, you know you have “arrived” when you enter this iconic building. State-of-the-art security and access to indoor and outdoor pools as well as gyms, shopping malls, the financial district, and the many restaurants that grace this area are just some of the reasons that this property will appeal to those who want to live work and play in absolute luxury.
Of course there are thousands of other properties available on Private Property’s website and if you yearn to live the high-life, far above the madding crowds, you’re guaranteed to find apartments that not only suit your lifestyle, but your budget too.
