An increasing number of young buyers are making their way to Kommetjie, a charming oceanside suburb on the west coast of the peninsula.
This is according to Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty area specialists, Natalie Cooper and Jane Langroudi, who say: “There have always been young people living in Kommetjie, but lately much more are choosing to buy homes here,” they say.
“They are attracted by the sea and the mountain, and the rural atmosphere, which most Kommetjie residents would like to maintain. We have also had many buyers from Johannesburg and Durban, who are attracted by the laid-back lifestyle.
“Most of the homes in the area are freehold houses, with only a couple of estates and a small number of sectional title units. “Johannesburg and Durban buyers, especially, like the Klein Slangkop Estate, a private development bordering on the Cape Nature Reserve and Long Beach and Blue Water Estate just outside Kommetjie has become increasingly sought-after due to its excellent security.”
Lew Geffen, Chairman of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty says: “Lightstone figures show that 23 freehold homes have already been sold in the enclave this year, to a combined value of R66.7 million with a median price of R2.9m.”
He adds that more than 50% of existing homeowners have owned their homes for 11 years or more, and recent sellers are evenly split (35% each) between those who have owned their homes for less than five years and those who have been there for more than 11 years.
For existing owners, about 50% are in the 50 to 64 age group, with about 25% each in the 65 plus and 36 to 49-year age groups. Among recent sellers, close to 40% are 36 to 49 years old, about 30% are 65 or older, and about 25% are 50 to 64.
However, Geffen says that when it comes to recent buyers, the figures are quite different.
“Around 40% are in the 36 to 39 age bracket, about 30% are 50 to 64, and only about 10% are over 65. The biggest increase is in the 18 to 35 bracket, which makes up almost 20% of recent buyers.”
For many years Kommetjie was regarded as a place for picnics and holidays, and families came from Wynberg, Noordhoek and Fish Hoek to camp among the milkwood trees for several weeks at a time over the Christmas season. Most of the first homes - along the Kom - were holiday homes only.
Infrastructural developments such as the provision of electricity, water from the Wemmershoek Dam and Ou Kaapse Weg contributed to greater housing activity in the 1960s. The suburb still has no aspirations to become a bustling business centre and residents enjoy the relaxed holiday atmosphere.
“Kommetjie also has many places of interest – for young and old,” say Cooper and Langroudi.
“The Slangkop lighthouse is the tallest cast iron lighthouse on the South African coast, and Slangkop mountain is well worth exploring. It is also a world famous surfing hotspot which hosts a number of local and international competitions and it attracts kite surfers, body boarders and stand up paddle enthusiasts from around the country.”
Kommetjie is reached via Fish Hoek, or from Ou Kaapse Weg over the mountain, or along the scenic west coast route along Chapman’s Peak Drive. Fish Hoek on the east coast of the Peninsula is the nearest major centre with municipal offices and a traffic licensing centre, as well as a train station linking it to Cape Town.
“Visitors enjoy the Kommetjie lifestyle and care about its natural beauty, clean air, peacefulness, animal and bird life while enjoying coastal walks, cycling, diving, crayfishing, whale watching, mountain hikes and more,” says Cooper and Langroudi.
“Residents share their environment with fynbos, baboons, tortoises and birds, several dangerous and harmless snake species, clawless otters, genets, porcupines, frogs and toads on land many others in the sea. However, Kommetjie also boasts all major amenities, including medical and veterinary services, a deli, a general supply store, a hair salon, pubs, restaurants, a library, and a service station as well as an excellent primary school and several nursery and pre-primary schools.
“In Kommetjie, we are most certainly selling lifestyle, rather than just property.”
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