In effect, according to Lloyd Rees, one of Tyson Properties’ franchise owners in Ballito, what was once a little seaside town now has all the big city amenities – from sophisticated shopping to state-of-the-art medical facilities and highly respected schools -  and is thus attracting an extremely diverse range of buyers. This includes single professionals, retirees who are relocating from the likes of central Durban or even Gauteng, young families and holiday home owners. 
 
However, one of the most noteworthy trends is that more and more ‘permanent residents’ are flocking to this seaside location. Rees explained that Ballito not only offered better value than Umhlanga but also a ‘holiday ambience’ without heavy traffic. 
 
While many buyers are Durban residents who are moving north along with the city as the development of the King Shaka International Airport and adjacent Dube Trade Port gathers momentum, Rees believes this is about to shift. At present, the split between sales from local buyers and those from outside KwaZulu-Natal is 60 to 40. However, Ballito is fast becoming a favoured commuter hub. With the advent of the online office and an international airport just 20 minutes away, many businessmen were electing to establish their families in an area that offered a quality lifestyle and then working from home offices or commuting to large centres outside the province for business purposes, he said.
 
With more and more young families putting down roots in Ballito, Rees added that properties within secure, gated estates were increasingly in demand – and this is where Tyson Properties, which has accreditation at six out of the seven gated communities, is more than happy to guide buyers. He said that, at present, price ranges varied considerably with entry level properties priced at between R1,2 and R3 million mark at Seaward Estate as well as those with higher price tags in secure residential estates such as Zimbali and Simbithi between Ballito and Tinley Manor.
 
In addition to the security factor, he pointed out that at least four good, exclusive schools (including two private schools in Ashton and Crawford and the excellent Model C school, Umhlali Primary) the Alberlito Hospital, three large shopping malls, beaches and good entertainment venues made this the perfect place to bring up children.   Big ticket events such as the recent Mr Price Pro Ballito (formerly the Gunston 500) meant that youngsters and their parents could enjoy international quality attractions without having to travel too far to find them.
 
“Ballito offers the best of everything. There’s something for everyone,” Rees said, adding that some of the best beaches in KZN, beautiful weather and top tourist destinations such as the province’s game reserves (Hluhluwe, Umfolozi and Mkuze), the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Drakensberg were just an hour or two’s drive away.
 
Rees emphasised that Ballito was the closest quality beach destination for Gauteng holiday makers, making it the ideal place to buy a second, holiday home. With the added attraction of some of the best golf courses – Simbithi, Zimbali, Prince’s Grant and Umhlali - Ballito is a perfect location for the country’s most discerning buyers.
 
However, Rees added that this split was quickly equalising with just 60 percent of property owners being holiday owners as opposed to 90% just two years ago. Holiday apartments were usually priced at under R2 million with owners renting them out to help pay their bonds. Buyers investing over that amount tended to keep their properties for their own use.
 
Rees’s advice to prospective buyers is not to assume that Ballito is small enough for a single agent to specialise in every aspect of its property market. Tyson’s Ballito office – which netted the ‘5 star office award’ at the group’s recent awards ceremony – has a ‘specialist for each area’ with the added advantage that all of its 14 agents live in Ballito. With a combined total of 60 years in the Ballito market, the four franchisees (Marietjie Rass, Lloyd Rees, Yvonne Louw and Barbara Shingler) bring an important mix of experience and enthusiasm to Ballito. 
 
Rees believes that growth of the Ballito property market will be ongoing. The fact that the Dube Trade Port is still in the early stages of development and that further development is planned for the airport means that Ballito will continue to attract both local and national contractors and professionals for some time to come. In addition, municipalities serving Ballito and its surrounds have made long term commitments to investing in sophisticated infrastructure indicating their confidence in continued growth. “This is not a short term boom. It is all about sustained development,” Rees said.
Publisher: eProp
Source: TP