The South African listed property sector has delivered a total return of 45,5% for the year to date, its best performance in six years.

Andre Stadler, MD of Catalyst Fund Managers, said yesterday the “phenomenal” growth from the listed property sector had been driven by a positive capital market and strengthening property fundamentals.

Stadler said the listed property sector’s average total return over the past three years had been 41% a year.

He said if an investor had invested R100 in the listed property sector in January 2003 it would now be worth R280. Had an investor invested R100 in Premium Properties, the top performing listed property stock, in 2003, it would now be worth R628.

He said for the past three years Premium had delivered an average compound annual return of 84,5% a year.

Meanwhile, the South African Listed Property index reached its highest yet level of 843 on Monday. The index started the year at 609.

Mariette Warner, head of property funds at Stanlib Asset Management, said there had been a 38% increase in capital appreciation in the index in the year to date.