Upper Highway, Durban West drawing more luxury buyers
This article discusses the strong property market in this area, with high demand for sales and rentals.
Demand for luxury homes shifting towards Durban’s Upper Highway area, just west of the metro, for its upmarket homes and respite from city living, yet with all the metro benefits on the doorstep, says Gregg Wilson, licensee for Seeff Upper Highway. The property market is strong here with high demand for sales and rentals.
He says despite the upmarket status, the Upper Highway area offers better value compared to the Durban North, Umhlanga and Ballito areas. It also competes with the Midlands for the country-like lifestyle, but offers closer proximity to the city. Wilson says lush vegetation, beautiful gardens and a cooler climate are characteristics of the area.
A defining feature of the Upper Highway area is the Valley of 1000 Hills and the world-renowned Comrades Marathon route which runs through the area. It includes upmarket residential neighbourhoods and towns such as Hillcrest, Kloof, Assagay, Botha’s Hill, Everton, Waterfall, and Drummond, straddling the highway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.
Wilson says buyers flock to the area for a quality country-like lifestyle, yet with access to the city, top amenities and great schools including Kearsney College, Highbury Prep School, Roseway Waldorf, and Hillcrest Primary and High Schools, says Wilson.
The growing area has seen an influx of new estates and developments. Among these, the most exciting is Westown, a massive mixed-use property and lifestyle development off the N3 under construction. It is centred around Westown Square and comprises interconnected precincts and spaces, and is projected to attract R15b in investment over the next decade and a half.
Lightstone data shows steady price growth for the Upper Highway area during the market boom periods with the average price now around R1.9m, and around R1.5m for sectional titles. Luxury homes range between R3m to R6m range, although large properties can range to around R19m for a top-end home, including some with equestrian facilities.
Wilson says it is currently still a good market for buyers with excellent stock on the market across a broad spectrum of prices.
Drummond is picturesque, with no pollution and clean air. It is a quiet country-like suburb with beautiful villas and smaller cottages, large grounds, and an abundance of natural trees and plants. The popular Impala Ridge Farm is practically on the doorstep for fresh produce, gourmet food and fascinating vintage cars and motorbikes.
Writer: Gina Meintjes
