One needs to take into consideration a variety of factors when trying to predict the next investment hotspot.

The obvious first step is to ensure the area is experiencing growth rather than decline. But when you consider an area like the North Coast, which continues to thrive, the question becomes:

Where can you invest that has not yet reached its full potential?

People often forget that in the early days of Simbithi, the sites initially struggled to sell and the prices they did fetch were eye-wateringly low compared to what they go for today. Why?

Because back in 2003, Ballito was a very different place. There was no airport, no shopping malls, one school, no offices and it was essentially a holiday town. People found it difficult to set up a permanent living arrangement without having to keep travelling south or further for various retail and business needs.

However, taking a risk and investing in an area that seems a little removed can yield significant returns – if you’re willing to be patient.

I am told Mount Edgecombe was a similar risk when that started as it seemed far out of Umhlanga, but we all know how well that estate has done.

So, where is the next area that could feel undervalued today but flourish in the near future? My bet would be on Palm Lakes Estate and the Tinley Manor region as a whole.

It is true that as Ballito has grown rapidly, Tinley has stayed relatively stable, but change is certainly in the air.

The first big change, which in fairness affects the whole of the North Coast, is Club Med South Africa, which will be opening in just over a years’ time. The “Club Med effect” has been well documented, but in short, the further investment that will potentially come to the Tinley Manor area over the next decade could be frighteningly big. Positive sentiment is difficult to quantify, but it plays a key role – and the property market is, ultimately, a sentiment game.

The new off ramp which has been in the “big talk” category (like most of the Tinley chatter) is finally underway. This brings the Palm Lakes, Lalela and Springvale Estates significantly closer to everything Salt Rock and Ballito has to offer, and it will reduce travel time by hours on a year-round basis for residents going to and from work, retail and schools.

In addition, talk of a new shopping centre near the Tinley off-ramp is gaining momentum. With that, other services such as a hospital and schools will almost certainly follow.

Ultimately, no one can predict the market with certainty – if it were that easy, everyone would succeed. However, for buyers seeking meaningful capital growth over the next five years, the most promising opportunities lie north of Salt Rock. This is the only part of the North Coast where significant infrastructure development is still possible – and major infrastructure shifts are the key drivers of sharp increases in market value.

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