Property for sale - Sedgefield

One of my friends/clients would like to sell his property in Sedgefield, Western Cape Garden Route.

Please contact me for more info - vania@bondapply.com

From Tourism Sedgefield: "Sedgefield is situated midway between George and Knysna, in the Cape Garden Route. Set on the coastline, Sedgefield is fast shedding its former sleepy town status and turning into a buzzing and lively hot spot. "If it´s outdoor, its out here!" is the towns motto and with its surrounding legendary lakes and five splendid beaches, it is no wonder. Parents can attempt to relax whilst the kids splash around in the shallow waters of the lagoon.

For the less sedentry, why not do try some yachting or windsurfing at Swartvlei. This lake is an ideal venue for water sports enthusiasts, with good offshore winds, a wide expanse of water and limited interference from motor boats. Take to the Beach; Sedgefield boasts five absolutely stunning beaches. From our river mouth beach to Myoli and Cola (increasingly popular swimming beaches for the holiday makers), Buffalo Bay (a twenty minute drive but well worth it!!), Platbank (borders on a nature reserve) and Swartvlei Beach alongside the majestic Gericke´s Point.

If getting wet is not your thing, there is still much to do for the family.

Other outdoor activities include bowls (for the grandparents, perhaps), tennis, squash, canoeing, horse riding and golf. One can also go paragliding, experience our new and exciting nature´s trail through the garden route and of course enjoy great fishing opportunities (surf, rock and lake fishing). Be sure to get your fishing license at the local post office or Sedgefield Sports and Hobbies and set out for Groenvlei to hook some Bass.

Sedgefield boasts a few marine protected areas and nature reserves and is a hotspot for bird lovers. Spot the secretive Starred Robin and the Blue Mantle Flycatcher in the surrounding forests. You could also spot the difficult-to-see Victorian Warbler amidst the fynbos and the much sought after (within the birding circles) African Finfoot. At certain times of the year, a section of the Swartvlei is coloured pink with flamingos that feed off the riches. "

Economic Landscape

Although we expect that 2008 will most probably be the lower turning point in the property cycle, the forecast is for nominal house price growth to average between 10% and 12% per annum in the period 2008 – 2012. This implies that house prices will by 2012 be approximately 60 -70% higher than today, even after strong price growth in the past few years.

This year is therefore the year to buy, before price growth starts to accelerate again in 2009 on the back of expected better economic conditions and lower interest rates.

When looking further a field, the recent turn in the United States housing and financial sector is of some concern, but we do not expect there to be any direct impact on South Africa. South Africa and the local banking sector are not directly exposed to the sub-prime market, as our offering is based on sound lending practices.

In an attempt to avoid a recession, the US has cut interest rates aggressively. This may influence world growth and also South Africa’s export performance. Should a recession transpire, we could potentially see an indirect impact on our macroeconomic environment, which in turn could affect the ability of households to purchase properties.

When it comes to investment, property has always been a sound choice – especially over the medium to long term. Since 2000, real house price growth (that is excluding the effect of inflation) was in the order of 13,5% per annum. Very few other investments would have performed better, taking into account that property is a low-risk investment. When looking at economics, interest rate sensitive sectors, such as the property market, are important to the household and banking sectors. As one of the most sensitive sectors in the economy, the housing market is often referred to as the emotional sector because of its volatility as well as its value to the consumer.

A bank’s most significant relationship with a consumer/household centres around the mortgage loan. A house is generally the most expensive item a household will ever buy, but it is also one of the single biggest assets they will ever own. It is important because as an asset, it is a fundamental contributor to wealth creation for most families.

The potential contribution a home can make to a family’s financial wellbeing is proven when one reflects on the past few years. Since 2000, property prices have increased by about 20% per annum. Individuals who have not been in the property market during this period have lost out on one of the biggest creators of wealth in our country in a long time.

So what does this all mean today for our customers out there?
We know affordability will remain a big issue this year. House price growth is the lowest it’s been in seven years – it’s expected to dip below 10% in 2008.

This, coupled with the now tighter controls on credit provision, is likely to result in increased pressure on the applications acceptance rate. Buying patterns will change as customers opt for smaller, more affordable homes versus the bigger, more luxurious dwellings they have come to expect to buy with their rand. Bad debts are likely to increase, which means profitability and overall financial performance will need to be carefully managed.