5 of Cape Town’s most popular investment areas

Cape Town is a stunning place – and boasts some of the most picturesque suburbs in the world – with homes enjoying breathtaking scenic backdrops of mountain and ocean vistas. It is also a thriving and prosperous metropolis.

This has made the city one of the most desirable places to live in South Africa. More recently, the trend of semigration has become a huge driver behind the surge of people looking to relocate to the Mother City as residents from other SA provinces snap up properties close to good schools, amenities and lifestyle offerings.

It is not just South Africans looking to buy property in Cape Town. Dogon Group Properties says that they have seen rising interest from foreign buyers who are attracted to the wonderful lifestyle and beautiful properties, which present huge value for money when considering the exchange rates. According to Dogon, the appetite for luxury properties from the overseas market is vigorous at the moment as foreign buyers look for lifestyle and value for money on South African shores.

So where are the semigrants and foreign buyers spending their money? Dogon unpacks five of the most popular investment suburbs in Cape Town:

For many, seafront living represents the dream of owning the best of the best – a property that stands out from the rest and sets one apart through its prestige and the sense of arrival that comes with being able to live in a home on the water’s edge. “Coastal living is a huge drawcard for many people, and the suburbs of Clifton and Bantry Bay – possibly the most exclusive and expensive residential suburbs in South Africa, known as the playground of the rich and famous, are seeing growing interest from wealthy buyers drawn to the prestigious nature of these suburbs, their beautiful white sandy beaches and gorgeous natural surrounding landscapes,” says Adrien Epstein, area expert and property agent for Dogon.

Clifton is home to the crème de la crème of property, and Dogon provides a snapshot of a villa currently on the market in Victoria street in Clifton for R82,8 million which is quintessentially representative of the calibre of homes found in this affluent suburb.

“This substantial 625m² home, which is tucked into the mountainside a stone’s throw away from the ocean, is set over three levels (with lift access) and boasts five generous bedroom suites, 4.5 bathrooms, a TV room, study, library, three lounges and five outdoor decks – including a pool deck, all carefully positioned to take in the stunning surroundings. Large windows on all sides make for unrivalled postcard views from this magical property in its spectacular location,” says Epstein.

The draw of living close to the sea is also being seen at the V&A Waterfront which is experiencing ongoing interest from buyers who are also attracted to the vibe of this cosmopolitan inner-city suburb that is truly the height of a luxury work, play, and live environment.

“Second only to Table Mountain, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is the biggest tourist attraction in Cape Town. With the harbour as their backyard and all the unique restaurants and stores at their disposal – residents of the V&A enjoy a world-class lifestyle,” says Natacha Neuburger, Dogon property expert for the V&A Waterfront area.

Here properties consist of exclusively lavish apartments and R24 million will secure property investors a luxury residence located on the Yacht Basin in the Waterfront Marina Residential Estate – one of the most prestigious addresses in Cape Town.

“The fully furnished 188m²apartment, which was exquisitely designed with impeccable finishes and attention to detail offers a fully equipped open-plan kitchen – with a beautiful view over Table Mountain and the canals, a spacious dining and living room with yacht basin and mountain views, an expansive en-suite master bedroom, which overlooks the yacht basin and steps out onto the terrace, as well as a second bedroom with en-suite bathroom and Juliette balcony,” explains Neuburger.

Sticking close to Cape Town’s CBD, another popular investment suburb is Higgovale, which is one of the smallest and most exclusive suburbs in Cape Town, nestled on the upper slopes of Table Mountain overlooking Cape Town’s City Bowl, with Lion’s Head looming to the North.

Keith Anderson, Dogon property agent for the Higgovale area, says that “well-protected from the south-easterly wind, Higgovale enjoys stunning panoramic views of Table Mountain and Table Bay and is within walking distance of the centre of Cape Town as well as the Table Mountain National Park. There are good schools, hospitals, top hotels, plenty of shopping opportunities, history, culture, nature and urban living all within easy reach – factors which combine to make it one of the most prime, up-market, and sought-after residential nodes.”

Anderson shares a listing currently on the market in Higgovale, at one of the best addresses in the suburb, for R29,995,000. It is a sprawling 520m² 4-bedroom classic mid-century masterpiece of a home set on 1,047m² of land with beautiful established trees and a large pool. Multiple entertainment areas within the home lead out to expansive decks with dramatic views. The property also has a separate treehouse guest cottage with its own large deck and firepit.

Moving away from the city and Atlantic Seaboard, the Southern Suburbs offers many hugely popular nodes. Alexa Horne, MD of Dogon Group Properties, and an area expert and agent for the Southern Suburbs advises that her team has seen ongoing and growing demand for properties in Upper Constantia and Bishopscourt as wealthy property buyers look to invest wisely.

“There are not many places in South Africa that match the location and lifestyle that Constantia offers. Many foreign buyers are looking to purchase homes here – drawn to the beautiful countryside, and vineyards, with its array of outdoor activities on offer, as well as access to great schools and shops.”

An example of a home for sale in Constantia Upper is a massive 1,100m² 7-bedroom, 7-bathroom SMART home for R45 million. The house features a Tesla power wall, solar panels, a borehole with a water filtration system, central heating and air-conditioning throughout – all controlled by an automated system. State-of-the-art security with touch screens connected to cameras can be found throughout.

Other notable features include a deluxe wine room, a massive gourmet kitchen, a large sunroom with stackable glass doors and motorised shutters, an outdoor entertainment area with a pizza oven, a heated pool with in-floor cleaning and ozone water purification, a master suite with private deck with jacuzzi, staff accommodation, 2 garages, a private gym, 2-bedroom guest cottage. And for the children – a climbing wall, trampoline and slide into the magnificent heated pool with electronic, pool safety cover.

Bishopscourt is a small, affluent residential suburb that is enviably positioned, nestled against the slopes of Table Mountain and bordering the world-famous Kirstenbosch Gardens. This highly sought-after residential node is defined by luxurious, expansive homes – some of the most valuable and exclusive real estate in South Africa.

Affluent investors could consider a 6-bedroom home in Bishopscourt for R45 million. This contemporary home set on 4,027m² boasts features such as seven bathrooms, a guest suite with a private jacuzzi, three reception rooms, an outside entertainment and braai area with a fire pit, a gourmet kitchen, a double volume master en-suite with a sauna, a separate self-contained cottage, tennis court, pool with a pool house and games room, garaging for 4 vehicles, a borehole, staff accommodation and more.

“These are a few examples of some of the magnificent homes that are currently on the market in the most popular investment suburbs in Cape Town, and which are drawing interest from local and foreign buyers alike,” concludes Horne. “Luxury properties such as these, situated in the most affluent and prestigious neighbourhoods in South Africa’s most popular city represent the best-of-breed when it comes to non-commercial property investment. These homes are unique and occupy special locations – making them highly desirable, and one-of-a-kind – factors that contribute to great property investment return.”