A total of 3600 housing units will be built in addition; the heart of Belhar will consist of commercial/industrial and retail buildings. Belhar will then turn into a vibrant suburb with its own business, retail and residential areas. The suburb will attract individuals who are willing to take a chance on something new with their business and/or housing needs.

Students take preference with 1000 units solely catering to the student community from nearby institutions such as the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the University of the Western Cape. Townhouses and flats will make up 900 of the units and the rest of the units will be houses.

Residing in Belhar is meant to be a bit easier on your people’s finances. Belhar looks like a fun place to reside in with all the new property developments, comes new career opportunities. The retail facilities will also be a major attraction.

For a fresh start in a newly developed area head to Cape Town’s Belhar suburbs and book yourself a residential unit now!

Image courtesy of : oldenplanners.co.za

Rondebosch Oaks

Cape Town suburbs have grown in popularity. More people are moving there for obvious reasons. Suburb living is dubbed the “in thing” especially an apartment in the suburb. There are some advantages to living in a suburb in the mother city one being the spectacular views, beach and convenience.

Investment potential: Suburbs in Rondebosch have grown to be one of the best investment areas in not only Cape Town, but also South Africa as a whole. If you are looking to buy and rent out property then you are in luck.  Another advantage is the new developments taking place around Rondebosch, such as the Rondebosch Oaks. This new apartment building will be situated in the heart of Rondebosch.

Position: The Rondebosch residential area has received a lot of attention over the years. It is near the University of Cape Town, Damelin College and Varsity College. These tertiary institutions equal potential tenants as they flood in year after year. Rondebosch is located not far from the Cricket grounds, Newlands Rugby, restaurants and plenty of shopping centres.

Modern living: Situated in the southern suburbs of Rondebosch are 166 apartments, which come complete with modern finishes. The balcony offers a breath-taking view of the mountains. There is also secure parking bay in all units, 24-hour security and fingerprint access into the building. Living in the southern suburbs offers serenity which equal relaxation. It is perfect because it is not far from the central place meaning getting around is not difficult. At the same time, it is one of the best investments due to the development growth-taking place in Rondebosch.

Image courtesy of http://www.rondeboschoaks.co.za

The Everite Factory hostels will get renovated thus creating new gap houses in the process. The government is currently trying to provide housing for millions of people and this initiative is helping government. Brackenfell and Kraaifonten will be going under construction.

This new development comes in at the perfect time where people are in need of houses. The process did take a couple of years. This venture went through a lot of discussion all of which has paid off. The venture also comes in at the perfect time to help alleviate Cape Town’s housing shortage.

Three types of houses need are going to be part of the process. Courtyard dwellings, semi-detached houses and double/triple story apartments. Public participation will take place after the announcement, as a public consultation process needs to take place. The City of Cape Town is playing its role in supporting government’s means at creating basic housing for all South Africans.

Easter weekend is upon us and that means the Two Oceans Marathon race is happening in Cape Town! If you haven’t secured accommodation yet then you need to act fast!
Hotels and B&B’s are likely to be fully booked at the moment. It’s time to get creative! Find accommodation in an unconventional manner. Have you consider renting out an apartment? Maybe even a holiday home? If you have friends that live in Cape Town maybe you can even rent their home…
If you are a group of runners, rent out a house with a number of bedrooms. You can all reside there, and it will cost less than a hotel. Fun times are sure-fire when like-minded people get together. Renting a house means some privacy, and time! Taking turns to clean and cook will give you ample time to prepare for the Two Oceans Marathon Race.
The 2012 Two Oceans Marathon Race takes place on Saturday 07 April 2012. The run will begin in Newlands, past Chapman’s Peak, onto Houtbay and Constantia Nek.  The main race (ultra-race) is 56km in distance and will start at 06:25 on Saturday April 7th.
You can’t afford to miss this! Run whilst enjoying the view of the Mother city at the 2012 Two Oceans Marathon race. Find that Cape Town accommodation immediately!

South Africa is blessed with a coastline that wraps all the way around its pretty edges, and many people are drawn to the beauty of the ocean to work, live and/or retire. If you want to live at the sea, but living costs are an important factor in your decision for an east or west coast residence, then you’ll find this piece of information quite fascinating.

Just looking at property listings alone, you would think that Cape Town is the most expensive city to live in, in South Africa. Let’s compare property prices: an 11-bedroom, 11-bathroom house in Claremont is listed at R23 million, whereas a 14-bedroom, 13-bathroom house for sale in Amanzimtoti is listed at R5,9 million. It’s not difficult to assume then that Cape Town is a lot more expensive to live in than Durban.

However, a recent study shows that living in Durban could quickly put a strain on residents’ wallets, especially in the property sphere. Cape Tonians were surprised by this, but it’s now no secret that developed property in Durban is a whopping 30% higher than anywhere else in South Africa.

Durban is expensive because of its controversial surcharges, which are currently being investigated by the South African Property Owners Association (Sapoa) because they significantly increase the cost of property development. Durban is also expensive because of its high water and electricity tariffs, as well as the costs of connecting to these services.

So the good news it’s a lot more cost-effective to live in Cape Town than in Durban. What are you waiting for?

The Cape Town suburb of Llandudno is an upmarket area and is prized for its privacy and exclusivity. Houses for sale in Llandudno are priced for a very high-end market and run into the millions. I saw an 8-bedroom, 8-bathroom house that resembles the house of the character Tony Stark in the Iron Man movies. The house in question could be yours if you have R45 million and are willing to part with it.

So what makes houses for sale in  so exclusively priced? This suburb boasts no commercial centre; there are no street lights or shops here, and there is only one road that leads into this expensive “village” (as it is regarded by its residents). The Llandudno beach is unspoiled and stretches off in both directions of the suburb. The Sandy Bay nude beach is just a 20 minute walk away and the vibrant Hout Bay is just over the hill, a 5 minute drive away.

Of all the things on my vision board, I’ll leave the Llandudno property for last. I may need a little more time to save up.

The Atlantic Seaboard is sought after because it has some of the most beautiful and exclusive Cape Town property for sale. However, the more established residential area seems to be the Southern Suburbs, lying at the base of Table Mountain National Park.
The southern suburbs have a beautiful backdrop created by clouds that hang over the mountains;  which stretches from Signal Hill all the way to the Cape Point.
Some of the southern suburbs worth highlighting are:

• Constantia Valley

The upmarket suburb lying close to the original vineyards, Constantia Valley has some of the most gorgeous homes in Cape Town and makes up one of the Cape’s oldest wine routes.

• Claremont

Claremont is an upmarket suburb which has some of the largest residential homes and old, spacious apartments. Synonymous with Cavendish Square and The Link, these shopping malls are vibrant hubs that offer a shopping experience only found in Cape Town. Claremont is a bit of a shopping haven for all retail enthusiasts.

• Newlands

Newlands is Cape Town’s sporting capital, especially with rugby and cricket matches being hosted there. Newlands is just 15 minutes away from the city centre and is known as Cape Town’s ‘green’ suburb because it is located against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.

The southern suburbs are predominantly made up of residential areas, with a variety of classically designed homes that range from cottage-styles to ornate homes.

I have a friend who has moved to another province to further her studies.
I also know people from neighbouring African countries that have come to South Africa to study and start their new lives. I respect such people because they were brave enough to leave everything they’ve ever known behind just to follow their dreams.
If you are moving to Cape Town soon then here are a few advantages of living close to the beach:

• Start and/or leave a new job

The advantage to renting property anywhere is that you can move as you please, if/when you change occupations, it becomes easier for you to relocate.

• Simple living

Unlike living in-land, the life in Cape Town is slower and somewhat easier, you have options that you don’t necessarily have in Johannesburg and Pretoria for example:

• Cost effective

The average taxi fare is R4 in Cape Town, due to the ports; exported products are cheaper. Property for rent is set at reasonable prices, meaning you have more money to spend on other things.

• Peace of mind

Living in apartment complexes is a lot safer, when work stresses you during the week you can also go to the beach in the afternoons to wind down.
Life in Cape Town is fun, property to let is affordable, there’s plenty to do and lots of interesting people to meet.

I went to a primary school situated in a military community… it was a lot of fun! I was very fortunate to have met the people I met and we all took the lessons, and values we were taught in school very seriously.
Last year we had a reunion party and that was one of the happiest days of my life, it was good to see that everyone was doing well and to some extent, the pride and discipline of the soldiers around our school rubbed off on us.
Cape Town has Simon’s Town a little village situated 40km outside the city centre. The town is a residential area for the South African Navy; walking around the streets you find cottages and homes, whilst the main road has a range of coffee shops, restaurants and different shops.
Simon’s Town boasts a sophisticated Waterfront Centre, while maintaining the town’s seaside atmosphere. The beaches of Simon’s Town are a real treat!
From the 16th – 18th March 2012, Simon’s Town will host the South African Navy Festival, which will be a weekend filled with naval displays plus the SA Navy Band Dry Dock Concert.
There will be plenty of activities and numerous events in the main arena that both young and old will find entertaining. The festival is a family-orientated event so bring the whole family.
Entrance to the festival is free and gates open daily from 10 in the morning, until 6 in the evening.