Living In Style

There are plenty of elements to factor in when considering investing in – and moving to – a mature lifestyle estate. Whether you’re looking to “semigrate” or just shift to a lower gear after decades of work or building a family, there are plenty of top-quality choices right around South Africa.

Knysna lifestyle estate

“Investing in property is always a smart strategy that can generate decent returns on what is generally considered a low-risk long-term investment,” says Knysna Lifestyle Estate developer Ian Raubenheimer. “Buying a retirement property long before you retire and renting it out to pay off the bond before you move in is a smart investment move. Most people choose a location they want to retire to, and then rent the property out until they are ready to move in themselves. As with any property, the important aspects to consider when it comes to a retirement property are location, levy costs, security, build, quality and facilities,” Raubenheimer explains.

He says at Knysna Lifestyle Estate, the majority of owners have purchased with the intention of immediate occupation, while a small percentage purchase for the future and rent the homes until they are ready to occupy.

The 52-hectare Knysna Lifestyle Estate has a density of 5 homes per hectare – one of the lowest residential densities of any similar lifestyle estate in South Africa. Combining both freehold luxury homes and life right assisted living units, residents can enjoy space and privacy with healthcare facilities on site. “We are currently selling in phase 3 with over 100 homes completed. There will be 250 homes once all 5 phases are complete,” says Raubenheimer.

Onrus Manor

Onrus Manor lifestyle village offers a retirement location in perfect harmony with the natural environment. Situated on the slopes of the Kleinriver Mountain range in the Overberg, it is close to Hermanus and a short drive from Somerset West. Onrus Manor offers a peaceful environment with facilities specifically tailored for active, vibrant people aged 50+. “The location is unique,” says Faircape Retirement sales manager Candice Vietri-Theron.

“Onrus Manor comprises 185 two- and three-bedroom cottages with a range of freestanding and semi-detached luxury homes. “All homes are equipped with modern fitted kitchens, modern bathrooms with large walk-in showers, single or double garages, and a private garden, and are pet-friendly,” she says.

Vietri-Theron says that the estate has seen an influx of residents from Johannesburg and Durban over the past 12 months. “We believe this is because our villages may offer amenities, such as state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, which retirement villages in their current hometown do not. And, let’s not forget the obvious reason – the Cape is incredibly attractive!” In terms of that healthcare offering, Onrus Manor has a fully equipped primary health facility that offers additional services to residents in need of sub-acute, palliative, step-down and respite care.

 Renishaw Hills

“As you age, it is necessary to recognise your increasing vulnerability to criminal activity and health issues. Most high-end mature lifestyle villages will prioritise secure living and some degree of healthcare, so it makes sense to have a good look at what is on offer, and seriously consider investing in a high-quality residential community,” says Phil Barker, managing director of Renishaw Property Developments.

Renishaw Hills is the first development within a larger Renishaw coastal precinct plan, which Barker sees as the first step in the economic awakening of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) mid-south coast. “The nature and size of the investment in the development of Renishaw Hills is unprecedented on the KZN mid-south coast,” he says. “Partnerships with local businesses and local communities have been formally prioritised so that the local economy will benefit.”

Currently, 180 units are occupied and the community is about 300 strong. “We are a relatively new development, with the first residents having taken occupation in late 2017. Once complete, there will be 512 homes, 171 of which will be apartments,” says Barker.

Barker says that purchasers as young as 40 have identified an investment opportunity at the estate. “Moving to Renishaw Hills will be a call they may make some time in the future. Many relatively young owners have purchased to provide a safe and community-minded spot for ageing parents. Our residents range in age from 50 to 99; the younger residents continue to work full-time, while the older ones tell us that they are the fittest they’ve ever been, with all the activities that keep them on the move.”

Clé Du Cap

Situated in Kirstenhof in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, Clé Du Cap comprises 141 two-bedroom, two-bathroom units and cottages with spacious living areas and modern, well-appointed kitchens.

“Clé Du Cap offers our residents a home in a charming setting, ensuring a tranquil and stress-free environment with facilities specifically tailored for active, vibrant people of 50 years and over,” says Faircape Retirement’s Candice Vietri-Theron.

“All homes are equipped with modern fitted kitchens, modern bathrooms with large walk-in showers and single or double garages. Each home has a private garden and is pet-friendly. Clé du Cap also has 24-hour security, electric fencing, remote surveillance, access control, and an on-site healthcare centre,” she says.

Faircape Properties operates on the life rights system, giving residents the right to occupy a specific property for the remainder of the holder’s life. The benefits include paying no transfer duty or VAT to change the life rights holder, and the protection of the life rights holder by the Retired Persons Act provides a number of prerequisites including levy transparency, restrictions of alienation and restrictions on the developer in respect of receipt of consideration.

“Investing in one of our retirement villages offers the best of both worlds – the luxury of living in a peaceful and secure estate, while also being surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a like-minded community. Our villages also provide ease of access to attractive facilities like an on-site gym, pool, clubhouse, shuttle services, library, and support staff, if needed,” says Vietri-Theron.

What to consider 

Factors that influence decision-making when looking at mature lifestyle estate living.

Modern mature lifestyle estates give retirees the opportunity to ease into retirement without having to compromise their quality of life. Estate living frees them from home-ownership worries such as maintenance, gardens, insurance and security. Clubhouses with restaurants, gyms, heated pools and libraries, coupled with a packed social calendar, help build and maintain social connections, too.

Natural beauty

Although many people seek to move away from bustling cities to coastal areas when considering retiring, there are plenty of mature lifestyle estates inland with natural wonders to explore. The Jukskei River runs through the Waterfall Development, north of Johannesburg, with the riverside characterised by rock pools, beach areas, marshlands and waterfalls. It features numerous walking trails with bird hides, park benches and drinking fountains.

Two mature estates form part of the Waterfall development – Waterfall Valley Mature Lifestyle Estate and Waterfall Hills. Residents of both estates have access to over 35km of hiking and biking trails, enabling them to maintain an active, social lifestyle in a secure, caring community.

Multigenerational Living 

Families grouping together to spend more time with each other is a growing trend. “We find that retirees buy in Waterfall’s mature lifestyle estates and then their children move to Waterfall to be closer to them,” says Waterfall Management Company CEO Willie Vos.

As something of a self-contained city, with schools, shopping centres, hotels, a hospital, business parks and more, Waterfall also offers a semigration opportunity for those wishing to keep their lifestyle options open.

Credentials 

Sustainability and efficiency are key in helping keep operating costs down – and have obvious environmental benefits. “All houses on the Valley Estate are north-facing, maximising natural light and saving on heating bills in the winter,” says Vos. “There’s also underfloor heating, LED lighting, underslab polystyrene insulation and gas-fired tankless geysers, with solar geysers at Waterfall Hills.”

Smart living 

Living eco-consciously means living smarter – and replacing legacy systems in your home with eco-friendly ones can help boost your property value too.

Making eco-conscious changes to your home won’t necessarily make a significant dent in the damage being done to the planet, but it will help you run your home more efficiently and make you less reliant on municipal and parastatal services.

Eco-friendly solutions increase a home’s value because they save energy, which, in turn, saves money. Eco-living is also trending, and people now look at these elements as something desirable in a home – because they also add a certain level of security and comfort,” says Zeke Murphy, director at Sustainable.co.za.”

Don’t hesitate to integrate

Murphy says it’s easier to integrate sustainable systems during the building phase, but that doesn’t mean that installing them at a later phase is impossible. “Because many interventions are integrated into the home’s power supply, walls and floors and water supply, and there are green design principles that can be incorporated during the design phase, it’s easier to establish than retrofit,” he says. “There has been a definite turn in the tide towards green living principles, which means that green solutions will add value to one’s home, making it more appealing to future buyers.”

Insights

Mature lifestyle estate developments are booming across South Africa.

As the over-60 population of South Africa continues to grow, the need for retirement accommodation is increasing. This is reflected in the value of retirement units sold in South Africa – rising from just under R2-billion in 2008 to R4.9-billion in 2019, showing an average annual increase of 9.8 per cent.

Best of all worlds

Auria Senior Living CEO Barry Kaganson says that the company looks to established areas when planning new developments, as people like to stay in their current neighbourhoods. “Also, when considering new nodes, Auria considers older people wanting to move to be closer to younger family members,” he says.

Auria currently has five senior living communities across South Africa: San Sereno in Bryanston; Melrose Manor in Melrose North; Royal View in Sandringham; Woodside in Rondebosch and Coral Cove on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

Kaganson says people of all ages are relocating, a trend largely driven by the rise of remote working options accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and record low-interest rates in South Africa. “This has led to some interesting shifts in the real estate market, offering better choices for seniors, in many cases,” he says. “Auria Senior Living communities offer a range of independent and assisted living options designed to enhance convenience, social life and wellness.”