Property

Wealthy South Africans are flocking to these four suburbs

Kirsten Minnaar • 29 October 2025

Younger and wealthier South Africans are flocking to Sandton and Johannesburg North suburbs like Bryanston, Morningside, and Parkhurst, drawn by top schools, lifestyle amenities, and diverse property options.

Seeff’s Sandton MD, Charles Vining, said Sandton and Johannesburg North are home to some of the most sought-after real estate in the country.

This, paired with the area’s excellent schools, like Crawford, St Stithians College and Dainfern College, are drawing buyers to these areas.

Notably, young buyers and families are piling in. Lightstone data shows that around 78% of buyers over the last year were under the age of 50, with half of those being under the age of 35.

Morningside, Bryanston, Lonehill and Parkhurst were revealed as the biggest selling suburbs for 2024 by Lightstone. Fourways and Parkhurst were among the fastest selling suburbs.

Seeff agents are reporting a welcome return of energy to the market. FNB, for example, also recently reported that house prices are rebounding with better growth compared to the last two years.

Lightstone data shows that Sandton is a high-volume property market with 7,165 transactions for the broader Sandton area in 2024. Bryanston added a further 976 transfers.

The overall transaction price for Sandton is around R2.5 million, with freestanding houses at about R3.5 million on average.

Vining said the R3 million to R8 million range is the most active for family houses. Overall, about 8.2% of all transactions are priced over R5 million.

“Sandton and Joburg North offer the most sought-after addresses and access to top-tier schools and amenities, underscoring demand for property,” he said.

The attraction also lies in the choice of property options, from sectional titles to clusters and large family houses on big plots with swimming pools.

Some of these homes include a private tennis court as well. Most of these properties come with extra living space and outdoor entertainment areas.

Some suburbs shine

Several high-value sales have been recorded this year so far for the Sandton and Joburg upper-income areas. These include:

Sandhurst: R75 million
Bryanston: R40.25 million
Inanda: R27 million
Morningside (Cloud’s End Estate): R25.5 million
Illovo: R22 million
Dainfern: R21 million
Westcliff: R20 million
Sandown (Michelangelo Towers Penthouse): R20 million

Some of the top area sought out by high-income buyers for access to top schools include Bryanston, one of the most active areas with some of the highest sales volumes and prices paid of over R20 million to R40 million in recent years.

The strong sales performance is attributed to the central location and access to major arterials, and top-rated schools, including Bryanston Primary and High Schools, St Stithians, and The British International College.

Average asking prices are around R3 million to R8 million, with premium homes on large stands exceeding R20 million. Sectional titles range from around R1.2 million to R2.2 million.

Fourways is another sought-after area. It is favoured by families for the secure, country-style lifestyle it provides. It also offers access to excellent schools such as Fourways High School, Crawford Lonehill, and Dainfern College.

Top-tier amenities are also on hand including shopping, restaurants, golfing and other leisure activities. There are numerous estates and complexes. Freehold homes are priced from around R2.5 million to R5.5 million on average.

Premium estates such as Dainfern Golf Estate, Fourways Gardens, and Cedar Lakes command higher prices, often upwards from R5 million to about R65 million at the top-end.

The Parks – including Parkhurst, Parkview, and Parktown North – are also drawing in wealthy buyers. These older, established suburbs with tree-lined streets and proximity to some of Johannesburg’s most prestigious schools.

These include St John’s, King Edward, Parkview Senior, and UJ and Wits Universities. The village-like atmosphere, trendy restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, and proximity to major business hubs such as Rosebank and Sandton add to the popularity.

Parkhurst is priced at around R2.8 million to R5 million on average. Parkview, often older “character” homes on large stands, at around R3.9 million, and Parktown North with larger family homes at around R3.7 million.

A more exclusive suburb close to the Sandton CBD, Morningside also offers a prestigious choice for families and access to top-tier schools such as Redhill School and Crawford.

The average price for a freestanding house is significantly higher, at around R4.2 million to R12 million. These properties are often larger and located in more exclusive areas.

Finally, Lonehill is highly regarded for its strong community, security initiatives and excellent access to schools such as Crawford Lonehill and Fourways High.

It is dominated by clusters and sectional-title homes, with average prices ranging from around R2.5 million to R6 million.