Property

South Africans are rushing to buy homes in these areas

Kirsten Minnaar • 23 December 2025

South Africans are increasingly semigrating to the Garden Route, boosting property prices as families, professionals, and retirees seek safer, high-quality coastal living with good investment performance.

Previously, the Garden Route in the Western Cape was primarily regarded as a hotspot for holiday homes and retirees.

However, Seeff George licensee Pieter Jordaan said the area has seen a tremendous influx of families and professionals in recent years as they seek a safer and higher-quality lifestyle.

Consequently, property values have surged by around 35.5% on average over the past 5 years, with areas such as Knysna seeing a 70% rise in median prices and a 100% increase in Plettenberg Bay.

The area has become the perfect alternative to busy metros, offering almost no traffic and a laid-back lifestyle.

At the same time, it offers access to excellent schools, an airport, a regional mall, top-notch hospitals and medical care, and highly sought-after retirement facilities.

According to the Seeff group, the Garden Route’s suburbs are clean and generally well managed, attracting buyers to the area.

The coastal lifestyle is a big drawcard, featuring beautiful blue flag beaches, marinas, spectacular scenery and natural attractions. The Garden Route is also a popular destination for golfers.

Golf estates such as Fancourt (George), Pezula (Knysna), Pinnacle Point (Mossel Bay), Simola (Knysna), Oubaai, and Kingswood (George), as well as Goose Valley (Plettenberg Bay), are seeing top prices paid for luxury homes.

The tremendous growth of lifestyle and security estates is also a big drawcard for semigration buyers. In these estates, prices are increasingly paid upwards of R5 million to over R10 million and higher in some estates.

George

The City of George property market is thriving, recording R3 billion in property transactions for the year ending September 2025, according to Lightstone data.

Average prices have increased by over 30% in the past three years, driven by strong demand, limited supply, and ongoing stock shortages. Jordaan noted that development delays will likely keep inventory tight.

The city is highly sought after for its excellent quality of life, mild climate, scenic beaches, reputable schools, and top golf courses.

With robust local businesses and infrastructure, including hospitals and a regional mall, George has become a preferred semigration destination.

It offers a more affordable alternative to Cape Town for families and professionals, while still offering many of the same advantages.

Top-performing estates are increasingly seeing prices ranging from R5 million to R10 million, such as Kingswood, Welgelegen, Earls Court, and Kraaibosch Country Estate.

Fancourt achieves the highest prices upwards of R15 million. Jordaan says rentals are also in high demand, boosted by semigration.

Rates range from R5,500 for sectional titles to R40,000 on average for high-end houses, but can go to R75,000 per month in Fancourt.

Mossel Bay

Mossel Bay has experienced excellent sales over the last few years, driven by an influx of people drawn to the lifestyle, safety, and tourism opportunities.

Seeff Mossel Bay sales manager, Herman Spies, said that investing in property has proven to be a good investment, as the town has been one of the top-performing areas over the past five years.

Overall transactions for the year are still ahead of the pre-pandemic period, standing at R2.4 billion for the 12 months ending November 2025.

Aside from the town itself, there are several areas such as Groot Brak, Klein Brak, Hartenbos, and Dana Bay, which are all popular with holiday and retirement buyers.

The market offers a variety of property options and price points, with an overall average sale price of around R2.3 million.

The typical price range is from R1.5 million to R4 million, with estates such as Pinnacle Point commanding a premium in the R5 million to R10 million range and above.

Knysna

Knysna’s attractions are centred on its stunning natural lagoon and the iconic Knysna Heads and Lagoon, offering a picturesque setting for water-based activities.

The waterfront and yacht club provide excellent dining and leisure opportunities. Seeff Knysna licensee, Gail Rimbault, said the market is characterised by robust demand.

Transactions for the 12 months to the end of November total R2.2 billion, with an average transaction price of R3.7 million.

The median freehold price stands at R3.9 million and the sectional title price at R1.7 million, both up by about 70% over 5 years. A recent Lightstone study showed that nearly 30% of properties are now valued over R5 million.

This was especially true in estates such as Thesen Islands, Pezula, Simola, Eastford Country Estate, and Belvidere Estate, with average prices of up to R6.4 million in Leisure Isle and R10.2 million at The Heads.

Plettenberg Bay

Plettenberg Bay is one of the top destinations for luxury retirement and holiday buyers, according to Seeff Plettenberg Bay licensee, Alet Ollemans.

Aside from the great weather and Blue Flag beaches, it offers attractions such as whale and dolphin watching, world-class hiking, seal viewing, and top wine farms.

Property prices have basically doubled over the past five years on the back of strong demand and high-end sales, driven primarily by the pandemic surge.

Plett now ranks second only to the Atlantic Seaboard in terms of the top-end prices that wealthy buyers will pay for a luxury beach house on Beachy Head Drive.

Overall, Lightstone ranked the town as home to the highest portion of high-value properties with nearly 40% of all properties valued over R3 million.

The tremendous growth in luxury estates has also seen buyers prepared to pay upwards of R5 million to R10 million for estates such as Brackenridge, Duin en See, Athina, Schoongezicht, Whale Rock, and Turtle Creek.

However, high-end properties achieved even higher prices, with some homes reaching prices of over R20 million.