South Africans rushing to buy property in these areas

Many South Africans are moving to cities to be closer to top schools around the country, and they are spending a lot of money to do so.

Pam Golding Properties says the Western Cape, in particular, is an extremely popular area renowned for its good schools and lifestyle. 

Prices in the area have reflected this boom in popularity, increasing from an average selling price of R935,000 in 2015 to over R1.6 million in 2024, according to Property 24.  

Annien Borg, regional head for Pam Golding Properties, Boland and Overberg, explained that there are major implications for the residential property markets in areas close to good schools.

“The number of parents keen to find homes in these areas keeps increasing while the existing residents generally want to stay for 15 to 20 years. This results in an ongoing undersupply that supports continuous price growth,” she said.

Although there are no specified “feeder zones” set by the Western Cape Education Department or the new Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, the high demand for spaces in these schools means that those living in nearby areas are often given preference. 

Furthermore, parents also prefer to live closer to these schools to avoid heavy traffic and long commute times. 

“Cape Town’s northern suburbs, along with Boland and Overberg towns, have some remarkable schools, providing exceptional education and creating tight-knit communities and long-lasting friendships,” Borg explained. 

“Families tend to stay in homes in these areas until their children move out.” 

Durbanville and its surrounding areas host some of South Africa’s oldest and top schools, boosting demand and property prices. In Valmary Park, where Durbanville Prep is a major draw, houses start at over R5 million.

D’Urbanvale, which is close to Reddam Prep, has property prices starting from just over R2 million. 

Reddam High School is located in the Clara Anna Fonteyn Estate, where Pam Golding is selling homes priced between R14 million and R22 million, Borg explained.

“Durbanville Primary and High Schools in Durbanville Central are popular choices, and townhouses in the area seem to attract higher prices, especially among semigrants from other provinces,” she said. 

“Prices here range from around R3 million for a three-bedroom townhouse to R5.5 million for larger freestanding properties.”

“In luxury estates like Heerenzicht and Everglen Manor, which are close to Fairmont High School, we are selling homes priced from R6 million to over R14 million.”

Another example is Curro Durbanville, which is close to Sonstraal Heights. Borg explained the area offers diverse residential options ranging from one-bedroom apartments to spacious six-bedroom homes.”

Borg said that three-bedroom homes in Sonstraal Heights can go for around R2.5 million, making it an inclusive neighbourhood for many families, within reach of an excellent school.

“Uitzicht was considered a little remote from Durbanville but is more appealing since the advent of Curro Uitzicht, attracting many new residents,” she said. 

“For example, the property on Stepping Stones Street, directly opposite the school entrance, definitely commanded a higher sale price due to its prime location.”

Graanendal, Welbevinden, Avalon and Pinehurst are popular estates in the area, with prices ranging from just under R3 million to around R9 million.

Stellenberg High in Bellville and Kenridge Primary in Durbanville are also sought-after northern suburb schools.

The Boland towns of Paarl and Stellenbosch are also popular with family buyers, and many people move here specifically for the schools, which are difficult to get into, Borg explained. 

“Families who live in Paarl or nearby get the chance to send their children to some of the best schools in the country.”

“The two most famous schools here are Paarl Boys High and Paarl Gimnasium (Paarl Gim). La Rochelle, Bridge House, Courtrai Primary, Paarl Girls High and the Green School are some of the other top schools in this area.”

Pam Golding explained that the entry price for family homes in nearby Wellington is around R2.4 million, and in Paarl and nearby secure estates, a small three-bedroom home can go for around R3.5 million. 

“In the luxury estates prices start at around R2.9 million for townhouses and from R5 million for full title properties. In Franschhoek, freestanding, full-title homes are priced from around R7.5 million,” the company said.

“On the northeast side of Stellenbosch in the Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch high and primary schools are renowned for excellence in academics and sports.”

For many years, primary school applications have exceeded availability, and as a result, many parents will apply years in advance, Borg said. 

As a result, the five residential areas surrounding these two schools, Mostertsdrift, Karindal, Rozendal, Uniepark and Simonswyk, are extremely desirable.

Borg said Mostertsdrift residential prices have increased significantly over the last three years, and depending on the property’s size and location, you can now pay R8 million or more for a 1960s fixer-upper.

“Simonswyk’s entry-level price three years ago was still in the late R3 millions, but now the minimum is the upper R4 millions, with Uniepark in the mid to upper R6 millions,” Borg said. 

She added that Rozendal, Uniepark, Dalsig and Brandwacht have had an injection of renovations over the last couple of years, and property resales are going for over R10 million.

“The growth has been tremendous. The new developments in Paradyskloof – further out but still close enough for a 15-minute drive to school – have exceeded all expectations in sales and price growth,” she said. 

“Prices here start at around R7 million, with secure estates like Brandwacht aan Rivier, Kingsview and Welgegund exceeding the R10 million mark.”

Krigeville, Die Boord, Dalsig and Brandwacht are located close to other excellent schools, such as Paul Roos Gymnasium, Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof, Rhenish Girls High, Eikestad Primêreskool and Rhenish Primary.

“Krigeville, the lower part of Dalsig, die Boord (De Bosch) are cycling options for many pupils,” Borg said. 

“The homes in Krigeville are 100m to 200m from the school gates and definitely sell at higher prices than those in Dalsig, where we are marketing a five-bedroom house for R19 million.”

Towns like Hermanus and Onrus are also sought after for their schools, with house prices in these areas starting at just under R3 million.

“Curro, Hermanus High School, Hermanus Primary School and Northcliff House College are all top schools attracting more and more younger families to the area,” she said.

“Around 40% of buyers in Hermanus and surrounding areas over the last 12 months are aged between 39 and 49, confirming that post Covid, the area has attracted younger buyers with school-going children.”

This trend is reflected in the Western Cape as a whole. According to Property 24, those aged 36 to 49 have bought the most homes in this area this year, representing 32.7% of purchases.

As a result, the demand for long-term, unfurnished rentals is also higher than the available property. 

“There is no doubt that proximity to a top-rated school is a major factor in home-buying decisions for families – and a strong marketing advantage for sellers,” Borg concluded.

Apart from extremely high property prices, the fees at these highly sought-after schools can cost families hefty sums. 

The table below shows the annual fees for the popular schools listed in this article.

School	Annual fees
Hermanus Primary School	R13,750
Durbanville Prep	R22,800
Stellenbosch Primary	R23,650 (Gr 2-7) – R25,450 (pre-primary)
Hermanus High School	R26,442
Kenridge Primary	R27,500
Eikestad Primêreskool	R27,600
Rhenish Primary	R29,300 (Gr 1-7) – R31,180 (pre-primary)
Stellenbosch High	R36,000
Durbanville High School	R37,600
Stellenberg High	R37,600
Paarl Boys High	R40,840
Paarl Gimnasium	R42,100
Paarl Girls High	R25,470 (pre-primary) – R42,560 (Gr 7-12)
La Rochelle	R43,400
Northcliff House College	R16,800 (Gr R) – R45,600 (Gr 12)
Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof	R45,720
Rhenish Girls High	R47,200
Paul Roos Gymnasium	R57,330
Curro Hermanus	R37,200 (pre-primary) – R77,760 (Gr 10-12)
Curro Uitzicht	R82,020 (Gr 1) – R117,120 (Gr 12)
Curro Durbanville	R64,020 (pre-primary) -R118,200 (Gr 11-12)
Green School	R50,779 (pre-primary) – R143,260 (Gr 11)
Reddam House Durbanville	R60,541 (pre-primary) – R145,877 (Gr 12)
Bridge House	R 55,500 (pre-primary) – R151,800 (Gr 11-12)