Property in South Africa is great value for money, with plenty of large, luxurious properties for sale at extremely good prices. For the past five years, prices have been rising rapidly yet are still way below what you would expect to pay in the UK or most places in Europe. Areas of interest include Cape Town and the Garden Route while Johannesburg – so often derided as a crime-ridden no-go zone – is beginning to attract the foreign investor, tempted by the low prices and improving security situation.

South Africa - still in touch with nature

South Africa Profile
Capital City: Pretoria (official), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
Area: 1,233,404 sq km Population: 43,800,000
Time Zone: GMT +2
Country dialing code: +27
Currency: Rand (R)

South Africa Climate
The climate of South Africa is classed as semi-arid, with warm temperatures throughout the year, although it is slightly hotter during the summer months (November – March). The east coast is sub-tropical while inland sees drier, hotter weather.

South Africa Property
A local estate agent or broker will be required for most property transactions, so make sure that they are registered as members of the Estate Agents Board. Land title issues should not be a problem because South Africa has a thoroughly efficient and modern form of property registration.

Property prices can often be as low as approximately £60,000 for a two bedroom apartment but, rest assured, those looking for something a little more luxurious are most definitely spoilt for choice. Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape Province is a good city for investment thanks to its appealing climate and position right on the coast. It is popular with young travellers, meaning the rental potential there is strong. Gauteng is the country’s commercial centre, so again this is a good place to invest in if you are looking for rental returns or capital gains, while Cape Town and its surrounding areas is the perfect place to buy a holiday home thanks to the abundance of sublime properties on the market.

Popular locations among foreign buyers include Knysna, the Garden Route and Durban. The current exchange rate makes South Africa an extremely affordable destination for British and Irish property buyers.

South Africa Flights
There are two major international airports in South Africa – at Cape Town and Johannesburg, both with regular direct flights to Heathrow. There are numerous airlines which fly to South Africa, although British Airways has the most comprehensive service. Flying time is approximately 12 hours, although the time difference is just two hours, so there’s no jetlag.