Find a home close to top-performing schools in SA
Category Area Focus
The demand for homes close to good schools has meant that a number of top suburbs have performed well this year despite the economic challenges.
Proximity to schools has become a top driver of demand in neighbourhoods, while rising traffic has added further to the demand for these suburbs. As a result, the school-belt suburbs have been some of the best-performing areas this year and homes close to schools have continued to achieve premiums of around 20% to 40%, says Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff Property Group.
"We have seen a trend of buyers with children migrating to areas with good schools and childcare facilities. While there is year-round demand for homes close to good schools, the demand usually picks up ahead of the new school and varsity year as parents look to get closer to their schools of choice," says Seeff.
He says some of the best-performing school suburbs include:
1. Cape Town
Newlands and Rondebosch
Newlands and Rondebosch offer access to 18 top schools including Bishops, Rondebosch Boys, Westerford, SACS, Rustenburg Girls, Sans Souci and Herschel Girls. It is also home to the University of Cape Town (UCT) which attracts high demand for student rentals.
Family houses range from R8 million to R12 million close to Bishopscourt, otherwise you can find houses for R4 million to R8 million.
Wynberg and Claremont Upper
Wynberg and Claremont Upper are an excellent choice for family buyers and offer more affordable price points compared to Constantia Upper and Bishopscourt, yet residents enjoy excellent access to the wine farms and Main Road CBD.
Family houses range from R4 million to R8 million, but can top up to R10 million-plus depending on the location and property
Fresnaye and Camps Bay
Both of these suburbs rank in the top ten in the country and offer access to a choice of schools for family buyers including Herzlia (located in the CBD), Reddam House in Green Point, Camps Bay and Sea Point and a French School (CBD and Sea Point).
Higgovale and Oranjezicht
Easy access to Herzlia and the CBD have contributed to the rise in demand for family houses in Higgovale and Oranjezicht, which has boosted price growth over the last five years with Higgovale now ranking in the top ten suburbs in the country.
Family houses in the City Bowl range from R5 million to R15 million on average.
Sunningdale and Parklands
The areas are ideal for families as there are about 20 top schools including private schools such as Parklands College, CBC St John's, Elkanah House, Curro Private School (Parklands North) and the new Rallim.
Family houses close to a top school range from R1.8 million to R2.8 million.
Welgedacht and Durbanville
These areas offer excellent schools for buyers looking to settle in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs. Family houses are a big attraction as they offer more space. The area is also renowned for its excellent amenities and centrality.
Family houses close to schools range from R4 million to R8 million, on average.
Paarl and Stellenbosch
Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester boast excellent schools such as Paarl Boys', Paarl Girls', Paarl Gymnasium, La Rochelle and Boland Landbouskool. Paarl is renowned as an incubator for rugby and has produced many Springboks.
Stellenbosch includes the popular Paul Roos (another rugby school) along with a Waldorf School and Rhenish Girls' High as well as Stellenbosch University, which boosts demand for student housing.
Family houses in Stellenbosch range from R2.8 million to R5.8 million to around R14 million close to an exclusive school. Paarl ranges from R1.8 million to R2.8 million on average to around R6 million close to a top school.
2. Pretoria
Waterkloof, Lynnwood and Menlo Park
Pretoria University and Onderstepoort (top veterinary school), the well-known Afrikaans Seuns and Meisies High Schools and many other top schools make these suburbs popular with family buyers.
Expect to pay R2.8 million to R3.2 million for a family house in Lynnwood and Menlo Park. Waterkloof and Waterkloof Ridge family houses range from R3.4 million to R3.7 million.
Woodhill Estate/Mooikloof Equestrian Estate/Silver Lakes Estate
These estates are popular for their close proximity to excellent schools such as Woodhill College, Curro College, Reddford House, Laerskool Tygerpoort, Tyger Valley College and Abbotts College.
Expect to pay R4.9 million for a family house in Woodhill, around R3.3 million in Silver lakes and R6.5 million in Mooikloof.
3. Johannesburg/Sandton
Bryanston, Atholl and Hurlingham
Close proximity to the Sandton CBD and access to top schools such as Crawford, Redhill, St Davids, Roedean, Brescia House, KES (King Edward), St Johns, St. Stithians and the Waldorf School (in Bryanston) make these top family suburbs. They also offer easy access to Wits and the University of Johannesburg as well as Gibs and Henley Business Schools.
Although family houses range from R2 million to R12 million, expect to pay upwards of R6 million to R20 million close to schools depending on the area and property.
4. Durban
Upper Highway
The best private schools in KwaZulu-Natal are all in the Upper Highway area. These include Kearsney College, St. Marys, Highbury Private, Curro, Thomas More College and Waterfall. There are also multiple new schools in the Waterfall area with Curro Primary and High Schools welcome additions.
Family houses in Hillcrest and Kloof range from R1.5 million to R2.45 million and in Waterfall from R1.4 million to R1.9 million.
Wembley and Clarendon (Pietermaritzburg)
These elite northern suburbs offer family homes with large established gardens and monitored neighbourhood security. They are close to prominent schools such as Hilton College. There are also several pre-schools, creches and schools along the Roberts Road route. The University of KwaZulu- Natal (UKZN) and the private Varsity College are the two tertiary institutions serving Pietermaritzburg and the surrounds.
Expect to pay around R1.2 million to R2.5 million for a family house.
Author: Gina Meintjies
