text shona bagley photographs jeremy browne and ... - Val de Vie

More documents

Recommendations

Info

VAL DE VIE | LIFESTYLE THIS SHANGRI-LA IS THE VERDANT PAARL-FRANSCHHOEK VALLEY, where childhood is still an idyllic time and the valley’s many positive attractions make it a magnet for family buyers, the most obvious being the beautiful Winelands setting, surrounded by craggy mountains and rolling vineyards. Pam Golding’s MD for Boland Overberg, Annien Borg says: “Buyers experience country living, with its slower, gentler way of life, yet still have easy access to an international airport and Cape Town CBD, 45 minutes away.” The setting also provides numerous opportunities for wholesome family activities, from hiking and fly-fishing, to wine-stomping, horse-riding and strawberry-picking. The region is a mecca for golfers, and estates such as Pearl Valley Signature Golf Estate & Spa and Boschenmeer Golf & Country Estate offer a variety of premium opportunities including golf lodges, houses and residential stands. Val de Vie Wine & Polo Estate, sandwiched between the two, offers the best of both worlds. “Another huge drawcard,” adds Annien, “is the high standard of education on offer; from single gender schools to co-ed, English, Afrikaans and dualmedium.” Some of the country’s top schools are here, including Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys’ High, Bridge House in Franschhoek, Paul Roos and Rhenish in Stellenbosch – with the additional attraction of a well-established university of international repute. The ultimate feel-good factor, though, comes from the low crime rate, offering significant peace of mind to parents who want their children to play freely, without worrying about their safety. Here, children can, and do, cycle the idyllic country lanes on their own. Val de Vie 29
PAARL Paarl is experiencing a renovation renaissance, with bargain-savvy buyers bagging some of its older buildings and transforming them into characterfilled modern structures. There has been a surge of interest in some of the town’s older houses, especially those with historical backgrounds, and renovators are turning ugly ducklings into covetable family homes, smart offices and chic boutiques. “In the last few years we have seen a complete transformation from motor dealerships and traditional businesses to a bustling avenue full of beautifully renovated buildings, trendy cafés, gift shops and restaurants,” says Surina du Toit, PGP Paarl Area Manager. One of the biggest success stories is number 279 Main Road. Developers have transformed drab offices and flats into modern apartments above a vibrant deli, restaurant and boutique; creating valuable pedestrian traffic and outdoor living. Flanked by beautiful old buildings, it has become a drawcard for tourists. Annien says the property market in Paarl remains buoyant, fuelled by business people working in Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs, a 25-minute drive to work. “There are many enquiries from up-country residents looking for a less stressful and more secure place in which to raise their families, with particular demand for homes in the various security and golf estates such as Pearl Valley, Boschenmeer, Winelands Estate and Val de Vie Wine & Polo Estate.” Secure living surrounded by beautiful scenery. “Val de Vie is the perfect location for anyone wanting to live in this beautiful valley, because it offers wide-open spaces, the feeling of living on a wine farm, stunning mountain views, and excellent security,” adds Surina. “We find that locals from Paarl find Val de Vie very attractive, but there’s also a growing Gauteng following since Val de Vie fits the idyllic picture of what they think living in the Boland should be.” Only 40 minutes from Cape Town and close to top schools and two universities, Val de Vie affords a perfect family living environment. Safe and secure, surrounded by breathtaking views and with an impressive array of facilities including two polo fields, stabling, a wellness centre and the renowned Ryk Neethling Swim School. It also boasts a premium restaurant – the Polo Club – that is fast becoming the valley’s favourite social hub. Residents can also produce their own-label boutique wines, inspired by the estate’s fine signature Rhône-style vines. STELLENBOSCH Stellenbosch oozes history. The town is renowned for its oak-lined streets and Cape Dutch architectural landmarks, and the student culture gives it a vibrant, cosmopolitan atmosphere. There’s a plethora of art galleries and museums, theatres and festivals with the wine industry evident at every opportunity. The town boasts some of the country’s top sporting facilities and events, from rugby at Coetzenburg stadium to a new equestrian centre and tennis academy. Stellenbosch is a vibrant town and a great place for the young and the not-so-old as there is always something happening. Jool has its colourful floats, Vensters is where student residences put on five-minute ‘skits’ and there are plenty of nightclubs. When the students break, the foreigners arrive and bring different cultures and languages. “Weekends are very busy with so PROPERTY BUSINESS PAARL Stands on Val de Vie range from R700 000 to R4.5 million. In Paarl proper, property starts at R450 000 for an apartment, with small homes at R1 million. Surina du Toit says: “You can get a threebedroom home with two bathrooms and a double garage for around R1.5 million. A slightly larger house comes in at R2 million, but you will pay R2.5 million for a sizeable home in the best areas of town. Proximity to schools pushes up the price. You can still find a sizeable house here for R1.5 million, but you need to be very quick.” There is a wide variety of larger family homes, smallholdings and farms. One large wine and port farm, complete with traditional Cape Dutch homestead, was sold recently for a whopping R33 million. STELLENBOSCH Pam Golding Property’s Louise Varga says: “Stellenbosch offers ample accommodation for families, with many large homes with spacious gardens, providing the ideal upbringing for children. There is a wide variety of properties on the market, ranging from R1.5 million to R15 million. FRANSCHOEK Certain properties that were under R300 000 ten years ago could now easily fetch in excess of R10-million.“ Prices have not dropped during the recession. Today there is nothing free-standing available under R2.5-million – what is regarded as entry level for a house, says Jager Estate’s Peter Hager. “For that you can get a two-bedroom house in good condition close to the town centre. A 70-80 sq m apartment is around R1.3 million. From R3.2m to R4.5m you have a wide variety of properties. The upper market is R5m upwards and the quality is very high.” But why put a price on paradise? The look on a harried city dweller’s face when they hear you’re living in the new Shangri-la? Priceless. 30 Val de Vie
Page 1: living the dream THERE HAS BEEN A D

text shona bagley photographs jeremy browne and ... - Val de Vie

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?