Northcliff remains popular residential address thanks to its great location in an area serviced with all the essential amenities to make for comfortable family life.
Rawson Property Group sales partner Petronella van der Merwe says sales are picking up again following a slough that began around October in the lead-up to the festive season.
“It’s still quite sought-after because of schools and being situated within ring roads,” she says. She notes that several private schools are being set up in the area, to add to others, including good public ones.
The local schools include Reddford House Northcliff, Northcliff High School, Abbots College Northcliff and Northcliff Primary.
For any homeowner contemplating putting their house on the market this should be good news, especially in a buyers’ market in which some homes have sold well below their worth.
Once you buy in Northcliff, you buy because you intend to stay for 10 to 20 years. – Petronella van der Merwe, Sales Partner, Rawson Property Group
Picture: Supplied
“If it’s priced right, it will sell within three to four months. The top sellers are usually those homes priced between R2.5million and R3m. Homes that are overpriced can take anything between 12 to 16 or even 18 months to sell,” says Van der Merwe.
She does not regard Northcliff as a classic buy-to-let neighbourhood as strict subdivision regulations apply to most of the area although in some streets there’s greater leeway.
“They can subdivide only up to a certain amount of square metres in order to conform to the requirements,” warns Van der Merwe.
What one finds mainly are family properties on stand sizes of between 1000m² and 4000m².
“It’s an established area and there are few townhouses and apartments,” says Van der Merwe, who recalls a single property with four individual structures that struggled on the market.
She says Northcliff is the type of neighbourhood that one moves in to stay because of the convenient lifestyle on offer.
“Once you buy in Northcliff, you buy because you intend to stay for 10 to 20 years.”
Van der Merwe also notes that most of the sellers are older and retired residents. Almost 90% of these folk elect to buy a smaller property in the same area.
It is common for a property owner to sell their home for R6m in order to buy a smaller home for R2.5m on a smaller piece of land.
“There are not a lot of estates in the area.”
The most expensive home sold in Northcliff in the past year was a property which went for R11.2m, she says.
She advises prospective homeowners to do their homework and choose an accredited agent for a pleasant purchasing experience. Fairland is slightly more affordable.
Elsie Ambrose’s favourite places and things to do
I moved from the East Rand
in 2007 and like it very
much here. There’s excellent
security, we’ve got good
schools, the neighbours
are friendly and share
information. We’re close to
the freeway to get to Pretoria
or Bloemfontein and lots of
other places. We’ve got Cresta
Shopping Centre nearby, the
Johannesburg Eye Hospital
and Life Wilgeheuwel
Hospital. - Elsie Ambrose, resident
1 Lambrusco’s Italian Restaurant
It’s a small and intimate restaurant that’s family-oriented and specialised. You have to make a reservation to dine there. Cnr Weltevreden Road and Fair Drive, Northcliff. 011 431 0591
Lambrusco’s Italian Restaurant is family-oriented and popular. Picture: Supplied
2 Plaka
It’s a Greek restaurant I really like. Their lamb is fantastic and they provide good service. Shop U224, Beyers Naudé Drive, Cresta, Randburg. 011 478 0392
3 Turn ’n Tender
They serve excellent steaks and have weekly specials so you have to go early or it will be full. 287 Acacia Road, Blackheath, Randburg. 011 678 0155
4 Cresta Shopping Centre
It has probably everything that you might want. Cnr Beyers Naudé Drive and Weltevreden Road, Cresta, Randburg. 011 678 5306
5 Loerie Park
Popular dog-walking spot. 41 Ferero Avenue, Randpark Ridge, Randburg. 011 712 6600
6 Lucios Pizzeria
Late-night food, great cocktails, cosy. 231 Beyers Naudé Drive, Blackheath, Randburg. 011 678 0042