Muizenberg beach upgrades a major boost for Southern Peninsula property
The City of Cape Town is investing significantly in upgrades and refurbishment of the Muizenberg beachfront area, including improvements to the promenade, parking, Surfer's Corner, and heritage structures. These will have a significant impact on demand and further boost property in the area, according to Seeff Property Group.
Anton Liebenberg of Seeff False Bay says these will attract more tourists and increase the area's desirability for both residential and investment buyers. The area has experienced tremendous growth in sales and prices during the pandemic years, attracting a mix of residential and investment buyers, including Airbnb investors. New developments have also been popping up across the area.
The False Bay area is a popular weekend and holiday getaway. The train from Claremont to Kalk Bay is a key tourist attraction, as is the coastal drive that snakes around the peninsula to Cape Point. It is lined with eateries and quant art, antique and other boutique-styled stores. Other popular landmarks include Surfer's Corner in Muizenberg, the colourful beach huts of St James Beach, and the penguins of Boulders Beach in Simons Town.
The beaches are a big drawcard with both the Muizenberg and Fish Hoek being Blue Flag beaches. Residents are drawn to the laid-back coastal lifestyle and scenic location with the fynbos-covered mountains as a backdrop, and warmer sea, popular for swimming, surfing and paddling.
Liebenberg says the market has been good for sellers with properties selling quite fast as demand remains high, so much so that there is a shortage of properties for sale. He adds that there is in fact a waiting list of buyers wanting to relocate to the False Bay area, but sellers are seemingly holding onto their homes.
False Bay Price Growth 2020 vs 2025
Area 2025
Ave Price 2020
Ave Price % Price Incr.
Buyers Muizenberg
R3.2m FT
R1.5m ST R1.8m FT
R1m ST 77%
50% 33% under 35-years, only 21% over 65-years Kalk Bay
R9m FT
R5m ST R4.9m FT
R2m ST 83%
150% 93% of buyers are over 50-years Fish Hoek R3.8m FT
R2.1m ST R1.6m FT
R1.1m ST 137%
90% 50% under 50-years, but 57% have been in their homes for 11+ years Glencairn R3m FT R2.3m FT 30% buyers are predominantly older, 79% over 50 and 53% have been in their homes for 11+ years Simonstown R3.7m FT
R2m ST R2.6m FT
R2m ST 42%
– Buyers predominantly over 35-years, 51% have been in their homes for 11+ years Marina Da Gama R2.8m FT
R1.2m ST R2m FT
R1m ST 40%
20% Almost 50% under 50-years, over 50% have been in their homes for 11+ years Lakeside
R2.9m FT
R1.8m ST R2m FT
R1.8m ST 45%
– 66% of buyers are under 50-years, 54% have been in their homes for more than 11-years
Source: Seeff/Lightstone
Property owners tend to stay for a long time, and most sellers only move for necessity such as downsizing due to empty nesting or relocating to retirement facilities, he says further.
Buyers, however, tend to be a mix, from young to old. These include families looking for a healthy lifestyle, or people moving from the Southern Suburbs to be closer to the sea. There has also been a notable uptick in international buyers according to Lightstone data, often because they have been exposed to the area as tourists, and they tend to stick to the tourist areas such as Kalk Bay, St James and Simonstown.
Liebenberg says that the area offers the perfect mix of an ideal seaside location and excellent value on offer. While some areas are becoming more expensive, you can still find good value in Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Simons Town in particular, he says.
Apartments are a popular choice, often for holiday purposes or as Airbnb investments. These are priced upwards of R1.5m. Houses tend to be priced upwards of around R2m, but can go as high as R17m for a luxury home with stunning views in Fish Hoek.
False Bay is also very popular for rentals, often driven by school access and leisure attractions. Muizenberg is hugely popular with surfers looking for rental accommodation. Average rental rates are around R12,000 to R23,000 per month, but luxury homes and sea view properties can go well above this.
Tracey Reid-Daly, licensee for Seeff Southern Peninsula which covers Kommetjie, Noordhoek, Chapmans Peak and Scarborough, says these areas have also seen a notable uptick in demand and prices since the pandemic. Aside from locals moving here, there is also an influx of semigration buyers, as well as international buyers who fall in love with the area.
Noordhoek for example now boasts an average price of around R9m with most sales over R3m, according to Lightstone data. It is particularly scenic and renowned for its 8km Long Beach, one of the longest and widest in the Peninsula where horse riding is a popular sight. Most buyers tend to be in the 35-60 age group.
The average price for Kommetjie is around R6.3m, also with most sales over R3m, according to the Lightstone data, while 61% of buyers are under 50-years. Again, the scenic fynbos and mountain views, clean air, and laid-back lifestyle are key drawcards in the area.
Issued by: Gina Meintjes
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