Former World Cup Rugby player, Butch James, is using his voice to educate up and coming young men and women in the rugby world about the value of property investment.
Drawing on his successes and experience on and off the sports field, James has seen there is a gap in the knowledge of young sports stars about life after sport, he explains, “The transition after rugby to the real world is a tough one, and it took me a while to find my feet, but the move into the realm of property has certainly taught me a lot and opened a lot of doors financially and professionally. “
He continues, “I regret not using my free time get a qualification while I was playing rugby. I realise now, I had no mentor to guide me on my future after sport. I want young men and women to know that there are good opportunities waiting for them, but they need to be educated about the what, why, when and how of it all. “
James’ foray into property came as a result of his relationships off the field. A life-long friend offered him the opportunity to help develop a new company specialising in property sales and development, a role which he feels was perfect for him, “Although a lot of my time was spent on the field in competitive mode, as a national sportsman there were many times I had to face the cameras and the public and that taught me how to conduct myself in a professional manner and to really focus on the value of communication. That certainly took any fears I had about talking to strangers away, and now, I feel like interacting with potential clients comes naturally to me, I genuinely enjoy the interactive side of the job“. He continues, “I cut my property teeth at Simbithi Eco Estate 13 years ago-the estate certainly wasn’t what it is today; a handful of luxury apartments within a virtually unknown stretch on the KZN North Coast and look at it now! Looking back, I can say that is when the property bug really bit.”
One of the projects James is currently involved in a new high-end residential development, Balize Private Estate situated within the 1000-hectare mixed-use Sibaya Coastal Precinct. The Precinct is comprised of several nodes, each boasting a unique set of offerings and facilities. Balize has provided the ideal launch pad for the initiative aimed to educate young rugby players about the value of property investment and James’ stature and contacts in the rugby realm, gives him a direct line to connect with the Sharks Academy and Junior Springboks and share his knowledge.
James shares his sentiments about Balize, “Being within Sibaya Coastal Precinct means Balize has access to a range of facilities on its doorstep; a retail piazza, private school, sports complex and access to the beach road through the managed coastal forest belt. What I am really excited about is the site itself, Balize Private Estate is undoubtably located on the best piece of land in Sibaya Coastal Precinct with the most spectacular 180-degree sea views from all 57 units in the first phase,”
He continues, “people have asked me why Sibaya Coastal Precinct- and I have said time and time again that our province has not yet fully unlocked its potential, and the Sibaya Coastal Precinct is a catalytic project which will do just that. As a precinct with a clear vision of the future, Sibaya Coastal Precinct will offer a world-class lifestyle to investors and those wanting to call it home. To date, developers within the precinct have seen an average of 30% growth in 32 months-that is really exciting and sets the precedent for future developments in the Precinct.”
About Balize Private Estate
Balize Private Estate is a secure, managed residential estate situated in Sibaya Coastal Precinct offering smart-ready 2, 3 and 4-bedroom Penthouses, Cabanas (apartments) and Villas (simplexes and duplexes) each with 180-degree sea views and priced from R3.9 million.
Estate facilities include: 24-hour state-of-the-art security; Clubhouse with shower, changerooms, kitchenette and braai areas; Resort-style infinity pool; babies’ pool, kids’ pool and play area; fire pits with braai facilities; catch-and-release fishing dam; landscaped gardens; double-lock up garage with storage; dedicated estate shuttle service to the beach.
Surrounding amenities include: Retail piazza; sports complex; private school (grade R-12) and private university; medical facilities; hospitality nodes; retail and recreation nodes; pedestrian access points to the beach
