Balize Private Estate

Smart homes connect and captivate the KZN North Coast

Leigh-Anne — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 07:30:07 +0000

Balize Private Estate, KZN’s latest smart ready development, offers more than just luxury location and living for its residents. With fully functional home automation, these smart homes will ensure you’re feeling safe and relaxed at the touch of a button.

Home automation companies are leading the charge in high end, ultra-convenient technology. From basic audio installation in your home to sophisticated security systems, smart homes in South Africa are becoming uniquely established.

What exactly can residents of Balize expect from a smart ready home?

“Automating your home is about enhancing your lifestyle”, proclaims Klaus Wagner of Audio Excellence, one of the companies offering home automation to homeowners in Balize. An enhanced and simplified lifestyle comes with luxuries such as integrated security systems, centrally controlled lighting and audio, and wifi connectedness across all technology in your home. Smart ready homes give you control over the ambience of your home, the security of your family, and the ease of having all these features in one place.

Each homeowner will have the opportunity to discuss requirements and custom options for their home, meeting the needs of their lifestyle. With this comes access to energy efficiency throughout the home, adding more value to the property itself. Access equals ease, a ‘Welcome’ button at the front door switches on the house lights, whereas a ‘Party’ button can set the tone by switching on the pool light and music in the bar area. Get rid of all your remotes and control your television systems through an app on your phone or on one centralised remote.

What are the benefits of automating your home?

Security

With integrated CCTV systems, keyless door locks and biometric access, the security options on a smart home are vast. Whether you’re home or not, view your CCTV footage or pre-set motion sensors in your home to switch on security lights. Security never looked better and you’ll be sleeping easy every night knowing your home and your family are safe.

Convenience

Take control over your home from wherever you are in the world! Rob Arnot of Audio Architex shares how the automation of a home makes your life easier – “If you and your family are on holiday in the Drakensberg and forgot to switch the patio lights off, you can still have direct control through an app on your phone and at the touch of a button you can switch the lights off.” Simple, easy, convenient, this is what home automation is about.

Comfort

Put your feet up after a long day in the Durban heat, in a temperature-controlled living space. Or, wake up to the sound of your favourite musician playing through the stereo as your blinds roll up. Each installation ensures that these smart ready homes make for ease of living and luxurious comfort. Unparalleled home automation in South Africa, Balize offers just that.

Smart homes in South Africa are on the rise. With the magnificent views and coastal lifestyle of Balize, home automation is the cherry on top of this luxury estate. Security, convenience and comfort, what more could you ask for!

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The pull of the KZN North Coast

Leigh-Anne — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 06:27:45 +0000

Despite the negative sentiments before the 2019 elections and the feeling that property sales would drop, certain estates like Balize Private Estate has seen an uptick in purchases. Balize Private Estate has just recently sold two properties valued at over R10 million each, which is testament that property remains a desirable and attractive investment option with even high-priced properties being snapped up, especially along the Umhlanga to Ballito corridor.

Property data also shows that there has been a significant and steady influx of Gauteng buyers who are choosing to set up their homes along this corridor. Although many of these buyers still have the bulk of their business interests in Gauteng, they are trading their homes in Gauteng for the Durban lifestyle and commuting in and out on a weekly basis.

Durban has earned its title as the best performing growth node in South Africa. Durban has long been thought of as a sleepy seaside town for holidaying, but investors are now actively choosing Durban as their destination of choice to live. Much of the North Coast of Durban now offers high-end residential property, as well as shopping malls, premium schools and hospitals. The Umhlanga Ridge has also become the home of many Blue Chip companies and multi-national business heavyweights. Durban’s pull is also strengthened by its high degree of accessibility; getting to and from main roads and highways is easy along KZN’s North Coast.

Despite an average residential property price drop across the board over the last 10 years, there are some residential segments have seen major growth. Homes within luxury residential estates and luxury sectional title apartments, like those at Balize Private Estate have seen a greater demand and with that, sales.

Balize Private Estate offers buyers both luxury sea-facing freestanding Villas and apartments within a secure estate environment. Being located within the Sibaya Coastal Precinct only adds value to the offering at Balize Private Estate and with that, appeals to out-of-towners. Many buyers, especially from Johannesburg are looking for a high degree of accessibility (to main roads and highways) that Balize Private Estate offers. What’s more is that Balize is also a short drive to the King Shaka International Airport. Typically, Durban is less congested when compared to Cape Town and Johannesburg and the migration North is in part due to Durban’s new CBD being located on the Umhlanga Ridge, with a short commute to Balize to work and back.

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What do buyers want?

Leigh-Anne — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 14:32:01 +0000

It is often believed that the size of a home, by pure square metres is what really sells a property. Yes, this is an important factor, however, the size of a home is also not always top of the list for buyers, especially within an estate like Balize where both freestanding homes and Cabanas have been snapped up.

Peter Cameron, Sales Director at Balize Private Estate explains, “We have learned that our buyers are not always automatically after a freestanding home, and we cannot assume that this home type is the most sought after per se. There has been an interest in our Cabanas as well, which have translated into sales. Balize Private Estate offers beautiful freestanding Villas as well as luxurious apartments and every home has a sea view- wherever you are in the estate you are not losing out in any way.”

With proximity to King Shaka International Airport, Umhlanga, Ballito and the beaches of the North Coast a big draw card, high value property sales in the Sibaya Coastal Precinct have continued, with the one of the most valuable properties, a freestanding luxury plot, selling for as much as R80 million. However, the Sibaya Coastal Precinct has a wide range of properties available way above the R10 million mark.

“I think the buyer activity at Balize Private Estate, and the Sibaya Coastal Precinct at large is showing us that there is a great want for homes within a secure residential estate with its own facilities, and access to a wider variety of amenities such as those within Sibaya Coastal Precinct. The trade-off is no longer price versus home type. With convenience, security, strong projected property price growth in the node and buyer confidence, people are continuing to buy both apartments as well and freestanding homes.“ ends Pete Cameron.

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KZN’s North Coast home to thousands of millionaires

Leigh-Anne — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 08:08:49 +0000

The stretch of coastline from Umhlanga to Umdloti could most certainly be crowned the golden mile(s). This area is home to some of the best coastal homes in KZN with property prices soaring as high as R45 000 per m². Over the last few years, KZN has moved in leaps and bounds to become one of South Africa’s most desirable places to live with a recent Mercer study placing Durban in the top 5 for best quality of life.

Durban’s great quality of life is a combination of several important factors: climate, proximity, lower traffic volume and also a host of attractive residential property investment opportunities. Not only has Umhlanga compelled the country’s wealthy to call this place home, but Umdloti and Ballito have also attracted investment from the country’s mega rich.

A recent study conducted by AfrAsia bank has named the Durban-Umhlanga- Ballito corridor (which includes Umdloti) as South Africa’s fastest growing wealth market, with a 25% growth in just over a decade. This corridor is home to 3300 HNWI’s (high net worth individuals) which according to the criteria of the report, are those with investable asset of more than R14 million. What must also be noted is that the same area has 210 multi-millionaires, which are those with investable assets around the R141 million mark.

Durban has long played second fiddle to the bright lights of Johannesburg and the cool cosmopolitan culture of Cape Town, but with property development going at full pace, Durban is becoming a magnet for the mega rich.

If keeping an eye on where the rich put their money is anything to go by, then this is a sure sign of where to invest. Coastal sectional title homes stretching from Umhlanga to Umdloti and further offer investors a list of advantages such as security, proximity to business hubs (this includes schools, hospitals and shopping malls), easy access to main roads and highways, a short commute to the airport, the beach on your doorstep and warm weather for most of the year.

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High demand for luxury homes at Balize Private Estate

Leigh-Anne — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 14:31:56 +0000

The demand for homes within coastal estates in KZN, remains high. Having recently sold two properties above the R10 million mark at Balize private Estate, the Sibaya Coastal Precinct continues to drive demand.

Buyers, even from Gauteng, are seeing the value of not only investing into a luxury gated estate like Balize Private Estate, but also the value of being within the Sibaya Coastal Precinct and the additional benefits that come with that. Pete Cameron, Sales Director at Balize Private Estate says, “Our experience here at Balize Private Estate has shown us a few things; coastal property within secure estates is always in demand, and people are buying for the same reasons- as a way of scaling down from large family homes, for the start of their retirement and to a lesser degree for holidays.”

Across the board, buyers from KwaZulu-Natal and beyond have bought up prime land within private estates in Sibaya Coastal Precinct. Most notably, the purchase of these homes is not always for primary residential use with many purchasing for holiday use or ultimately, retirement. These buyers are purchasing both freestanding homes and apartments.

Cameron says, “Apartments are not necessarily playing second fiddle to the freestanding Villas; it is really about what buyers want. Some have children and still have a need for the space and personal facilities that come with their freestanding home while older buyers are happy to live in a well-appointed and expertly designed apartment because it ticks all their boxes.”

Although price will always be a determining factor in a property purchase, many buyers are comfortable with purchasing high value property within estates as long as it offers additional benefits, modern conveniences and top-quality security.

“At this end of the market spectrum, price is not the overarching determining factor, and the fact that Balize has sold properties above the R10 million mark is testament to this,”

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Balize is perfectly positioned

Leigh-Anne — Thu, 02 May 2019 08:43:56 +0000

DEVELOPING WITH TRENDS IN MIND

The developers of Balize Private Estate have listened to the current demands of the real estate market to introduce freestanding Villas into the already chic mix of Cabanas and Penthouses. Current research and emerging trends uncovered that a large portion of the South African Real Estate market is asking for the privacy and comfort of a freestanding home but also the peace of mind that comes with being within a secure estate like Balize Private Estate. Balize Private Estate offers something for families at every stage of life. As a centrally-placed, entirely secure residential estate with attractive facilities, Balize Private Estate is the sweet spot between boutique and tranquil yet modern and luxurious.

SECTIONAL TITLE GROWTH

In South Africa, more than 10% of all homes are sectional title homes and this number is increasing annually. What this means for investors is clear capital growth and the potential for a steady rental return. Balize Private Estate is placed within the Sibaya Coastal Precinct, a holistic city, which has seen unprecedented growth over the last year to become the most sought-after node in the country. The Sibaya Coastal Precinct has seen a total of R4 billion worth of sales transacted to date. Based on current growth, these figures are only set to rise further with the completion of key public amenities with the Sibaya Coastal Precinct, and this value increase will ultimately benefit the Homeowners of Balize Private Estate.

Balize Private Estate greatly benefits from being within the Sibaya Coastal Precinct due to the amenities on offer; within walking distance of Balize is a premium retail piazza which will offer a host of modern and premium dining and shopping outlets.

One of Sibaya Coastal Precinct’s most prominent features is the Heleza Boulevard, a central roadway which runs the length of the Sibaya Coastal Precinct and takes you directly to the Gatehouse of Balize Private Estate. The Heleza Boulevard is now 70% complete and will be fully operational once the first homeowners move into their purchased units at Balize Private Estate. Other exciting and modern conveniences residents of Balize Private Estate will benefit from is the private school which currently under development. This school, ADVTech Academy, will offer schooling from Grade 0 to Matric, and is positioned just a short walk from Balize Private Estate which means children can happily, and safely, commute to school on foot or by bike via the Heleza Boulevard.

With the rate of sale at Balize Private Estate steadily increasing, ground-breaking of Balize is anticipated to take place in the later half of 2019.

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THE OCEAN IS OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE Part 2

Leigh-Anne — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:44:36 +0000

OCEAN CONSERVATION AT UMDLOTI

By comparison, the Umdloti mussel beds have a much higher cover than other nearby exploited reefs, and interestingly the only other protected mussel beds in KZN are found further North, in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The mussel numbers within the Umdloti conservation area have grown so prolific that and as a result these beds now serve as a nursery for reseeding other depleted mussel beds along our coast, and also a marker against which other exploited populations are measured.

Over and above providing a sumptuous meal, mussel beds are an integral part of the marine ecosystem. They are filter feeders which means they remove food particles from the water column which improves water clarity and cleanliness, regulates the phytoplankton population and helps to aid the growth of certain types of algae-all of these factors are needed to keep an ecosystem in balance. Mussel beds also provide protection and habitat for many marine animals like lobster, octopus and fish. Overall, they are a crucial factor in helping to increase the biodiversity of an area, as well as the biomass of fish too.

With this in mind, it is therefore obvious that the presence of healthy, prolific mussel beds means greater fishing opportunities for sport fishermen, recreational fishermen and those who fish as a means of sustenance. We cannot take it for granted that seafood is, and will always be, available. Any ecosystem whether terrestrial or aquatic is constantly striving for balance- if one element is jeopardised, the entire system is out of kilter and sets off a chain reaction of negative consequences.

Life at Balize would not be what it is without our rich ocean and beautiful coastline and so it is up to us to do what we can to protect our valuable marine assets, either by way of active participation in marine conservation programs, or simply by being mindful of how we treat our oceans, as they are after all, where much life begins.

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THE OCEAN IS OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE

Leigh-Anne — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:38:21 +0000

BALIZE BRINGS COASTAL LIVING TO LIFE

Sunday afternoons on the coast are for braais, they’re for dips in the pool and lazy lunches, they’re for family. Balize Private Estate offers the chance to live al-fresco all year with homes designed with large terraces, glass panels that let light in and 180-degree views of the magnificent Indian Ocean.

With an abundant coastline, seafood is available to us in KZN throughout most of the year. Most of us who live in KZN eat seafood, and some of us even engage is casual fishing for our own pleasure and to enjoy the day’s catch as a family meal. This is one of the things that makes life on the coast special, however most of us don’t give too much thought to how it is that we are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy seafood, like mussels, at any time we like.

With vast stretches of coastline, KwaZulu-Natal’s ocean is a valuable resource in terms of providing not only recreational opportunities for people, but also a means of making a living, and rock mussels are an extremely important asset. Historically, the conservation of mussel beds relied on two factors; the sale of permits to fishermen and the limiting of daily quotas, however, it turned out that this was not enough to protect the mussel population. In the 1980s their role as an integral part of the marine ecosystem became tenuous with the near-desolation of several mussel beds along our coast.

Fortunately, this justified the decision for a targeted protection initiative in order to start the recovery process, and especially so in Umdloti. In 1998 and after consultation with Umdloti residents, a designated area was indefinitely closed-off for the fishing and collection of several species of marine life including mussels, rock lobsters and certain crabs. Since this happened The Oceanographic Research Institute has been monitoring, tracking and recording the recovery of these mussel beds, and today the mussel population on the monitored reefs has more than doubled in size.

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Balize Private Estate developed in line with real estate trends

Leigh-Anne — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:00:58 +0000

Balize Private Estate has introduced freestanding sectional title homes within the estate.

Driven by market trends and key buyer insight, Balize Private Estate has reconfigured its offering to include freestanding Villas into the mix of Cabanas and Penthouses. Interestingly, many estates are including more sectional title properties to meet the demand of those no longer wanting larger freehold homes.

Neil Slatter, Development Representative explains, “We have taken the decision to enhance the offering at Balize Private Estate to be more in line with current market demands. Our trend analysis has shown us that a large portion of the South African Real Estate market is asking for the privacy and comfort of a freestanding home but also the peace of mind that comes with being within a secure estate. What’s more, Balize Private Estate is further enhanced by the facilities offered, our central location and our positioning within the prestigious Sibaya Coastal Precinct.”

There is a high market demand for sectional title opportunities within secure estates, especially along KZN’s North Coast. Looking at trends in the market, security ranks highly but so does convenience and accessibility as well as a lock-up-and-go lifestyle. In South Africa, out of 6.6 million homes, almost 12% of those are sectional title dwellings which translates further into a hefty portion of the total value of homes nationally.

Many people, commonly referred to as ‘empty-nesters’ are faced with the dilemma of down-scaling during the time of their lives before retirement when their children have left home. Aiming to net several sectors of the market and offering a centrally-placed, entirely secure boutique estate with attractive facilities, Balize Private Estate is geared to attract investment from those looking to down-scale the size of their homes, without compromising on their quality of life. Not surprisingly, developers are working tirelessly to curate an estate which hits the sweet spot between being boutique and tranquil yet modern and luxurious.

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Balize, something for every family

Leigh-Anne — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:00:53 +0000

“Part of the appeal of Balize Private Estate is that it offers something for families at different life stages- from young families with small children to retirees, all facets of the market have been considered in the design of the estate and facilities offered, however that’s not to imply we have overlooked anyone, much to the contrary. As a boutique estate, centred around an alfresco, coastal lifestyle Balize is also very much angled at families looking to scale-down in terms of home size but not lifestyle.” adds Butch James, Sales Director of Balize Private Estate.

Economically speaking, Balize Private Estate is placed within one of the country’s key ‘growth nodes’- the Sibaya Coastal Precinct has seen unprecedented growth over the last 12 months to virtually become the most sought-after node in the country. A total of R3.2 billion worth of sales have been transacted within the Precinct, and based on current growth, these figures are only set to rise further with the completion of key infrastructure and retail and commercial nodes. From an investment perspective, the Sibaya Coastal Precinct, and moreover Balize Private Estate, offers investors the potential for strong capital appreciation- the fact that Balize is a low-density boutique estate only adds to its appeal and forecasted value. Statistics show that sectional title price growth is stronger than other options within residential estates.

In the first quarter of 2018 alone, sectional title inflation was as high as 4% compared to the average freehold inflation which sat 0.4% below this.

“With an enhanced offering, Balize Private Estate brings a range of opportunities to the market from grand penthouses to lock-up-and-go Cabanas and freestanding homes. The multitude of choice will ultimately benefit the investor as the demand for sectional title homes in residential estates increases. It is this demand which will push home values up; and with the ongoing development within Sibaya Coastal Precinct, homes are looking to appreciate in value even further over the next decade.” ends Slatter.

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