Estate living isn’t for everyone, but for the select few, it’s the only way to enjoy the second half of life.

The Cape has some of the country’s most exclusive residential estates, which ooze in pristine luxury and exclusivity.

In a recent survey, Paarl’s Val De Vie was once again rated as South Africa’s top estate, reports Fin24:

The survey, by global bank AfrAsia Bank and research group New World Wealth, rated the luxury estates on criteria that included design and space, communal gardens and parks, maintenance, location, security, scenery, activities and facilities.

The survey noted that recent trends in estate living over the past year included a rise in demand for retirement estates especially. The popularity of wildlife estates is also increasing, while overall there is a move away from traditional golf estates.

Winning.

The latest trend in estate development is to create “small neighbourhoods within the estates, opposed to the old model where houses were spaced evenly around the entire property”:

This new model allows for more parkland and open spaces between the neighbourhoods, the authors stated.

However, buying into anyone of these “small neighbourhoods” can be quite an investment. Let’s take a look at the Cape’s most exclusive estates:

5 – Fransche Hoek

Newly-built Fransche Hoek Agricultural Estate in Franschhoek is attracting wealthy buyers lured to South Africa’s fine food capital and one of the fastest growing towns in the country, in terms of rich people investing in property. The estate has its own private vineyards and fruit orchards.

House prices on the estate range from R10m to R60m.

4 – Whalerock Ridge

The 100 hectare Whalerock Ridge in Plettenberg Bay boasts impressive views over Robberg Beach. The bottom gate of the estate is located about 100 metres from the beach.

House prices on the estate range from R3m to R35m.

3 – Steenberg

One of the pioneer estates in South Africa, Steenberg contains a large winery and vineyard and has relatively few houses on the big estates. Originally a vineyard, Steenberg was redeveloped by JCI in 1990 to include a golf course, hotel, spa and housing estate.

House prices on the estate range from R3m to R35m.

2 – Fancourt

Fancourt on the Garden Route is South Africa’s top estate for golfers, the researchers believe. The estate has three highly rated courses on one estate. The two original courses – the Montagu and the Outeniqua – were built in the early 1090s. The estate is also home to the world famous and Africa’s top rated golf course, Fancourt Links, constructed in the 2000s.

House prices on the estate range from R3m to R50m.

1 – Val de Vie

Featuring vineyards and polo fields among a picturesque backdrop, Val De Vie once again took top honours as South Africa’s highest rated estate. One of its neigbourhoods includes the Gentleman’s Estate, the most exclusive neighbourhood on the estate that offers residents their own private stables, garden and vineyard. Properties on the Gentleman’s Estate range from 3 to 6 hectares each.

House/apartment prices on Val de Vie range from R3m to R50m.

And that’s just in the Western Cape – you can pop over here to see the top 10 most exclusive estates in the country.

[source:fin24]