Some of us get the idea of “Joburg luxury” completely wrong: We see ourselves in the car of our dreams driving down William Nicol on the way to work. When in fact, real city luxury (or perhaps even city happiness) could be found not when you upgrade your ride but when you shorten your commute. Living closer to work does not only add more time to your day and more buck to your budget, but recent research shows that it can also improve your overall wellness.

Thinking of investing in Cape Town or further afield? Lock-up-and-go investment properties have become more and more popular as investors realise the benefits of low maintenance, security and easy placing of tenants.

Not a day goes by without one hearing of some municipal crisis somewhere in the country. These range from banal but extremely annoying stories of billing crises, lack of budgetary control and bloated bureaucracies to the horror story unfolding in Emfuleni, where total collapse of the municipality as a functional entity has unleashed a tsunami of raw sewage flowing unabated along the streets and through the buildings, as it makes its way to the nearest river.

The Medine group, a century-old key player in the local sugar industry with a land bank of over 10,000 hectares, launched its Education Village in 2012 in the region of Pierrefonds as part of its diversification strategy. This campus has been designed to host a selective cast of world-class and internationally recognised institutions across different fields of study.

The secret to successful property development is spotting opportunities before others do, seeing potential in a place where others don’t. It’s about taking the gap, thinking out of the box, and a whole lot of other clichés. And that’s just what Dennis Hope did more than three decades ago.

A development is not a residential estate – it’s a place with houses in a greater or lesser stage of completion. But there comes a time when the developer steps out, and the homeowners association steps in – and from that moment, the estate becomes a community – a place where people live.

In a worryingly flat property market, developers are facing an ever-growing challenge to find value-adds to help them move units.

Santam’s seamless insurance product continues to receive enthusiastic support from developers and development financiers alike.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute’s awesome online resources make finding information about the living world around us a genuine pleasure. And if you’re a gardener, developer, or estate manager with a special interest in indigenous plants, it’s a treasure trove almost as rich as biodiversity itself.

On 24 and 25 September 2019, heads of state and government will gather at the United Nations headquarters in New...

Often, it’s the reserve-like setting of a lifestyle estate that makes it a draw card for residents. But what happens when nature starts encroaching on households?

Combining a successful land claim, community development, hard-nosed economic opportunity, responsible conservation ethics, and a fabulous tourist destination, Mdluli Safari Lodge is a win-win-win-winner. 

Projectprop, which owns Leloko Lifestyle and Eco Estate in Hartebeespoort, is seeking a solid new buyer, or buyers, for this idyllic estate following a resolution by the shareholders to disinvest in the company through the sale of all of their shares.

By some estimates, South Africa has a housing backlog of about 2.3 million, and that number grows by about 178,000 houses a year. Despite the country’s sophisticated banking system, busy property market, generous impact investment projects and advanced construction industry, neither the public nor private sector has been able to catch up that backlog.

How do you fancy heading out to sea on what is really not much more than a very big log tied to a smaller log?

One of the most enticing features of WhatsApp is its offer of end-to-end encryption. This has ensured that our most personal conversations, and our treasured photographs of children and grandchildren, would be safely sent to family members and friends in a closed and safe communication loop.

On Friday 5 July, South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, was the first world leader to be in two places at once. Is this the beginning of a bold new era in politics – and more?

The future of ‘Smart’ everything – leveraging digital technology to do just about anything more efficiently – is inextricably linked to our ability to ‘connect’ via the internet. ‘Smart’ anything and ‘Smart’ everything will depend on a frenzied exchange of data with, within and between people, entities, things and machines. The actual connection required for this exchange – in terms of speed and accessibility – will be as critical as available and adequate bandwidth is, or we risk losing out on the next wave of the internet. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is what the gurus the world over are calling this next wave.

When you look at them closely, the gardens and protected wildlife areas on your estate probably host an astonishing number of different plants, insects, birds, and even reptiles and mammals. Your observations about the natural world around you can be enormously helpful to scientists – and collecting data can be a lot of fun, and a great way of building your community, too.

Developers, HOAs, municipalities and the management of all manner of complexes, schools and campuses are learning that there are some things you just can’t fight. Put up as many ‘Keep off the grass’ signs as you like, people will take the shortest (or most convenient) path to get to where they’re going. So, the smart ones are giving in.

Retirement is the new buzzword in the residential development market, but building a retirement village is an enormous undertaking with huge implications – it’s a much bigger deal than building a golf or eco estate. So, is there room for small investors to cash in on this profitable sector?

What are the key drivers for the buyers in residential estates and how can a security service provider support estate managers? The impact of security risk at residential homes in the form of violent crime and burglaries, has fuelled the growth and development of residential estates to meet the upward demand.

Arabella Country Estate, home to Fynbos and fine living, located on the shores of the Bot River Lagoon surrounding the magnificent World Heritage Nature Reserve, has recently been re-certified with their full ISO 14001 compliance certificate.

South Africans are notoriously bad at saving money but the annual National Savings Month is a great opportunity to get your kids involved in some good financial habits which can set them up for life!

If you’re attacked in your home on a residential estate, who’s responsible for your protection? The answer – and the legal technicalities around private security and personal firearms – might surprise you.

Gardening in the driest or windiest parts of the country? Xeriscaping may be the system you’ve been looking for. We’ve all heard about water-wise gardening – the practice of choosing, grouping, and placing plants according to their watering needs in order to maximise the efficiency of the little water you have.

Seeking secure retirement community living but for under R2 million? There are surprisingly many options. Today’s retirees are quite a young lot, living active, lock-up-and-go lifestyles that often set a fine example to the generations after them, but not all of them have R3 million or more to invest in a contemporary home on a lifestyle estate.

Have you planned sufficiently for your retirement? It’s about a lot more than finances – you also need to decide where to live. Retirement isn’t what it used to be. Slowing down and putting one’s feet up is no longer the “default setting” in later life.

Harbour Bay Village is the pinnacle of exclusive retirement living for the age 50 and older. This exclusive retirement development is located behind the Harbour Bay Shopping Centre and the medical day hospital.

Blue water, a beautiful mountain, a bustling food scene … no, it’s not Cape Town, although it’s easy to see why inland-dwellers consider the
Hartbeespoort area the next best thing to a beach. 

We’ve come a long way since Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth documentary in 2006. Although not the first we’d heard of climate change and the effects of globalisation, it was an eye-opener for many and it sparked fierce debate. Things that were only spoken of then are now becoming reality, and we probably all understand the severity of global climate change, and what this means for future generations. 

When you read the word ‘wearables’, it conjures up images of wrists with Apple watches or Fitbits, especially for those of us who deal with certain health insurance companies. But wearables are much more than monitoring your heart rate, steps and sleep.

Satisfy your dream of owning property in Europe by investing in one of the region’s most dynamic and affordable cities – the wealthiest city in Portugal and its capital, Lisbon.

Wherever in South Africa you live, it’s probably freezing, so you’ll be thinking of escaping to somewhere warm – possibly with turquoise water, waving palm trees and snow-white sand. But then, come summer, you may head north to go skiing. It just shows how out of touch we can be with the seasons. But we don’t have to be.

Pest control is an essential element in estate management, but it needs to be carefully managed – both to ensure the safety of residents and pets, and also to prevent ‘collateral damage’ to urban and peri-urban wildlife.

If you’re thinking of investing in South Africa, it’s worth looking at some of the rapidly developing industrial hubs that are evolving in strategic locations around the country.

Trudging around the golf course and playing tennis are ‘like so yesterday …’ your teenagers say, rolling their eyes skyward. Followed by a ‘there’s nothing to do here’ as their fingers tap the keys and the mayhem of one of a dozen blood-and-gore-filled computer games continues. This lament can be heard from tweens, teens and young adults the world over – gone are the days that residential estates could get away with the bare essentials of outdoor activities like (indoor or outdoor) gym, jogging and MTB trails, and a pool. The youth of today are way more demanding, and as parents and estate developers we need to take heed.

The Internet of things (IoT) has become a hot topic of conversation with technical, social and economic implications. It is a concept that not only has the potential to influence how we live, but also how we work and play. Projections for the impact of IoT are notable, with some anticipating as many as 100 billion connected IoT devices, and a global economic consequence of more than US$11 trillion by 2025.

Hardly a day goes by without the future of South Africa’s power grid making front-page news. Keeping the lights on, and sustainably, is a favourite topic around the dinner table, whether you live in Port Elizabeth or Pearl Valley.

Backed by over 19 years’ experience and expertise, and strong relationships with major banks and estate agents, BetterBond is one of the largest bond originators in South Africa.

We’re all getting older – it’s just part of the cycle of life. And with no fountain of youth or magic chocolate bar to cure us of our ailments, we’ll just have to make do with ageing and the added health issues that arise.

It’s Youth Month, when SA focuses on the 38% of the population aged between 18 and 35. But there are two distinct generations of consumers represented within that cohort, and they have very different ideas about real estate. Generation-Z, born between 1995 and about 2010, are the world’s “digital natives” who have been exposed to the internet, social networks and streaming media their whole lives, and they are proving to be very different from the Millennials born between 1980 and 1994 – especially when it comes to their views on real estate.

Planning for retirement can be both exciting and scary. Exciting in the sense that you’re planning for a life event that is spoken about so often throughout your life that it’s really a milestone and period to look forward to. Scary though, as you never know whether you’ll have enough since it’s impossible to predict the future. So much could go wrong in our economy and even if you’ve invested offshore, nothing is certain.

A single network infrastructure offering solutions and services to suit the requirements of individual residents.

Empowering first-time homeowners with a one-off government-funded subsidy . The Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) offers an amazing opportunity for qualifying individuals to own their first property. It’s unfortunate that the details and implications of FLISP are not commonly known, and that there are some misconceptions about its process and value. The benefits, however, are huge, and estate agents and those involved in financing have a crucial role to play in educating prospective buyers and assisting in the process.

Thirty years ago I attended a lecture in Minneapolis USA by a Dr William Bridges on change and transition. Change he said is what happens in the real world but transition happens in the mind. When planned change fails its usually because people have not made the mental transition to accept the change. He offered a simple way to understand transition by breaking it into three stages. Stage 1 is all about making endings and letting go. Real change he said must begin with an ending, counter intuitive isn’t it.

You can have it all – live in the country with wide-open spaces. Perfectly balancing freedom and space with top-of-the-range, AAA-rated security, Monaghan Farm offers safe, secure country living – a place to breathe, relax and wind down. A place to bring up a family in a nurturing environment without the hustle and bustle of city life.

If an endless supply of pasteis de nata isn’t enough to entice you to relocate to Portugal, perhaps the favourable quality of life, cost of living and friendly investment and residence programmes will do the trick. Portugal has become one of the most sought-after destinations for South Africans seeking to relocate, largely because its investment opportunities and Golden Visa regime make it one of the easiest European Union countries to secure residency and citizenship – simply by purchasing property to the value of €500,000, provided certain conditions are met.

Facial recognition – whether it’s a passing fad, or the next big thing, one thing is sure: everyone has an opinion – good, bad, delighted or furious.

Community. What a nice concept. So simple. So appealing. And so elusive for residents of so many common-interest ownership developments that are communities in name only. A collection of residents who share ownership but nothing more may form an association, but they do not create a community by any definition of that term. True communities – living, breathing, vibrant communities – are not born, they are built, and the community association board is the primary architect in that construction process.

The Eastern Cape is a friendly and endlessly fascinating province – especially if you’re a fan of wild places – and its residential estates reflect its amazing diversity. There’s literally something here for everyone.

The Eastern Cape is a region of extreme diversity. Pristine beaches rub shoulders with forest-clad dunes, aloes punctuate the sere brown Karoo plains, and the history of Settlers, San and Xhosa communities tells stories of the region’s past. It’s South Africa’s premier malaria-free Big Five safari destination and it’s an adventure junkie’s playground – the highest bungy jump in the world, some of the world’s best surf, great diving, mountain biking and hiking – and it boasts South Africa’s only ski resort.
But it’s not all nature and adrenaline.

How important are estate rules, and can they really be enforced? This question is at the heart of a recent legal wrangle between Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate Management Association II and a resident.

“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.” Walt Whitman. The ubiquitous urban lawn. Where did it come from? Do you really need one? And what do you choose if you do? In the bad old days they used to say you should never interfere with a South African’s lawn – or their braai. And while that’s probably still true for the braai, is it really still true for the lawn?

A promising new treatment for memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s, ageing and depression was presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Washington DC on 14 February this year. An auspicious date. If it works, no doubt everyone will love it.

Quick! Which ridiculously handsome South African is wind-resistant, drought-tolerant, security-ready, eminently prunable, easy to grow, farmable, culturally significant, and downright delicious? Answer: the plant with the tastiest name of them all – the num-num.

The manufacture and transport of bricks contributes quite a lot to the carbon footprint of a building, which is why some of the finest minds all over the world are looking at alternatives – be it beer bottles, sandbags, straw bales, bag-stuffed plastic bottles, or bricks made from ash, toxic sludge, compressed solid waste, and even cannabis. So it’s pretty exciting that local researchers have come up with a novel, energy-efficient way of manufacturing bricks from a waste substance that usually takes lots of water and other resources to process – and that we don’t usually like to talk about.

The affordable housing market has high demand, low supply, and the promise of long-term investment returns. So what’s the catch? Investing is a long-term game. Gregg Sneddon, the financial adviser who blogs and tweets at thefinancialcoach.co.za, often emphasises this point to his clients: ‘Investing takes time,’ he says. ‘Three years is not “time”.

Nose in, fingers out! This is how I was taught to approach risk detection in property development consultancy. In other words, ask lots of questions, look, learn and observe everything, and yes, sniff around. But don’t interfere. 

The almost complete inundation of the city of Beira was in the news for a while, but then it fell away in the midst of newer, more important, or just more entertaining news – Ethiopian Airlines crash, Christchurch mosque shooting, South African elections, a 37-year-old woman successfully giving birth, and David Beckham’s conviction for talking on the phone while driving.

An educational initiative is providing the communities living around Cape Town International Airport with access to home-building skills and affordable housing – building communities, and laying the foundation for the city’s long-term growth.

If you’re thinking of retirement or scaling down, why not move to a development with a view? Even if you continue working part-time, which is what many modern retirees do, you’ll probably have a lot more leisure time – all the more reason to have scenic landscapes or city skylines to immerse yourself in and enjoy.

Building a new home, or having your existing one renovated, can be one of the most rewarding experiences. But, for most people, the thought of investing in a fixer-upper or a new build is more than a little overwhelming. The good news is that, with a little help and a lot of planning, it’s definitely possible to create the house of your dreams.

Samsung has been a pioneer in TV design for 50 years. Over that time, Samsung has researched what people love most about TV – the way it brings friends and families together and the many details that amplifies the viewing experience. This knowledge has led to innovation that has transformed how people watch TV and is one of the reasons it has been global number 1 for the 13 years. The 2019 QLED line-up builds on this legacy in a big way.

J AND J REWARDS PTY LTD entered the market in 2014 as an innovative wholesale distribution company. Founded by a young Belgian and American, we pride ourselves on sourcing quality products at a great price. We visit up to 4 international trade shows a year to make sure we never fall behind when it comes to tech focused products worldwide. With an office based in Shenzhen, China, J AND J REWARDS has the ability to source, test, and brand products at the highest levels possible. Our head office and warehouse in Cape Town distributes seamlessly to every end of Southern Africa.

Sitari Country Estate situated just outside Somerset West has been a remarkable success story, with unprecedented buyer interest and 926...

On April 23 2019 Samsung announced that its 2019 TV line, including new QLED 4K and 8K models, are available at select retailers nationwide from May. Powered by Samsung’s proprietary Quantum Processor, the 2019 QLED TV line-up features more screen size options, stunning picture quality enhancements, dazzling colours from every angle, exciting new design elements and intuitive smart TV upgrades.

Samsung announced today that its 2019 QLED TV line-up will offer a brand new Ambient Mode that is designed to display various content including world-renowned works of art, even when the TV screen is turned off. Through the Ambient Mode, a variety of content like daily news headlines, weather updates, photos and music can be accessed from the TV screen.

There’s so much to consider when you’re buying a home, not least because of its investment potential. Having said that, you don’t want to buy something just because it makes financial sense and then find you don’t like living there, or possibly worse, follow your heart and find you’ve made a bad financial decision.

Only a four-hour flight from Johannesburg and nestled in the Indian Ocean off the East African coastline, Mauritius boasts a strategic location bridging the African continent and the Indian subcontinent. The country is a sought-after destination characterised by a privileged lifestyle, resilient economy, political and social stability and excellent sustainability rankings in Africa. More than its tropical climate and cultural diversity, Mauritius positions itself as an international financial centre with many financial and social incentives.

You use artificial intelligence (AI) every day, often without knowing it. Shouldn’t your estate’s security team have the same kind...

It’s not uncommon to change jobs every few years and at the same time decide to cash out your provident...

Life’s getting harder, everything’s getting more expensive, the world’s getting madder, and it’s all happening faster by the hour. How...

Most lifestyle estates strive to create a sense of community, yet few succeed. So, how has Kyalami Estates managed to get it right? Wander through any of the events that Kyalami Estates host annually and you’ll notice that almost every resident stops on their way to greet their neighbours. It’s the kind of collegial atmosphere that most residential estates try to emulate but, although they might achieve friendliness, cohesiveness often remains just out of reach. Yet it appears to be an integral part of the Kyalami Estates character; indeed, it’s one of Estate’s defining qualities.

If you’re considering an offshore investment property, it’s best to partner with a company who understands the intricacies South Africans will face, the pros and cons of the markets you’re investing in, the local conditions that might affect your decisions, and the international laws and considerations you should be aware of. Take a look at how IP Global can help you to expand your investment portfolio across borders.

So you want to go on holiday without neglecting your exercise habit, and maybe get out into nature for a good cardio workout. An unspoilt location, good food and wine, a decent bed and a shower at night are essentials. Pretty flowers, wildlife and interesting cultural attractions are a bonus. And you’d prefer for someone else to take care of logistics. Is that too much to ask?

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a reluctant renter or a wannabe holiday home owner by the sea, buying property requires some thoughtful planning – and with so many factors to consider, not least the political and economic climate of the country, it’s hard to know where to start, but we are confident that Pinnacle Point Estate will amaze and impress you beyond your wildest dreams.

Johannesburg City Council is driving an initiative to restore 84 buildings in the CBD to provide efficient, contemporary accommodation for city dwellers, and tenders have been awarded to various developers who’ve now started this visionary transformation of some of Jozi’s oldest residential hubs.

Arabella Country Estate, one of SA’s leading lifestyle and golfing residential estates situated along the Bot River Lagoon in Kleinmond, is reaping the rewards of their long established water and environmental management plans despite the current drought conditions plaguing the country and the Western Cape in particular.

In a constrained economy like that of South Africa, the possibility of new construction projects is limited. This, along with the rapidly increasing cost of living as a result of the increasing cost of fuel, the inflation rate, and the VAT hike of 2018, has put pressure on consumer spending. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news.

An important consideration when investing is the state of affairs in the region you are considering investing in – and this goes beyond the obvious financial and political considerations. Ask questions about the sustainability of the region’s energy and water sources, its waste management policies as well as its biodiversity conservation. With all considered, South Africa still ticks most of the boxes for being a desirable region to invest in.

South African design is going places. Porky Hefer’s installations and furniture designs, Andile Dyalvane’s ceramics, Rich Mnisi’s fashion and furniture designs, and Dokter and Misses’ furniture and product designs are just some local pieces increasingly rocking art fairs and exhibition halls around the globe.

Museums are not about old crockery, vintage clothes, beautiful furniture, historical photos and rusty farm implements. They’re about stories, but sometimes you have to look hard to find them. And sometimes those stories illustrate an important principle or moral.

Step inside one of the luxurious units at Sandton Gate Terrace. Craft homes has created specialised virtual tours for 3 of Sandton Gate Terrace’s stunning units. Take your pick and start your virtual tour

The growing move away from suburban residential living to urban living has the potential to unlock a passive revenue stream for investors in a rapidly expanding urban node.

Design is always a matter of taste: after all, one person’s idea of clean lines may be depressingly Spartan for someone else, which makes the question of estate design rather complicated. So how do developers and HOAs appeal to the broad variety of people that estates inevitably attract?

A much coveted tourist destination, the tropical island of Mauritius is fast emerging as a preferred destination for non-citizens looking for an enticing place to retire. With its all-year-round temperate climate, first-class infrastructure and harmonious environment, this rainbow nation with an affordable cost of living has opened its doors since 2006 to eligible non-citizens looking for a stress-free retirement.

Needing some guidelines in managing and loading/cancelling your prepaid meters? Watch the videos below to get some helpful support and insight. Pro admin is one of the founding members of the electricity re-sellers association and is still actively involved in the industry.

There are many ways to invest for your retirement years and, even though you may contribute to a compulsory company pension or provident fund, you should most definitely not be content with just that.

Retirement villages – or lifestyle estates, as they are now being called – are popping up like (Barberton) daisies throughout South Africa, all with promises of enjoying the best years of your life in surroundings brimming with all the bells and whistles.

There was a time when retirement estates built bowling greens for the ‘more active’ residents, and something as daring as a tennis court or an outdoor pool was considered an unnecessary expense because – well – you know, old people don’t really do exercise.

People aren’t retiring like they used to. Instead, many are working longer out of necessity or from a desire to remain vital and engaged.

Lombard Insurance has close on 30 years’ experience in delivering guarantees across multiple industries.

Your mind is sure you are 35, but sometimes your ears, eyes, hands and back tell you different, and a lot of the things you did with ease a few years ago may have become a challenge.

The coast of South Africa is more than 2,500 kilometres long, it’s wild and tamed, rocky and sandy, restless and restful, and probably more varied than any coastline anywhere else in the world.

A residential estate is a strange thing. First it’s a piece of land, then a plan and marketing concept, then a construction site, then a bunch of empty buildings.

As retirement looms, it’s natural to begin reflecting on the past, but it’s not a time for doom and gloom. It’s the time to put the past behind you, and look at the new opportunities these changes bring.

Forget the old age homes of the past. Today’s mature lifestyle estates offer residents an active retirement with customised healthcare options.

Drawing on its existing position as industry leader in the life right retirement community landscape, and leveraging the new financial muscle it developed in its transaction with PSG, Evergreen is rapidly expanding its retirement village footprint and setting new benchmarks for every aspect of retirement living.

Internationally there is a trend towards multigenerational living, where sometimes three generations reside under the same roof – either for convenience or out of necessity due to the rising cost of living and unaffordable property prices.

These days your age is not as relevant as your lifestyle, and the concept of retirement estates is changing to accommodate changing needs.

There’s all this talk of how our population is ageing, and how the baby boomers are not ‘going gentle into that good night’ any time soon. But, really, how long can we live? And how will living longer affect society?

With over 800 luxury homes, a world-class golf course, a small-craft harbour, a country club including tennis courts and swimming pools, and three restaurant areas, Pecanwood Estate has already established itself as one of South Africa’s premier residential estates.

Based on a service-level agreement, AMAX offers security, maintenance and communications installation services to estates in Gauteng. When an estate...

Sixty years ago it was not uncommon for kids to ride their bikes to their grandparents’ house. Children played outside,...

Capital Reserve Fund Management: As trustees and community managers what should we be asking ourselves? Pro admin shares their thoughts:...

The real estate industry has been operating in the shadow of technology, compared to other industries. However, as consumers become...

Forty years ago, old-age pensioners were perceived as stooped, white-haired and often quite grumpy old people killing time until they...

Probably one of the most difficult issues facing estate managers is waste management. It’s a truly Sisyphean endeavour – just...

Every time we hear stories of veld fires, we are alerted to the very real danger to our homes of...

When Simbithi Eco Estate was conceptualised 15 years ago, it was all about ‘home’, and today, the 430-hectare estate has...

Everybody knows that good business has to be sustainable,and that – really – we do not have to choose between...

Some small towns are naturally slow – stuck away in the middle of nowhere – but some have to work...

Careful planning for future repairs and replacements is in the best physical and fiscal interests of the community association. Maintaining...

‘Pergola’ might be the one word more than any other in the language of gardening that gets us thinking of...

As we slither our sweltering way to the end of the hottest summer most of us can remember, we find...

Blur the lines between the great outdoors and your interior spaces by replicating nature’s colours on your walls. Here’s how....

It warms, it cooks, it illuminates. Fire is central to our lives, and it’s not too far a stretch to...

Hunter S Thompson once said: ‘Love is the feeling you get when you love something as much as your motorcycle.’...

While many people choose to live in lifestyle estates for the serene surroundings and country feel, they still need to...

Waking up to an adventure every day. This is what you can expect from the Heron Banks Golf and River...

Caring for the frail and elderly is an arduous task and a responsibility that family members assume without hesitation; coming...

ARC (Association for Residential Community), proactively supports Homeowners Associations and Bodies Corporate, their management teams and trustees, to establish, maintain...

Remember the fable of The Tortoise and the Hare? The one where the arrogant hare thought that he could so...

If you have schoolgoing children, you’re probably already thinking about where they will go to university, and how you will...

Buying your own home can be a daunting prospect. Many of us have spent our lives renting, so when we...

As a prospective first-time home buyer you have seen many articles telling you that at the rate things are going...

Precinct living is a relatively new concept within the South African property realm, but Sandton Gate is proof that being...

However, there was just 602,000 purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) properties available in the 2017/18 academic year. This means that over...

In South Africa, the residential real estate industry is geared towards sellers: estate agents represent the interests of sellers, while...

Save R320 000 on a R1 million property You may be well aware of the strict lending criteria applied by the...

A recently concluded joint venture between Evergreen Retirement Holdings and the Uvest Property Group will see the development of Evergreen...

Bamboo is one of the world’s oldest natural building materials. In Asia and South America, where it occurs naturally, it’s...

Of the many good reasons for moving to a residential estate, the one most often cited is security. Residential estates...

No matter how well things are going, you can’t just sit back and hope the situation will continue, and when...

It’s good business to protect natural areas within your housing estate, not only because they make it a nicer living...

What is the role of a community association? What’s the difference between sectional title and freehold communities? And how does all this work? These questions and others are answered here.

Before deciding to invest our hard earned money on the JSE we spend countless hours researching the company that we…

In this video we show you how to make a DIY chalkboard serving tray that's cute and easy to make....

In this video Tanya Visser talks about the different types of insecticides and how to use them. Insecticides are ideal...

The Efekto water-wise crystals is a polymer which attracts water and it's completely biodegradable and non-toxic. This means it's safe...

Levy income is the lifeblood of any estate, and ineffective management and collection of funds can have a crippling effect...

It’s been almost 26 years since Dainfern Golf and Country Estate became one of the first residential estates to wow...

Fired Earth Woodworks is a water based wood stainer and sealer that's perfect for interior and exterior use. It has...

One paint with five applications. It's a world-first in paint technology. View product and shop online with Builders. {{ vc_btn:...

Transform a bland white space into a stunning feature wall in a snap with this short and sweet DIY video!...

It applies pink and dries white - so you'll never miss a spot again. View product and shop online with...

The exclusive Heritage Villas Valriche, the largest villa-only residential development in Mauritius, celebrates the rich heritage of this Indian Ocean island...

  www.rawson-developers.co.za   Helen Grange  

Many people buy into residential estates and sectional title developments for investment purposes and, with economic pressures being what they...

There are so many reasons to invest in Mauritius, and even more reasons to live in Mauritius – for at...

Is bigger always better? Not always – and especially not if you want the convenience of living close to your...

The Association of Residential Communities (ARC) has been in existence for over 10 years, with 11 founder members, 10 chapters...

So, you’ve gazed upon your ‘fields of corn’ … you’ve dreamt, you’ve designed and you’ve built. Now what? Do you...

A development is not a residential estate – it’s a place with houses in a greater or lesser stage of...

It’s good business to protect natural areas within your housing estate, not only because they make it a nicer living...

Brand image is everything. We understand the importance of this, which is why we ensure that your image reflects perfection...

A professional security presence with 24/7 staffed access is a given, but sometimes a developer needs to add an extra loss...

As a developer, you are already adding fibre to new properties; in fact, you may very well be retrofitting it...

As providers prepare to roll out 5G mobile technology, what does this mean for us? A generation ago, mobile video...

The beautiful plantations of sugar cane that are such an intrinsic part of the landscape of the KZN North Coast...

Gone are the days when developers took a shot in the dark choosing retail tenants, with some white elephants that...

There are people who get a thrill out of picking out new furniture and appliances when they move house –...

Your development is ready for sales, and you need widespread marketing to reach as many potential buyers as possible, followed...

Rejuvenating inner-city neighbourhoods can be an uplifting, progressive and profitable enterprise, but it’s not as simple as that. There is...

You’ve probably heard all the hype about Maropeng and the Cradle of Humankind, but there is a lot more to...

Johannesburg’s proposed new housing policy, which recognises the need for developments to yield a profit, may turn out to be...

The structures appear mirage-like on the horizon. First a single tent, seemingly burnt pale by years of neglect in the...

We seldom stop to think about all the processes necessary to ensure that we get to wake up with a...

Artificial intelligence – real stupidity, really creepy. Or really clever, really great? Depends on how you look at it. And…

In an urban world where we are increasingly paying attention to our physical and mental health needs, the buildings that...

Author: T van Staden – attorney specialising in health and safety legal compliance Construction is a hazardous endeavour, so here’s how…

Do you know the etymology of the word ‘travel’? It comes from the old French word travailler – the same…

Forming homeowners associations (HOAs) has become second nature to developers. But handing a development over to the HOA has often…

While we celebrate the increasing emphasis developers are placing on mixed-use precincts, and acknowledge that this is the way of…

One of the few freehold developments in the Sibaya Precinct, Gold Coast Estate offers a rare balance between elegant design,…

Johannesburg’s proposed new housing policy, which recognises the need for developments to yield a profit, may turn out to be…

Life is a dance – it’s about balance and harmony – and sustainability is about learning to dance with the…

One of the best things about living in a residential estate is the community – and there are a lot…

Andrew Donkin and Builders Warehouse show you how to build your own DIY kitchen Stand.

Creating a kitchen with off-the-shelf units not only makes building your kitchen a breeze, but is really affordable too.

Come and join Estate Living at JNCS Beyond Security’s highly informative presentation on the Future of proactive Estate Security at…

Over 620,000 over 65s have considered downsizing, but cannot find suitable alternative accommodation. As the baby boomer generation enjoyed a period…

Author: T van Staden – attorney specialising in health and safety legal compliance Construction is a hazardous endeavour, so here’s how…

By Steven Nathan, founder and chief executive officer of 10X Investments In investing, as in life, we regularly face the…

Great movie, and an awesome title. But I would have done it the other way round – the Ugly, the…

Sixty years ago, it was not uncommon for kids to ride their bikes to their grandparents’ house. Children played outside,…

Presenting breathtaking views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the greater Cape Town from the gentle slopes of the Tygerberg…

New retirees entering the property market are increasingly looking for options that support both their desire to continue living independently,…

Until recently, a frail care facility was considered one of the most important aspects of a retirement estate. But the…

Apartment developments are a huge trend in South Africa’s major centres, as they offer a safe, lock-up-and-go lifestyle, usually within…

When we think of gardens, we tend to think of ornamental gardens, not – for example – vegetable gardens or…

Security is top of mind for people looking for a retirement village, so cutting edge security systems such as CCTV…

Central to any estate security product offering should be the understanding that estate security is not only about keeping the…

Having launched 9 months ago, Enigma Private Estate in KwaZulu-Natal has had a positive response, so positive that this new…

PARK SQUARE TO BENEFIT COMMUNITIES AND INVESTORS IN THRIVING UMHLANGA RIDGE uMhlanga’s most significant new commercial and retail development is…

Mobile and wireless data are expected to increase a thousandfold over the next decade as more than 50 billion devices,…

Perspectives change, and that’s just one of the reasons you need to keep an open mind. This whole management-speak gobbledygook…

If there’s one strong design feature that defines homes in a modern estate, it has to be expansive, frameless glass…

The Western Cape may be the primary destination for inlanders seeking a coastal lifestyle, but soaring property prices in the province, and Cape Town in particular, have made potential home buyers turn their focus to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) North and South coasts.

State-of-the-art security is a natural expectation in any upmarket development, and the more unobtrusive it is the better. Estates with…

So what differentiates Moka Smart City from any other such city on the island? For one, it already exists and is a much more attractive, smarter and competitive place to be living and working. Brighter, faster and better connected, this is smart living like nothing Mauritius has ever seen before.

More and more attention is being directed towards exploring the benefits of art in urban and suburban spaces. Does public…

Property partnerships between homeowners associations (HOA’s) and estate agencies came under legal scrutiny when the Cape High Court was approached…

Mobile and wireless data are expected to increase a thousandfold over the next decade as more than 50 billion devices,…