farm, 26 ha
With Berg River frontage and surrounded by breathtaking mountains, this 26 ha piece of land is 10 minutes drive from the buzzing tourist attraction of an exclusive private school.
The farm is listed on the Berg River irrigation scheme for which 17 ha is available to irrigate the 5 ha Sauvignon Blanc and 2 ha Riesling vineyards, the 6 ha plum, the 2 ha pear and 2 ha lemon orchards. An additional water source is the mountain stream that runs through the farm.
Buildings consist of an impressive 3 bedroom homestead with a swimming pool, a 3 bedroom managers house, a 2 bedroom house as well as a 1 bedroom flat. Another free standing bulding is now being used as a part time restaurant (with liquor license) but could be utilised in many ways by the entrepreneur with initiative. A certain pertion (with less agricultural value) of the farm can be regarded as suitable for some sort of development. There are 2 sheds as well as 4 labourer cottages on the property. Apart from the mentioned buildings and ample water, the fantastic location of this farm can not be overlooked and should be regarded as a real strength.
Franschhoek Background Information :
Franschhoek (meaning “French Corner”) has deep roots running back to the French Huguenots who planted themselves and their vineyards here in the late 17th century. Most of the old farmsteads (a few originals dating back to the 1600s) still bear French names. In 1984 that the Vignerons de Franschhoek was founded - home to around 30 wine farms which include some of South Africa’s most respected names, including Bellingham, Boschendal, Cabriere, Graham Beck, La Motte and L’Ormarins, to name but a few.
The first cars arrived in 1910, the first telephone 1911. Electricity came in 1934. In 1938 the Huguenot Memorial was erected to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the Huguenots and in 1992 the election of Mr Frank Arendse proclaimed the first non-white mayor in South Africa.
However, for a true sense of local history, a visit to the Huguenot Memorial Museum is recommended. The ancestry of many famous South Africans is evident here: FW de Klerk, Beyers Naude, Charlize Theron etc.
Property Background Information :
Ten years ago it was still pretty much ‘Sleepy Hollow’ territory; a real get-away-from-it-all where you could pick up a cottage at around R200 000 and enjoy a true country lifestyle within a 45 minute drive of Cape Town.
Property prices began to escalate about 1996, at the same time that tourism started to take off in South Africa; the rand was at an all-time low against foreign currencies, and Franschhoek had become a sought-after destination for both food and wine. And so the visitors came, “they saw, they ate, drank, fell in love and many bought property”. It’s become a place to live rather than just for a holiday. The quality of property has also improved markedly, in that old houses have been restored, new buildings complement the architectural style of the valley and are strictly monitored by a very active aesthetics committee.
In South African “countryside” terms Franschhoek is expensive….. with stands selling from R750 000, and apartments from R780 000. Houses start from R1.85-million for a semi-detached house (two bedrooms with a studio apartment and double garage). In the medium range, you’ll find a home for between R2.5- to R5-million – and the top end is represented by smallholdings starting at R4.5-million.’
Franschhoek property sales totalled R176.2m for the period June 2005 to May 2006, with prices averaging R2.862m – generally 5.5 per cent lower than the average listing price. Properties in the area that had been priced in the region of under R300 000 – 10 years ago – could now easily sell in excess of R10-million. Today there is nothing free-standing available under R2.5-million – regarded as the entry level mark, and for this you could get a two-bedroom house in good condition close to the town centre. From R3.2m to about R4.5m you will have a wider variety of properties to choose from. The upper market varies from R5m upwards and includes what you would call Gentlemen’s Estates.
While it is still possible to buy a small two-bedroom apartment (of approximately 60m2) from R750 000, these are few and far between.
There are also a number of new developments, but these have largely occurred on the municipal boundaries of the village – former agricultural land that has been re-zoned and sub-divided. Franschhoek has managed to retain its village ambience by enfolding most of the development rather than being engulfed by it: It’s a very difficult balancing act….but the aesthetics committee performs a very valuable function, as does the Franschhoek Trust, in keeping the soul of the village intact. Regarding development in the area, the Stellenbosch municipality is actively focused on protecting the character and appeal of Franschhoek by ring-fencing the town, and agreeing that there will be no further major developments in Franschhoek.
Lifetyle : With the demand for homes came the demand for a lifestyle: restaurants, art galleries, specialist retail and coffee bars mushroomed. The sleepy hollow had become hallowed space for residents seeking the best of both worlds.
Franschhoek now plays home to a contingent of "swallows" who own property and enjoy only the summer months in the valley. The village is abuzz with many new locals and tourists, and traffic and parking can be a problem. During the past five years there has been a huge influx of foreign buyers – mostly European – but in the last two years, the emphasis has shifted with a lot more South Africans buying; retirees and even businesspeople whom commute on a weekly basis to Johannesburg. They all are looking for a better, more relaxing lifestyle to what the city has to offer and Franschhoek fits the bill.
Affluent families are tired of hiding behind electric fences and dealing with traffic that leaves you demented. Franschhoek is not without crime or problems - but it certainly has a lot less compared to what metropolitan areas have to deal with
Acting on the need for a private school in the valley, the highly acclaimed Bridge House Independent School was established, opening up the valley to investors who would otherwise not necessarily have considered it. The demographics naturally changed to accommodate the ever-increasing demand.
Apart from living among the vineyards, the region is also popular with golfers looking to buy in estates; for example, Pearl Valley Signature Gold Estate and Spa offers a variety of premium property opportunities including golf lodges, houses and residential erven. At Boschemeer Golf and Country Estate only 30ha of a 140ha site have been set aside for low density development.
Restaurants :
Franschhoek boasts eight of South Africa’s ‘Top 100’ restaurants, which has earned it the title of the gastronomic capital of South Africa. Twenty-five per cent of the five-star chefs in the country live here - including Reuben Riffel who achieved top honours in the 2005 Eat Out Johnnie Walker Restaurant Awards for both Chef of the Year as well as Restaurant of the Year.
Further Eat Out Johnnie Walker award winners include Five-Star Chefs Matthew Gordon (Haute Cabrière, The French Connection and Piccata); Margot Janse (seen top left, of Le Quartier Français, The Tasting Room and iCi); and Vanie Padayachee (Grande Provence Estate – The Restaurant); and Lifetime Award achiever Topsi Venter (Topsi & Co).
Sources : The Property Magazine - Carola Koblitz