 Search for a home on any device, anytime, anywhere. Private Property, a home for everyone. Welcome back to Winter Home on Afternoon Express, exclusively on SABC 3. As you know Private Property has teamed up with Afternoon Express to provide you with advice on the different aspects of property on estates. Today we have in the loft with us Carol Reynolds, North Durban area principal for Pam Golding Properties, who is going to chat us about the property and estate market in our home province of Quasulut Natal. Welcome to the loft. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Good to be here. So Carol, how does one like you get involved in the sort of world of property? I was born into a property family. My father's a conveyer and my mom's owned the Pam Golding franchise for 20 years in the Midlands. My sister co-owns it with her. My brother's in construction. My grandfather was a developer and I did law and decided that I needed something a little bit more vibrant in my life. So you tried to run away and then the cord was too close and it kind of pulled you back in? That's it. I thought I'd either got to be an estate agent or a lawyer. So let me do property because I love everything about property. I love renovating, decorating, investing in it. It's my passion. What's so cool about your family is that you're so diverse in the field of property. So what exactly is going on in the markets in Durban when it comes to property? You know 2017's been an interesting year for South Africa and there's been a lot of negative sentiments. But ironically people tend to gravitate back towards a bricks and mortar, more solid investment class. So actually the residential property market particularly in Natale is being really resilient. It's showing extreme resilience. We've had growth of 9% year on year in Amshlanga which is 4% above the national average. My little Durban North Amshlanga franchise has done better this year than last year. So I think sometimes you've got to remove yourself from the noise and the sentiment and actually focus on the stats and you'll see that actually the residential property market is doing exceptionally well. And speaking of the stats, I mean we were mentioning over the last couple of weeks that estates are a growing trend when it comes to property. Everyone's looking to be part of an estate. So what are some of the hottest estates that are happening in KZV at the moment that are around? Well just north of Belita in a little place called Tinley Manors Palm Lakes, very popular with young families because you can get a three to four bedroomed home there for three million rand. So it's really affordable and the lakes in the estate, lots of community centres are ideal for children. So that's a popular one. Then moving slightly further south into the heart of Belita is Simbiti. Simbiti's done very well over the years. Beautiful modern contemporary architecture. It's got an 18 hole golf course, an equestrian centre. So also very popular with families. And then moving slightly further south to Zimbali which is on the cusp of Belita. It's probably the most well-known security estate in KwaZulu Natal. It's got Balinese architecture, very established. It's got a lot of coastal forests and create privacy. Weren't they also named as the second just below an estate in Cape Town? Yes, voted number two in the country, Zimbali. And prices they are higher. So your entry level is about six million up to over 20 million for a freestanding home. But beautiful and private and secure. And obviously you've got the golf course and the fame on total. There are lots happening in that estate. And then moving inland to the Hillcrest area's Kotswold Downs. It's more of a rural sort of country estate. Also on an 18 hole golf course. Beautiful architecture. I'd describe it probably as contemporary farm style. You've got exposed trusses, grey slate roofs. So it's quite classic and also more affordable. Entry level there is four million. You can buy a beautiful home for between four and ten million. So also a lovely estate. Excuse my appropriation when it comes to these things. But Durbanites, you know, like quite chill people. And they've got lots of really cool, you know, like activities to engage in just in their daily lifestyle. Yes, we do. So what exactly do Durbanites look for? And the rest of the country look for when it comes to an estate? Because that's already at your fingertips. You know, beaters and lifestyle. I mean, we really are spoilt in a tell. We've got the best climate. The most user friendly. See a beautiful coastline. But first and foremost, people are seeking security. And then once you've got security, they look at the features and the benefits. They want their children to grow up in an environment where they can get their bicycles and go and visit their friends, go and play a little bit of golf on the driving ranges. So I think it's just that piece of mind of being with a negated community and having that security, which is absolutely paramount at the moment in the market. And what's happened to KZN, it's become a hotspot for Johannesburg commuters. So there's a mass immigration of Joe Burg buyers coming down, wanting their families to grow up in these beautiful coastal estates. Five minutes from the airport, the convenience and the lifestyle offering can't be beaten. There's a reason Durban's been voted best place to live in South Africa for the last three years. Has it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my gosh. The Mercer index is rated at the best lifestyle city in the country. So ahead of Cape Town, ahead of Joe Burg, you know, at the end of the day, you can't beat a beautiful climate. Is that going to be expected to grow into the future? I mean, are you going to see these trends kind of moving forward? Is the property market going to continue to increase or is it starting to reach that cap where it's now, you know, too many people there so it's going to start declining? No, not at all. The beauty of Natal is there's lots of sugar cane land and it's slowly being developed. The Sabaya precinct, which is between Amshlonga and Amshlouti, is incredibly popular at the moment. It's a talking point. It's literally three minutes away from the airport. So I predict that Cozullo Natal is going to grow over the next 10 years. That's why I'm there. I think it's a place to be. It's finally been discovered. Amshlonga is attracting foreign investors for the first time in the last two years. I'm suddenly seeing a lot of Dubai people investing in our property market. So it's very exciting times. It's a very buoyant market and we're very blessed because not lots buoyant at the moment. Exactly, that's OK. Well, thank you so much. I don't want to take care of this conversation. I want to go and buy a property in Dover in some way. Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. I'll show you which one. Thank you so much. So listen, there you guys have it. The lowdown of what's happening in the property market in KZN and you have not done so already. Be sure to enter the Winner Home grand prize competition on private property to stand a chance to win a multi-million round home on the Eye of Africa Golf and Residential Estate. All you have to do is log on to private property. .co.z and answer a very easy question. It's literally as simple as that. Now after the break on the show, the judges come feast their eyes on those kitchens.