Surprising though it may seem to many Cape property watchers, one Cape Town southern suburb which has traditionally been a pace-setter in the real estate industry has, in fact, seen less escalation in prices than almost any other.

That suburb is Pinelands.

Commenting on this, Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank, recently said that the very large group of house seekers looking for a good home valued at under R2-million often do not realise that such homes can still be found in large numbers in Pinelands. The suburb, she said, is only 12 kilometres from the centre of Cape Town and is blessed with the additional advantages of having good sports facilities and clubs, many churches, excellent schools and retail outlets.

“The Pinelands schools, especially, are a particularly strong draw card,” said Steward, “because the state and private schools in Pinelands are turning out pupils with very good matric results.”

Anne Porter Knight Frank’s Pinelands sales are handled by Penny Smith who said recently that, in her view, at least three homes on her current stock list — priced at R1.65-million, R1.7-million and R1.895-million — all represent excellent value that is far better than can be obtained in other nearby southern suburbs.

“This,” she said, “is a territory in which many of the houses are undeniably traditional and conservative without the flamboyance one finds, for example, at Fresnaye and Clifton. These homes are almost invariably solidly built, have been well maintained and are ideal for the avant-garde upgrading and modernisations which are only now beginning to be seen throughout the suburb.”

The three houses quoted by Smith all have three bedrooms, large lounges (two with fireplaces), family rooms or a separate flat, garages or carports and fully established gardens. One also has a tree house while another has a swimming pool. Plot sizes vary from just under 700m² to 1247m².

“I think it is true to say,” said Steward, “that these houses offer some of the best value currently seen in Cape Town and it is interesting to note, from what Penny Smith has said, that although — as already indicated — prices have not risen at the same speed as those of other nearby suburbs, they have almost always maintained their values, thereby reinforcing Pineland’s reputation as a very good area in which to invest.”