PROPERTY TRENDS destinations, offering recreational and wellness amenities such as golf courses, equestrian facilities, fitness centres and even on-site schools,” adds Bendall.“ This ability to consolidate multiple aspects of daily life within a single, secure community has driven strong demand.”
Apart from this, Budler points out, estate living also offers certainty in a time of rising infrastructure and service-delivery risk.“ Our research shows buyers are increasingly drawn to estates that invest in preventative measures such as security, backup utilities, and planned maintenance. These controls reduce loss events and claims complexity, which often reflects positively in insurance premiums and claims turnaround times.”
TODAY’ S HOMEBUYER
Bendall says that there are several factors accelerating this shift toward estate living: ongoing security concerns, urban densification, time-poor households and the growing appeal of managed, low-maintenance living.“ The rise of remote and hybrid work has also increased demand for environments that support work-life balance within a contained community.”
And, estate living often caters to a broad spectrum of buyers.“ From young professionals and families to affluent expatriates and retirees – often offering a mix of apartments, townhouses and free-standing homes,” says Bendall.“ This flexibility has helped estates appeal to a wider market.
The numbers really speak for themselves. Bendall highlights that, according to Lightstone Property, freehold properties accounted for 66 % of sales in 2009. By 2023, this figure had declined to 56 %, while sectional title sales increased from 23 % to 29 % and estate living grew from 11 % to
15 %.“ And the pandemic only further sped up this shift, placing quality of life at the forefront of homebuying decisions,” he says.
And buyers are willing to pay for it.“ Estate properties consistently attract premium pricing, particularly among higher net-worth buyers,” says Bendall.
As more people choose estate living over freestanding homes, it’ s clear South Africans are increasingly prioritising predictability, protection and convenience over complete independence.
IS IT WORTH THE INVESTMENT?
Budler argues, yes.“ Well-run estates tend to preserve and grow in value more consistently than unmanaged neighbourhoods. And we expect this trend to continue as municipal infrastructure investment remains under pressure, evidenced by the Western Cape’ s continued outperformance relative to metros such as Johannesburg.”
Bendall adds that estates tend to command a sustained price premium over other residential property types, with average values almost double those of freehold homes.“ This combination of demand stability and capital appreciation makes estate properties attractive from an investment perspective.”
If you are looking to invest in property in an estate, Budler suggests that as an investor you focus on governance quality, reserve funding, maintenance discipline, and security standards.“ As infrastructure strain persists, these characteristics are likely to become even more important drivers of investment performance.”
Still, Bendall warns that investors should carefully assess the total cost of ownership when considering estate properties.“ Levies and operational costs can accumulate over time, making estate living more expensive than freestanding homes in conventional suburbs.”
That said, demand for secure, managed living remains strong.“ According to The Africanvestor blog, estate properties are generally easier to sell than standalone homes and tend to retain their appeal even during economic downturns,” says Bendall. IB
MARCH 2026 / INBOUND SA 25