The smallest of the three towns in the picturesque Helderberg region, Gordon’s Bay is an idyllic seaside haven complimented by warm waters, white sandy beaches and a quaint harbour – all just 30km from Cape Town. Named after the Dutch explorer, Robert Jacob Gordon, Gordon’s Bay has quite an interesting history and dates back to the 1670s, when the Dutch started taking interest in the area.
“For most of us living in the Helderberg region today,” says Schalk van der Merwe, franchisee of the Rawson Property Group’s Helderberg franchises, “Gordon’s Bay is better known as ‘gorgeous bay’ because not only is it beautiful hidden gem but it also offers extremely good value for money property-wise.”
According to van der Merwe, buyers in and around Cape Town have for a long time overlooked Gordon’s Bay, but he believes this is soon going to change. Known for its healthy sense of community, Gordon’s Bay has in fact a cheaper average house price than both its neighbours, Strand and Somerset West. The area also only has 7000 homes and is therefore able to keep its village feel, which is bursting with charm.
“The stunning mountainside properties are definitely one of the first things you notice when you drive through Gordon’s Bay,” says van der Merwe, “and many automatically believe that these properties are very expensive, but in fact the opposite is actually true.”
Selling from between R9000 to R12 000 per m2, Gordon’s Bay’s mountainside properties are a staggering 300% cheaper than similar homes in Fresnaye and Bantry Bay, which have average selling prices that range from R30 000 to R50 000 per m2.
“And if Gordon’s Bay’s home prices are not enough of an attraction,” says van der Merwe, “the impressive infrastructure upgrades soon to take place in the Helderberg region will certainly grab onlookers attention, as these are sure to change the perception of this once predominantly holiday home town.”
Van der Merwe foresees young professionals taking notice as the following developments take shape:
- The Sanctuary, a newly launched mixed use retail and convenience complex.
- Paardevlei, which will see 590 residential units and 100 000m2 commercial space built.
- Broadway Boulevard dual carriage way project, which will allow for better access to the N2 and Gordon’s Bay City of Cape Town’s Strand Pavilion precinct upgrade, which will include a R180 million refurbishment of the Strand sea wall.
- Gordon’s Bay Village Plaza, a boutique style mall currently under construction.
“The good news is that these developments will only better the very attractive property investment opportunities already available at Gordon’s Bay,” says van der Merwe. “Over the past four years, full title sales recorded 8.1% year-on-year growth, with sectional title sales recording 6.2% and rental yields currently sitting just under 9%.”