The Tara precinct is for many now the jewel in the Durbanville crown.

The Tara precinct is for many now the jewel in the Durbanville crown.

For many years estate agents have been saying that Durbanville surrounded by twelve wine estates - most with hospitality facilities, appeals to the more discerning home buyer. Despite rapid growth over the last decade and the growing sophistication of its CBD and retail centre, Durbanville retains its country atmosphere. Nowhere is this truer than in the Tara precinct and its adjacent residential areas.

Christelle Liebenberg of Alexander Swart Property lives in Tara and specialises in residential sales there. She reports that Tara erven along the Kuils River were originally far larger than they are today: most being over 3000m² in size and genuinely meriting the description "Gentlemen's Estates". In the last 15 years erven have been subdivided and developed as smaller freehold properties, security estates (six in all) and apartments. Estates such as Fair Trees have retained the country ambience and the area's green belt is still intact and popular as ever with dog walkers, joggers and off-road cyclists. What is more, it is complemented not far away, by two other green areas, the Durbanville golf course and extensive sports fields.

Liebenberg states that there are 451 freehold homes, 201 in estates and 34 sectional title homes in Tara today. Those who live there are in most cases so content to be there, that they have no immediate plans to upgrade or move on. As a result, less than 4% of Tara homes have changed ownership in the last 12 months and property values have risen by an estimated 9% per annum for the last three years.

Rowan Alexander, Director of Alexander Swart Property said that since Durbanville is recognised as one of "the places to be", it is becoming steadily more popular with the younger upwardly mobile set. Some 38% of buyers are now in the 36 to 49 age group, the biggest single group at Durbanville - 75% of recent buyers have been below the age of 49.  Durbanville is very definitely no longer "just for older people", Alexander says. It has acquired a go-ahead, youthful image which appeals to a wide cross-section of Cape Town residents.

"Any buy at Tara, will in my view be a very sound investment indeed-and enable the buyer and his family to enjoy a pleasant, outdoor orientated lifestyle. For this reason Alexander Swart are very pleased to now have a resident agent focussing on the area."

For further information, please contact Christelle Liebenberg on 0823804089 or email:  christelle@aspropertyco.za

Rowan Alexander can be contacted on 082 581 3116 or email: rowan@asproperty.co.za