It’s Cool to Live In Pinetown

Up until recently, Pinetown has served the mainly middle class segment of the market, catering for first time home owners while upper end buyers headed for Kloof or Hillcrest. But, a new trend is beginning to emerge and a ‘reversal’ is seeing upmarket suburbs in Pinetown such as Padfield Park and Manors attracting higher end buyers.

According to Clint Airey, principal of the recently established Tyson Properties Pinetown franchise and branch manager, Robert Kelly, the key is location. Not only do homeowners enjoy a far cooler climate than their central Durban counterparts, but business owners and professionals are closer to key industrial areas as well as to central Durban. To add to this, buyers benefit from greater affordability. They can invest in an upmarket property and have cash in hand to either save or ease their debt burdens, Kelly pointed out. For couples who no longer need large family homes, there are a number of modern, spacious and secure complexes in the area.

There are also beautiful larger houses for those who do - as well as good schools, attractive shopping facilities and hospitals. Given that Airey and Kelly have combined experience of over 35 years gleaned in ‘Highway suburbs’ such as Pinetown, Westville, New Germany and Cowies Hill, they should know. They explained that the Pinetown market, in particular, has grown over the past 10 years with prices increasing up to five times from an average of R209 000 to over the R1 million mark.

Today, the Tyson Pinetown team sells properties ranging from R280 000 to R5,5 million, presenting a wide range of challenges which skilled and hardworking agents - most have been in real estate for more than 10 years – can ably manage. “Fortunately Tyson Properties in Pinetown is blessed with a large proportion of agents who are very experienced. Even during the past two difficult years, properties in this region have continued to be bought and sold.” Tyson Properties Pinetown agents are nevertheless still negotiating a number of hurdles.

“The main challenges at present are excessive seller expectations and financing with all banks continuing to apply strict and very tight lending criteria when measured against the situation a mere three years back,” Airey said. Because the middle segment of the market is more dependent on financing, it is taking the full impact of banks’ ongoing caution. As a result, the average house sale was taking up to three times longer to close, he said. Airey, Kelly and their team converted to the Tyson brand in December 2010.

“This was largely to benefit from the excellent branding of the Tyson group under the watchful eye of Chris Tyson, the CEO. It is a clear cut, visible brand and we are making the most of the professional umbrella under which we are working. With strong brand management from head office level, we can focus on what we do best – selling properties!” Airey and Kelly are optimistic and confident that the New Year will see a gradual return to more favourable trading conditions.

“The Tyson Pinetown team believes that 2011 will be a year in which service excellence is paramount and hard work will reward those who are prepared to ‘go the extra mile’ for their clients.