Cluster home developments or “mini-estates” are becoming an increasingly popular choice for homebuyers across the board, with the biggest draw cards being greater security and lower operating costs.
As all forms of property development continue to gain ground across SA, these low-rise developments are especially noticeable in the older, more established “legacy” suburbs of the major metros, where one now often sees four or five new homes going up on a stand that used to be the sprawling garden of a single house.
Such properties are especially popular among young professionals and executives who see the opportunity to acquire a modern, lower-maintenance property in a highly desirable area that will also most likely be much more affordable than the surrounding older properties.
The lock-up-and-go convenience that mini-estates provide is also attractive to older empty-nesters who no longer want to deal with the upkeep of a large family home, but also don’t want to forgo the attractions and familiarity of an area they’ve lived in for many years.
Other drivers for this sector of the housing market include the trend towards greater densification by many municipalities with a view to optimising the use of existing infrastructures and facilitating better service delivery, and the scarcity of affordable development land, which obliges developers to maximise available space.
Also, cluster developments generally consist of a limited number of full-title homes in a gated enclave, and are now preferred by many buyers for being less restrictive and easier to manage than sectional title developments.
Depending on location, this type of development can of course also be adapted to meet the needs of home buyers in many different age brackets - and right across the income spectrum - with the result that cluster home sales may soon outstrip sectional title sales among first-time buyers. As it is, they are an increasingly large contributor to the rapid growth in the estate homes category.
However, as with other new developments, prospective buyers need to exercise caution about the quality of building and be selective in their choice of developer and project, especially when buying off-plan.
They should also do their own research with regard to plans for future infrastructure or commercial developments in the area, such as highways, pipelines and shopping centres that could affect the future value of all surrounding homes.
And finally, while not the same as apartment living in a sectional title complex, cluster living still usually means living in greater proximity to your neighbours than in a traditional suburb, and the best way to avoid friction is by choosing a mini-estate and community that resonates with your lifestyle.
