Owning a holiday home doesn’t have to be expensive.
South Africa’s vast coastline means there are dozens of opportunities to find or build an affordable holiday home.
5 Coastal towns with R300 000 holiday homes
These are your options for an affordable move-in-ready coastal home. Most are on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, where the water’s warm year-round and there’s ample local tourism to keep the property occupied.
Scottburgh
Among the 178 sales this year in Scottburgh, the average sale price is R1.2 million.
But in Scottburgh Central, buyers can acquire a 1-bedroom flat with partial sea views for R300 000.
Without a deposit, the bond should be roughly R3 000 a month on this property. Levies in this block are R995, and rates and taxes start at R400.
Elsewhere in Scottburgh, buyers can purchase a 3-bedroom townhouse for R550 000.
The area periodically lists some very affordable homes.
Port Edward
In Port Edward, buyers can purchase a studio apartment for R400 000 in the Edwardian Hotel.
The apartment sleeps 2 adults and 2 children under 16.
The property includes amenities like a pool and restaurant.
Rates and taxes are R650, and levies are R1 134.
The nightly rate in peak season starts at R960.
Ramsgate
In Ramsgate, buyers can get a generously sized flat 100 metres from the beach.
One listing on Private Property is for a fully furnished 1-bedroom, 78-square-metre flat on Marine Drive within walking distance to Lawrence Rocks.
The bond on the property should be roughly R4 000 a month, while rates and taxes are R600.
Other flats in the building rent for R600 a night.
Bathurst
The only town on this list that’s not on the South Coast, Bathurst is a 20-minute drive to Port Alfred.
The average sale price in Bathurst is R690 000, but for R399 000, a buyer can get a 1-bedroom cottage on a quarter-acre plot. The property allows buyers a place to stay while they build their dream house.
Rates and taxes on the property are R235. In total, a buyer can expect to spend R4 219 on the home.
Margate
In Margate, buyers can get a 24-square-metre studio apartment starting at R335 000.
For this price, buyers can expect to spend R3 400 a month on a bond.
Other listings in Margate include a 2-bedroom flat 300 metres from the beach, which is listed for R450 000. Rates on this seaside flat are R500 and levies are R600.
Questions to ask before buying a holiday home
It can be tempting to buy a home thinking of all the good times you’ll have, or all the money it could make.
But just because a holiday home is cheap doesn’t mean it is affordable.
What’s the maintenance on a property?
The best holiday home costs almost nothing to maintain. Flats and townhouses are the best option. You won’t need to pay to maintain a garden or roof.
These are typically common areas you pay to maintain through your levies.
Is there any interest in the area?
If you decide to sell, there should be enough interest in the area that offloading it is easy. If the town isn’t developed or has less than desirable service delivery, selling the property could become a hassle.
What does it cost to own all-in?
Besides the bond, rates and levies should be your number one concern. Also consider insurance and home maintenance. If you want to rent it to others, consider what it will cost to have someone manage the property.
Will it be a reliable income source?
If you’re thinking of turning the place into a short-term rental, there must be enough demand year-round. If you want to use it as a holiday home for your family, you may miss out on peak season rates.
Then consider whether the body corporate or municipality allows short-term lets.
Can you only afford it if it is generating income?
The best holiday home is one you can afford to own even when it’s not to let. Rental income is never guaranteed.
Before buying, consider how long you could keep paying to maintain the property if it stops generating income.