The living may be good, but the homes are often smaller

South Africans looking for a better lifestyle while retaining their Gauteng salaries are downscaling homes when moving from Joburg to the coastal regions, says Grahame Diedricks of Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty.

However, the homes they seek depend on family size and their stage of life. Most super commuters want properties in secure estates, says Philip Malan, a Greeff senior broker in the CBD, Foreshore, De Waterkant and Green Point. "These properties range anywhere from R3 million to R30m."

Security is a major factor, especially if the family is going to be alone during the week, says Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty's Chris Cilliers. 

Generally these families are looking for a lifestyle they cannot enjoy in Gauteng. "Good schools and community support are also important, which is why many opt to live in lifestyle estates."

The rise of this phenomenon has been a driver of demand in luxury estates at the coast and in the country, says Chas Everitt's Berry Everitt. "Take the Kwa-Zulu-Natal North Coast, where proximity to King Shaka International Airport makes it easy to commute to Joburg. New private schools have been established and estates such as Mount Edgecombe, Zimbali, Simbithi and Brettenwood are flourishing.

"Also increasingly popular are the Mossel Bay Golf Estate and Pinnacle Point in Mossel Bay, which is within easy reach of Cape Town and the luxury estates around George, Sedgefield and Knysna along the Garden Route."

Lew Geffen Sotheby's Steve Neufield says super commuters generally prefer houses in gated estates priced between R3m and R10m. "Security is important and so are sea views and proximity to beaches." Pam Golding Properties' Ling Dobson says they have seen increased demand for smallholdings.

"We are also seeing a few people buying vacant land to build dream homes." In Somerset West, many top estates and complexes offer a range of lifestyles and prices, generally upwards of R3.5m, says Dinis Martins of Seeff.