Val de Vie bags international award

This month, Val de Vie Evergreen scooped up the award for the Best Leisure Development in the World at the 2021 International Property Awards. Evergreen was also recently named Best Leisure Development in South Africa and Val de Vie was nominated as Best Residential Development in South Africa by the International Property Awards for 2020/2021.

Chris Cilliers, CEO and co-principal, Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty, Winelands, believes the unmatched lifestyle in the region coupled with pioneering innovation are factors that contribute to the area's popularity as a retirement destination. "The current retirement market consists of the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, and they have different lifestyle and retirement needs than their more traditional predecessors," says Cilliers. "Most boomers are looking to extend their independent lifestyles well into retirement when they tend to prefer to move to multi-generational communities, preferably with amenities." This sees retirement developers creating more holistic offerings with an emphasis on wellness, including hospitality and fitness facilities. Cilliers says South Africa's first super estate, Val de Vie, is pioneering new retirement trends and setting the bar in this sector. "Not only was Evergreen Val de Vie developed as a hospitality rather than a nursing model, like traditional old age homes," she says, but the village within the estate concept also elevates their retirement lifestyle offering to a whole new level. "In addition to the Evergreen facilities, including a private clubhouse, bistro, cinema room, library and bowls practice lawn, residents have access to 21km of walking trails, an Olympic sized pool, access to the Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, tennis, polo fields and an equestrian centre." According to Cilliers, people are recognising the long-term value of these developments and the benefits of investing in their retirement home long before they retire. Not only are they ensuring that their golden years are comfortable, they're doing so at today's prices. "Developers are also taking into account that there are different stages of retirement and they now offer a variety of packages, including deals for mature people who are still active but no longer want the responsibility of large homes, with many accepting residents from the age of 55," she says. "Retirees can therefore settle for life knowing they will be cared for in their homes or in frail care if necessary and they won't have to move again."