Buyers from Cape Town and Johannesburg have increased since the onset of the pandemic, according to Seeff Property Group.And the influx of big-city money is boosting small-town art and antique stores, boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and guesthouses.
But it's no longer just older couples and retirees moving into the area. Younger families from big cities are heading to the Karoo in search of"a more wholesome family environment", said Ian Badenhorst, managing director for Seeff Country and Karoo."Here, children can still play in the streets and ride their bicycles to school."
Up to a quarter of buyers in Oudtshoorn over the past two years have been from large cities, according to Jan Verlinde, licensee for Seeff, with most coming from Cape Town and Johannesburg. This shows"strong demand from" who are especially fond of large family homes. Smallholdings around Oudtshoorn are also in demand, but there's not much stock available, added Verlinde.
"Why settle for a two-bedroomed apartment in a city when, for the same price, you can have a three-bedroomed home with a swimming pool in Oudtshoorn," said Verlinde.