Foreign buyers currently account for around 32% of high-end residential property sales in Franschhoek says Jawitz Properties.

According to Mandy van Jaarsveldt, Jawitz Property Agency Manager for the Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington region, properties priced between R18 million to R30 million are in high demand among European and UK buyers with some estates selling for up to R150 million in discreet, off-market transactions.

Jawitz is also witnessing a generational shift in the ages of so-called swallows, who chase the summer South every year, with a new breed of buyers in the 35- to 49-year-old category snapping up properties in the R18 million plus price range.

Large-scale investment to upgrade the road network in the area, and the imminent arrival of the Winelands Airport in 2026 adds additional allure to potential buyers.

“Properties going on sale are fetching record prices and selling in record time, often without any marketing via conventional channels.”

“Many sellers are opting for off-book sales for discretion, but with the demand from foreign buyers, these sales are concluded within days,” she says.