Tag Archive for: Semigration

Ncumisa

Insights on Semigration: A Personal Journey from Durban to Cape Town

1. How did you find the housing market in Cape Town compared to Durban? Was it easier or more challenging to find suitable accommodation, and did it impact your decision to relocate?

Finding suitable accommodation in Cape Town was more challenging than I anticipated. Property prices are significantly higher than those in Durban and navigating the disparities between different neighbourhoods was not easy. We decided to rent for a year to get settled and take our time finding a property to purchase. Living in the CBD would offer a great lifestyle but was mostly apartment living, so we opted for the northern suburbs for a bigger space. However, this meant a longer commute to work. My advice is to take your time exploring different areas to find what suits your lifestyle best.

2. What are some of the key differences you have noticed in terms of living costs (e.g., rent, utilities) between Durban and Cape Town? How has that influenced your work-life balance or lifestyle?

The cost of living in Cape Town is much higher than in Durban, including rent, utilities, groceries, and restaurants. You can expect to pay at least double for the same things you would get in Durban. We have had to make some adjustments, but overall, it is manageable, especially since it is just my husband and me. For families with children, pets, or extended family, the increased costs could be more of a challenge, especially with schooling fees adding up.

3. Have you noticed any significant differences in the work attitudes or pace between Cape Town and Durban? For instance, is there more of a “hustle” culture in Cape Town, or is the atmosphere more relaxed?

Cape Town has a more relaxed pace compared to Durban and Johannesburg. While business is thriving, people tend to work at their own pace, and there’s often little urgency in the workplace. This is especially evident in the service industry, where things take longer than I was used to. There is more of a hustle culture in Durban and Johannesburg, but Cape Town offers more flexibility, with more opportunities for remote or hybrid working.

4. In terms of leisure and social opportunities, how does Cape Town compare to Durban? Have you found it easier or harder to maintain a healthy work-life balance given the lifestyle and recreational activities available in both cities?

Cape Town offers a wide range of leisure and social activities. I love running and yoga, which has been easy to maintain, especially since we live near the beach. I have joined a local running club, and there are plenty of outdoor sports like hiking, mountain climbing, swimming, and kayaking to enjoy. It is easy to adapt to an active lifestyle here. The city also has a vibrant restaurant scene, cool cafes, and markets selling crafts, vintage items, and local produce. You just need to put yourself out there to join social groups, but there is no shortage of activities to explore.

5. Did the location of your workplace in Cape Town play a significant role in choosing where you live? How does commuting compare between the two cities in terms of time, convenience, and costs?

Commuting in Cape Town was a big change for me. The traffic can be overwhelming, with daily commutes often taking an hour or more despite the distance. When we bought our home, we considered this carefully. I now have a 20-minute drive to work, compared to the 1.5-hour commute we had when living in the northern suburbs. This has really improved our quality of life. In contrast, Durban’s commute was much easier, and getting used to the longer Cape Town commute was a bit of a shock. My advice is to live closer to work or schools, as saving time on commuting can significantly improve your quality of life.

6. Overall, looking back a year and a bit later, how did your move to Cape Town turn out?

Looking back, our move to Cape Town has been successful. Sure, there were challenges like traffic, higher living costs, and finding the right housing, but the overall quality of life has improved. We enjoyed weekends spent exploring the mountains, beaches, winelands, and local farm stalls. If you are thinking about semigrating, with some careful financial planning and a “make a plan” attitude, it can be a rewarding experience that enhances your lifestyle.

Ncumisa

The Growing Trend of Semigration in South Africa and Its Impact on the Corporate World

Semigration in South Africa has been steadily increasing, with many employees seeking an improved quality of life, better work-life balance, and enhanced living conditions by relocating to different cities or regions. This shift is having a notable impact on the corporate world, presenting new opportunities for both employers and employees.

According to BusinessTech, employees relocating to more desirable locations within the country can enjoy a better work-life balance, leading to greater job satisfaction and overall well-being. Whether it involves moving to a quieter town for a more relaxed lifestyle or a city offering more career prospects, semigration enables employees to find environments that support both their personal and professional growth.

For businesses, embracing semigration as part of their talent strategy can be highly beneficial. Allowing flexibility for employees to relocate can boost retention rates, as staff are more likely to stay with a company that accommodates their personal preferences and needs. Furthermore, by broadening the talent pool to include individuals from various regions, companies can attract top-tier talent who may not have considered opportunities elsewhere.

By supporting employees in their semigration journeys, businesses can cultivate a positive, motivated workforce, enhancing their overall talent management strategy and benefiting both employees and the organisation.

Andrew Stegmann
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South Africans Are Reducing Stress and Saving Money By ‘Semigrating’ Due to New Remote Work Structures

As more workers switch to remote working during lock-down, a growing number of South Africans are looking to emigrate out of major towns and cities says Chas Everitt International property group.

Everitt said that many more people and companies have had to switch to remote working mode to survive and have realised that:

  • It is much easier than they thought;
  • It does not necessarily mean a drop in productivity; in fact, people are often more productive when working from home;
  • Many types of work lend themselves to working remotely on a permanent basis – and from wherever one prefers to live.

“We are thus not surprised that more employees as well as executives are now seriously exploring the idea of moving away from a big metro to a smaller town or an estate in a more rural area,” said Everitt.

“This pandemic has been a wake up call for many people and families who are now seriously reassessing their priorities, and seeking ways to make permanent changes to achieve a lifestyle that is less rushed and stressed, and we see this reflected in a significant increase in enquiries for country homes.”

In keeping with international trends, however, Everitt said that most do not want to relocate to another province or region, but just to a small town or estate that offers the possibility of a quieter life and is still within a couple of hours’ drive of their origin city – particularly if their friends or family members still live there.

The City of Cape Town is the most expensive metropolitan area in South Africa for rental prices. Many simply cannot afford to live in the city anymore, and are seeking homes elsewhere now that they have the freedom to work from home, alleviating much financial stress.

Everitt said the areas that could be prime targets for this process of “de-urbanisation” in South Africa are:

  • The Cape West coast;
  • The Winelands;
  • The Garden Route;
  • The Little Karoo;
  • The North Coast of KZN;
  • Hartebeespoort;
  • The Vaal;
  • Lanseria;
  • The Waterberg in Limpopo;
  • Towns in Mpumalanga close to Mbombela and the Kruger National Park.

Everitt said that not all towns in these areas will immediately benefit from this trend.

He said those areas that can attract the “de-urbanites” with good municipal management, reliable power and water supplies, reliable and fast internet connectivity, reasonable proximity to an airport, good shopping and medical facilities and good schools if they have children will prosper most.

Looking at the type of properties these new semigrants are likely to buy, he said, there is already high demand among affluent buyers for homes in out-of-town lifestyle estates.

These include Val de Vie, Pearl Valley and Boschenmeer in the Wineleands, for example, as well as the golf estate in Mossel Bay, the estates at the Vaal and around Hartebeespoort and the high-end estates along the KZN North coast such as Zimbali, Simbithi and Mount Edgecombe.

“We expect to see rising demand for ordinary freehold homes and whatever apartments may be available in and around various small towns – and possibly also for smallholdings where young families can keep horses or some livestock, go off-grid and grow their own food if they wish.”

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann

4 Ways Urban Lifestyle Trends are Changing the South African Property Landscape

There’s a lot of talk about future cities, many of them being the sprawling metropolises of the world. The new world order for professionals, executives, and indeed millennial behaviour is to catch a taxi to work if needed, then to walk from work to gym, move on to coffee with friends – and cycle, walk or take a quick Uber home.

South Africa’s evolving modern urban living landscapes are right on par with global trends in areas such as Johannesburg’s Rosebank zone and the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, where people are looking for smart alternatives to untenable traffic congestion, hair-raising commutes and the need for time efficiency.

Locally, urbanisation is rapid when you look at the growth: 34.2 million people lived in urban areas in 2014, a figure that will jump to 49.1 million by 2050 according to the SA Council of Shopping Centres. As the commercial property market in Rosebank explodes, Jonathan Kohler, CEO of Lansdowne Property Group says the global trend towards an integrated living and working environment has far-reaching consequences including cost-saving and security. The private property market is playing catch-up with 16 new developments currently underway in Rosebank.

Rosebank has become a favoured destination for investors because of its vibrant mixed use of commercial, retail, entertainment and residential attractions. It is undoubtedly one of Joburg’s fastest growing and fashionable places to be and is linked to the Gautrain. In terms of affordability, Kohler explains the reasons why upmarket apartments are a compelling buy in the current market below.

#1: Urban living on the rise

People are wanting to live, work and relax in one space to create a balance – it’s a very workable solution for the many international and domestic inbound travelling executives who need to settle for 3 – 6 month contracts close to work. “The lock-up-and-go appeal of investing in an apartment accommodates this lifestyle with lucrative rental opportunities,” says Kohler.

#2: Rocking the rentals

The average rental price for an unfurnished 1-bedroomed apartment in Rosebank is about R13,000 a month and R24,000 for a 3-bedroomed place. “Furnished apartments give an even higher yield, but are harder to rent out,” says Kohler. There is an increase in Joburg execs relocating their families to Cape Town and choosing to fly in weekly to work in Sandton and Rosebank. Whether private investors buy apartments like these to rent, or corporates buy into an apartment to house their international contract execs, there is no doubt that Rosebank property will appreciate substantially in the coming
5 – 10 years.

#3: Winds of change

There’s talk of the property market finally starting to bottom out, but even if this is the start of an uptick or not, the interest rates are as low as they are going to go, and building costs are not going to get any cheaper – in fact they’ll go up despite what the market is doing. “The point is, the business district is central to the Rosebank and Sandton zones – this is not going to change, it’s a landmark area,” says Kohler. “As the economy strengthens, the prices of urban city properties are going to shoot up.” There is certainly investment opportunity in a zone like Rosebank which has had the best capital appreciation in Joburg over a 10-year period.

#4: Mobility without the drive

The global trend is for new sustainable precincts to lean towards a pedestrian-focused movement, not a vehicular one. “While there will always be room for cars in the smart cities of the world, the appeal of greener, less congested cityscapes holds huge appeal, where young professionals and visiting execs don’t have to use a car to get around,” says Kohler.

There is no doubt that smart cities, are changing the way we live and work. “With more people working on the move, at home, and in shared offices spaces; urban apartments are designed to embrace new urban living trends,” concludes Kohler.

 

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].