Hardie Minute

Author: Richard Hardie, Director of Hardie Property.

Since this was typed 24 hours ago, the latest news came out.

The 2024 Condé Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards is the 27th edition of the annual awards, which are based on reader ratings. The yearly awards span a wide range of categories, including finest hotels and airlines. This year, 575 048 readers voted in the survey.

In addition to being regarded as the fifth nicest city in the world, Cape Town has been rated as the top long-haul destination with the best value for money for British travellers, according to The Independent.

On a recent business trip to London, I couldn’t help but be reminded of how impersonal Londoners are and the lack of customer service. The lady in an Earls Court coffee shop looked aghast when I said good morning to her and I asked her how she was. You forget that this is not the norm in London but it is in South Africa and Cape Town where I live.

I don’t want to cast this gloomy experience on everyone in London but it was definitely noticeable for the most part.

The latest Africa Wealth Report 2024 from Henley & Partners also showed that Cape Town is still the hottest property investment region for UHNW investment buyers.

The country’s most affluent residential areas include Clifton, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay, Bishopscourt, Constantia, Llandudno and St James.

In addition to the above, many South African expats are returning to the country, especially from the UK, for tax reasons.

The UK government is ending its non-dom tax policy, which previously required UK residents whose permanent home is outside the UK to pay UK tax only on the money they earn in the UK and not from other places worldwide.

The other key reason for expats returning is the lifestyle and schooling. Personally, I have spoken to so many South Africans who have made the move but realised the grass is not greener on the other side. Weather also plays a large part in their decision-making process despite Cape Town having two of the wettest winters on record, back-to-back. However, we are now ready for eight months of fine to excellent weather.

The European buyer as well as those from the United States continue to also be forerunners when it comes to purchasing in Cape Town as well as other hotspots throughout the Western Cape ranging from the seaside towns to popular Wineland towns like Franschhoek.