Moving to the Southern Suburbs

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roskii

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I'll be taking on a new role in the CBD in Cape Town from 1st July. My wife is currently working in a hybrid capacity with one of the banks (will end up going into the CBD once or twice a week). We are coming from Joburg. Most of my time (holiday's, races etc) has been spent in the Southern Suburbs (Claremont, Rondebosch, Newlands, Bishopscourt) so it is where we are most interested in. We have two pugs so we will need a garden. No need for a pool. Security is NB considering what I've seen in other threads. Budget is between 18k-26k (rental). I've seen a handful of properties on Property24 and Private Property, but it seems extremely limited.

Are there any other rental / property agents to consider?

Some friends recommended Durbanville. The properties look great (and larger), but the commute seems like an absolute nightmare?

Should we look at other suburbs such as Mowbray, Rosebank and Observatory?

Thanks!
 
roskii said:
I'll be taking on a new role in the CBD in Cape Town from 1st July. My wife is currently working in a hybrid capacity with one of the banks (will end up going into the CBD once or twice a week). We are coming from Joburg. Most of my time (holiday's, races etc) has been spent in the Southern Suburbs (Claremont, Rondebosch, Newlands, Bishopscourt) so it is where we are most interested in. We have two pugs so we will need a garden. No need for a pool. Security is NB considering what I've seen in other threads. Budget is between 18k-26k (rental). I've seen a handful of properties on Property24 and Private Property, but it seems extremely limited.

Are there any other rental / property agents to consider?

Some friends recommended Durbanville. The properties look great (and larger), but the commute seems like an absolute nightmare?

Should we look at other suburbs such as Mowbray, Rosebank and Observatory?

Thanks!
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If you are only commuting to the CBD once or twice a week I recommend the northern suburbs. Just stomach a traffic for twice a week. If you stay in southern suburbs you'd still get hit with traffic regardless. Northern suburbs - more options, more affordable. The house/size are probably the most closest thing you'd get in JHB.

Mowbray, Rosebank and Observatory <- these are probably too small for your requirements and mostly suited for young individuals or students.

If Durbanville is too far, can consider the others such as Parklands, Blouberg, TygerValley etc. (all Northern Suburbs)

If you don't mind apartments and want to stay close-ish to CBD but on the borders of the CBD with pretty good safety, with your budget you can get a decent sized apartments in Vredehoek, Tamboerskloof, Oranjazicht, de Waterkant, Greenpoint. Some may have a small garden.

It really depends on the lifestyle you want.
 
saor said:
Please try Northern Suburbs instead.
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Please! We have enough traffic already.

Also - why do you need a whole garden for a pug? surely a kitty litter with some grass will be more than enough to lose them in...
 
harties said:
If you are only commuting to the CBD once or twice a week I recommend the northern suburbs. Just stomach a traffic for twice a week. If you stay in southern suburbs you'd still get hit with traffic regardless. Northern suburbs - more options, more affordable. The house/size are probably the most closest thing you'd get in JHB.

Mowbray, Rosebank and Observatory <- these are probably too small for your requirements and mostly suited for young individuals or students.

If Durbanville is too far, can consider the others such as Parklands, Blouberg, TygerValley etc. (all Northern Suburbs)

If you don't mind apartments and want to stay close-ish to CBD but on the borders of the CBD with pretty good safety, with your budget you can get a decent sized apartments in Vredehoek, Tamboerskloof, Oranjazicht, de Waterkant, Greenpoint. Some may have a small garden.

It really depends on the lifestyle you want.
Click to expand...

Big trail runners. Done UTCT multiple times. If we could be next to the mountain that would be our first choice.

Great point on stomaching the traffic. May just be worth our while. Durbanville, Vierlanden, Pinehurst all worth considering? How far should we consider East / South? Seems like a number of estates / complex's right on the Northern tip.
 
OCP said:
Please! We have enough traffic already.

Also - why do you need a whole garden for a pug? surely a kitty litter with some grass will be more than enough to lose them in...
Click to expand...

My parents still have retrievers, and they have a massive garden. The pugs love running around with the bigger dogs. Certainly want to give them something to stretch their legs.
 
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roskii said:
My parents still have retrievers, and they have a massive garden. The pugs love running around with the bigger dogs. Certainly want to give them something to stretch their legs.
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Just kidding - all dogs need and should have the space to run ;-)

I'm in Bergvliet in the southern suburbs and work in Pinelands.
If you can beat the traffic (i do school run at 06:45 and get to office by 07:15) traffic is not bad at all.
Leave at 16:00 and usually home around 16:30.
 
I think with your budget, for the "upper" parts of the Southern Suburbs (Newlands, Upper Claremont/Kenilworth) you will struggle to find a decent place. You could probably get a room share in Bishopscourt for that price :p
 
Welcome to the Southern suburbs. Ignore the haters. Southern suburbs are more pricey sure but great quality of life. Traffic definitely less congested than the north when commuting between the CBD.

roskii said:
Should we look at other suburbs such as Mowbray, Rosebank and Observatory
Click to expand...

As @OCP said Bergvliet, Tokai and even Meadowridge may suite at a better than Rondebosch price point. I rented at Rondebosch, Tokai and Bergvliet before I decided I had enough lay of the various areas to buy myself. Perhaps even snap a short 6 months rental to buy you time to find a suitable property. We did that when we semigrated from Gauteng a few years back.
 
roskii said:
Big trail runners. Done UTCT multiple times. If we could be next to the mountain that would be our first choice.

Great point on stomaching the traffic. May just be worth our while. Durbanville, Vierlanden, Pinehurst all worth considering? How far should we consider East / South? Seems like a number of estates / complex's right on the Northern tip.
Click to expand...
This whole area puts you very close to Newlands Forest - very quick to jump on the M3. Rent though...small apartments go for R10k.

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roskii said:
I'll be taking on a new role in the CBD in Cape Town from 1st July. My wife is currently working in a hybrid capacity with one of the banks (will end up going into the CBD once or twice a week). We are coming from Joburg. Most of my time (holiday's, races etc) has been spent in the Southern Suburbs (Claremont, Rondebosch, Newlands, Bishopscourt) so it is where we are most interested in. We have two pugs so we will need a garden. No need for a pool. Security is NB considering what I've seen in other threads. Budget is between 18k-26k (rental). I've seen a handful of properties on Property24 and Private Property, but it seems extremely limited.

Are there any other rental / property agents to consider?

Some friends recommended Durbanville. The properties look great (and larger), but the commute seems like an absolute nightmare?

Should we look at other suburbs such as Mowbray, Rosebank and Observatory?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I stay in Mowbray and its very close to the CBD, Rosebank is nicer but much more expensive, Obs is cute but no gardens. There are plenty of places with gardens in Mowbray and Rosebank, security is ok, lots of CID's and private security. Every area has its problems.

I work in Belville so LOL at me but we stay in the south because of my wifes work, she works long hours and late nights. The traffic going north is fine its the traffic coming into the south/CBD that is bad. Currently i'm on site in the CBD so working well and still mostly working from home so I avoid the commute.

That north/CBD commute is insane so I don't recommend - however places like Claremont can be as bad getting into town.
If you look north then have a look at Edgemead.
 
derp90 said:
I think with your budget, for the "upper" parts of the Southern Suburbs (Newlands, Upper Claremont/Kenilworth) you will struggle to find a decent place. You could probably get a room share in Bishopscourt for that price :p
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Definitely. Stayed in Bishopscourt for a mates wedding. 10 of us in this beautiful massive house. Can't imagine what the monthly rent is :X3:
 
Southern Suburbs is always in demand so there's a lot less on offer, but keep looking and you will find something.

I'd suggest expanding your search to include Kenilworth, Newlands, Pinelands, Rondebosch East and Wynberg.
 
I lived in Rondebosch and later Harfield Village for 12 years (ended 2021).
Loved the 'vibe' and loads to do and see. Always stuff a walkable distance away. The crime truly is horrendous though and you just need to accept it. Let me know if you want me to elaborate but you never really feel safe.
Mowbray, Rosebank and Observatory are not as nice but similar story. Perhaps you could find a crummy old house and park in the street.
Budget wise you will probably find something but don't expect much which the garden requirement.

Durbanville is very far. Fine for twice a week if you are working flexi-time but I still wouldn't do it during rush hour.

I've settled in Edgemead now. It's like halfway to Durbanville and you get a lot more value for money and much safer. Definitely Suburbia vibes though.
 
Why on earth would you pay that in rent if you can buy?

Gardens are almost a non-event in the South or CBD, more so when renting.

Best you’ll do is take dogs to a park every day.

Also no bloody parking anywhere. Tiny houses on expensive properties.

Closest to Northern Suburbs living out south is Pinelands. Edgemead is a solid suggestion if you really worry about traffic.

Even Monte Vista, Panorama, Welgelegen, Plattekloof etc.
 
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