Plettenberg Bay a coastal town on the Garden Route saw a boom in 2025, with property sales surpassing R2.8 billion and breaking records.
Throughout the year, the town saw 682 sales with an average of about R4.7 million per property. A luxurious villa on Beach Head sold for R36 million, making it the highest value sale.
Outside of the Cape Town areas, the town continues to see some of the highest values paid in the nation, according to property group Seeff.
With almost 40% of all properties valued at more than R3 million Lightstone is the town with highest percentage of high-value properties overall.
Over the past five years the market has surged due to a number of factors, including investments in vacation homes retirement, remote work, and sustained lifestyle migration.
The group stated, This is the highest in volume and value since the 2021/2 boom period, up by about 33% in volume and 27% in value.
A greater volume of sales exceeding R5 million caused the average transaction price to rise by roughly 9.3% to R4.7 million.
According to Seeff, there were also a significant number of sales exceeding R10 million and R20 million.
Estates have experienced tremendous growth and accounted for approximately 39% of all high-value transactions in 2025, as has been a notable trend throughout South Africa, particularly in urban hubs.
Sectional titles come in second at 23% and freehold properties at 38%.
Sectional titles in estates were valued at R3.2 million while freehold estate properties were valued at an average of R5.2 million.
Due to high-value sales over R15 million driving up the average freehold properties outside of estates averaged R5.9 million R9.1 million for high-end properties, slightly higher than estates, according to Seeff.
The average transaction value for sectional title property was approximately R3.1 million.
The realtor stated, There has been a significant shift towards the luxury segment in recent years, especially in the estates and for waterfront properties, even though the most active price band remains between R2 million and R4 million.
Over R5 million transactions grew to slightly more than 20% of the market mostly in the estates. Approximately 7% of all transactions for the year are over R10 million.
The cost of real estate has doubled.
One of the most popular upscale locations on the Garden Route for investors and real estate purchasers is Plettenberg Bay Many of South Africa’s millionaires reside there as well.
An estimated 3,200 HNWIs are dispersed throughout the towns along the Garden Route, according to Henley & Partners’ African Wealth Report from the previous year.
People with liquid assets greater than $1 million roughly R18 million are considered high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs).
Known as Africa’s Millionaire Row, Beachy Head Drive in Plettenberg Bay is especially wealthy.
Excellent price growth, with median property prices doubling over the previous ten years and rising by a noteworthy 38% in 2024 due to higher-value sales, further supports the investment case.
A strong summer travel season has also helped the area, with a booming short-term rental market.
Seeff anticipates that despite the general migration to lifestyle areas, the market will continue to see strong demand due to lower interest rates and a generally more optimistic outlook.
Although this is a fantastic development for investors, Lightstone Property has observed that it has caused a significant affordability issue for the town’s residents and employees.
Along the Garden Route, Plett is one of four major real estate markets; other towns will also be significant in 2025.
For the year ending September 2025 George, which is regarded as the region’s commercial center, also recorded about R3 billion in transactions.
Over the last three years George’s average prices have increased by over 30% due to persistent stock shortages, limited supply, and high demand.
Mossel Bay a popular destination for vacationers and retirees, has seen a surge in purchases motivated by tourism, safety, and lifestyle.
The total amount of transactions for the 12 months ending in November 2025 was R2.4 billion.
Knysna is one of the route’s high-demand locations. Over the course of the year ending in November, transactions there totaled R2.2 billion, with an average transaction price of R3.7 million.
