Everyone – including those who decided to build the president’s official residence, King’s House, way back in 1901 (it was renamed Dr John L Dube House in 2012) – agrees that Morningside has just the right mix of elements. Good schools, a variety of shopping centres, a vibrant nightlife and beautiful examples of Victorian and Edwardian homes form the backbone of this suburb.
Morningside: The ideal choice
“Morningside has a long legacy of being a highly desirable area because of its location,” says Carol Reynolds, Pam Golding Properties area principal for Durban Coastal. Located on the northern belt of the Berea, it is close to the beaches and the suburbs of Durban North and Umhlanga. Florida Road has always been highly popular because of its cultural feel and abundance of stylish restaurants, coffee shops and retail outlets. The area attracts an upper-echelon clientele, and this feeds back into the general desirability of the area from an investment perspective.
In addition, she says, Morningside is home to excellent schools, namely Clifton School and Durban Preparatory High School (DPHS), and these institutions continue to draw buyers to the area. “The rental market is also solid, enabling investors to realise good returns which, in turn, adds to the attraction of the area.”
Lightstone Property statistics reflect the average price obtained for a sectional-title property in this suburb at R700,000. The average price paid for a freestanding home is currently R2,350m. A total of 291 properties with a combined value of nearly R370m have changed hands over the past 12 months.
Kim Woods, area principal at Tyson Properties Morningside, says one of the biggest attractions is the variety of property available. “The suburb particularly appeals to first-time buyers who are spoilt for choice. As with any suburb, price is generally dependent on the area in which the property is situated. An apartment in Florida Road, for example, may well be priced higher than a similar property in a less busy area, but part of the beauty of Morningside is that because of its central location and terrific amenities, no one has to travel too far to satisfy their needs.”
Words: Lea Jacobs
Images: Supplied
