Space to Retire

Artist?s impression of De Velde Retirement Village in Somerset West, designed by dhk Architects.

Having successfully raised a family, invested decades of working hours in a chosen career and established some assets and personal wealth, your retirement should be a time of reflection and new beginnings.

For most retired people this means downsizing their family homes and freeing up capital to buy smaller homes and do the things they have always wanted with the remainder.

?Selling your family home and investing in a property for your retirement means that you are effectively buying a way of life, which is why buying a home in an estate makes sense,? says Steven Brookes, chief executive of Balwin Properties.

The company has established a portfolio of sectional title developments and has helped many retired people to find homes in which to enjoy their golden years.

?Many retirement villages and sectional title developments are not designed with the space and privacy from neighbours that their residents are accustomed to and are more concerned with economic use of area. However there are some that have been designed with the proper architecture and orientation of the buildings as well as the optimisation of natural elements to create homes that are generous in space while offering privacy, along with a host of features that can enhance your new lifestyle.?

He suggests the following to look for when buying a retirement property:

?Your most important consideration should be security. Older people are often seen as soft-targets for criminals, and with South Africa?s soaring crime rates, security is an unquestionable necessity. You need to feel safe in your home and the environment in which you live, so pick an estate that offers an array of physical and electronic security features that will enable you to take a stroll or enjoy a picnic with your grandchildren at any time of the day or night. A complete security system can give peace of mind if you are planning to travel and looking for a lock-up-and-go to suit your needs.

?The estate should also offer elements that suit your lifestyle. For example, our most recent development, De Velde Somerset West, offers residents full access to the world-class De Velde Lifestyle Centre which has a fitness area, a cinema room, a library, a herb garden, a wine cellar, two swimming pools and much more.

?Retirement should be a time for relaxation and socialising with your friends and family. As you shop around for your new home, look for estates that are close to places such as beaches, shopping centres or attractions that will enable you to enjoy your new laid-back lifestyle to the full.?

The one, two and three-bedroomed homes on the De Velde Somerset West Lifestyle Estate were designed by Derrick Henstra of dhk Architects. One-bedroomed homes are priced from R499 900 and three-bedroomed homes from R899 900. Visit the show units between 2pm and 6pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

For more information, see www.develde.co.za.

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Source: http://www.sapropertynews.com/space-to-retire/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=space-to-retire

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