Property for sale in Port Elizabeth

Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay or Ebhayi in Xhosa) in sheltered Algoa Bay on the Eastern Cape Coast remains unspoiled and its quality of life has been rated one of the best in South Africa. Originally inhabited by British settlers in the 1820’s, Port Elizabeth’s two oldest schools and its many charming semi-detached Victorian homes in older areas such as Central, date back to this period in its history.

Blessed with some 40 km of pristine sandy beaches and a sunny, if somewhat windy climate, “the Friendly City” is a watersports mecca. Tourism is a growth industry, and PE, as it is known to locals, benefits from a casino as well as its proximity to destinations like the Addo Elephant Park, Shamwari game reserve, the Baviaanskloof, the surfing haunt of Jeffreys Bay and the Tsitsikamma National Marine Park. Dolphins and seals are permanent residents in the bay and Southern Right whales often drop in around September to calf.

With a population numbering just over 1.1 million, PE is South Africa’s fifth largest city. As a result, it doesn’t have the traffic congestion or crime problems of other big centres, making it ideal for those keen on a good work-life balance. It also boasts a cricket ground, two major sports stadiums, several excellent schools and one of the largest universities in the Eastern and Southern Cape spread over eight campuses.

Port Elizabeth has been called South Africa’s Detroit, and motor vehicle and car component manufacturers have traditionally been the main employers in the area. Nowadays the textile, rubber, food, pharmaceutical and tourist industries also provide additional work opportunities.

As well as a national passenger and cargo airport, the city also has a good road network and a working harbor, with sophisticated ore loading facilities. Plans for an international harbor and industrial development zone at nearby Coega should also bring a welcome boost to the local economy in the years to come.

There is value for money to be had in the Port Elizabeth property market, and buyers are spoilt for choice. Upmarket suburbs worth mentioning are Summerstrand, where there are plenty of seafront apartments and new cluster home developments on offer. Mill Park, St Georges Park and Walmer - older, well-established leafy enclaves slightly west and south of the old town – are all sought-after on account of their large houses and proximity to good schools.

In the south, Deer Park, Lovemore Park and Lovemore Heights boast large plots in unspoilt bushy areas along the coastline. Many of these Port Elizabeth properties have been built on higher ground to maximise sea views. Smallholdings and large rural plots are to be found in Theescombe, Kragga Kamma and Colleen Glen. However even the furthest are within half-an-hour’s drive from the major shopping centres.

Port Elizabeth Central is currently undergoing a renaissance due to the renovation of older properties for both residential and business use, as well as the arrival of many trendy restaurants and cafes, artisan bakeries and small shops.

The Port Elizabeth real estate market continues to remain vibrant, with plenty of new developments continuing to spring up in Humerail and Southend with their excellent harbor views, as well as the construction of both commercial and residential properties between Newton Park and Walmer.