Real Estate Junkies
La Scala
I love property – everything about it – researching homes that I dream about buying, to considering what could be done with a neglected sad property to transform it, to planning projects that improve curb appeal, to considering the cost of living in some new location… - I love it all. And given that no one has enough money to fund every dream house and live in every location, I have eventually decided to pursue my passion virtually, as well as in the real world with my real homes and rental properties
It began when I lived in Cape Town, South Africa, as an impoverished new graduate, recently having entered the workforce and desperate to buy a place of my own. Through my research, I quickly realized that Cape Town property was way out of my league at that point, as I could barely afford a cupboard, let alone a whole apartment.
After 4 years of renting, I relocated to Johannesburg in 2002, the economic hub of South Africa, where I was amazed how much more real estate I could afford.
I quickly snapped up a centrally located, 85sqm (915sqft) 2 bed, 1 bath apartment in the Sandton business district location, close to my office and major highways.
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Sandton is a vibrant, modern neighbourhood that contains the richest square mile in Africa. It is the business gateway into Africa for many large corporations and attracts thousands of ambitious people. World-class shopping centres, and a buzzing social scene are a huge hit with the young and young at heart.
Sandton is not just a big business hub, the neighbourhood is great for families and singles alike.
Family-friendly restaurants, parks for walking the dog and sporting facilities can be found within the suburb.
Green, tree lined suburban streets can be found minutes away from glitzy shopping centres like Sandton City.
There are around 10 million trees in Johannesburg, making it the world’s largest man-made Urban Forest.
When I first saw the apartment, the agent kept apologizing about the odd habits of the previous owner because it was funky to say the least! The walls were painted deep orange making the apartment dark and vaguely cave-like, there was candle wax all over the floors from yoga and meditation sessions, and the strangest part of all, was the wire netting creatively attached to the ceiling in a wave formation across the entire living room! There were stencilled flowers painted on the bathroom tiles and on the cupboards – it was certainly a unique place.
However, I loved the location, up on the first floor amongst the spectacular forest surrounding the building and feeling for all the world like I was in a tree house, with a huge balcony half the size of the actual apartment, overlooking a large recreational park, the trees and a small stream. It was the middle of the city, 5 minutes from my office and yet it felt like a serene farm or meadowland. I adored it!
Immediately after I moved in, I set about painting it a pale, mushroom-tan colour, whilst painting the angled wooden beams in the bedroom ceiling stark white and removing the outlandish ceiling décor netting from the living room, as well as the stenciled artwork from cupboards and walls and tiles, amongst others.
Within a week or two, the place was transformed into a huge, open, airy and spacious apartment whose focal point was the amazing views from the instant one stepped inside the front door. However, I almost didn't make it to the end of day 1 of having my first home, because I ordered a pizza delivery, placed it in the oven on the lid of the cardboard box and that promptly caught fire. So, I was standing dreamily on the patio admiring my new view and wondering where the charming wood burning smell was coming from, until I realized my oven was on fire.
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I lived there very happily for a year, with my 5-minute commute, enjoying the fresh air, the views and the feeling of living amongst the tops of the trees. One day, I received an offer to buy the apartment from out of the blue through a family connection – a couple wanted to buy the apartment for their son who was moving to Johannesburg. They offered me double what I paid and so it was that I sold my first apartment and moved on.
Would have been nice to see some pictures from the interior :-)