Elopement, once synonymous with clandestine and impromptu weddings, has evolved into a romantic and intimate alternative to traditional ceremonies. In our modern era, elopement signifies a deliberate decision by a couple to escape the usual fanfare and opt for a private exchange of vows. These gatherings, while not necessarily impromptu, are meticulously crafted as intimate celebrations that prioritize an immersive experience solely between the two partners, unburdened by the usual anticipations and duties of a traditional wedding. Elopements often unfold against picturesque backdrops, offering a profound and intimate encounter shared exclusively by the couple and, perhaps, a select few witnesses. Spanning from a simple courthouse affair to an adventurous destination escapade, elopements present an exclusive avenue for couples to commemorate their love and dedication in an intimate and spontaneous manner. These close-knit celebrations have risen in popularity among those seeking a more secluded, stress-free, and unforgettable initiation into married life. The surge in elopements mirrors a broader shift toward individualized and non-traditional approaches to matrimony, enabling couples to craft singular and cherished memories. The main difference between elopement weddings and traditional weddings lies in the scale, formality, and approach. Elopement ceremonies typically embody a sense of intimacy and spontaneity, with the couple marrying privately or in the company of a select circle of close friends and family. These ceremonies tend to be simple, characterized by minimal planning and a reduced emphasis on customary elements. In contrast, traditional weddings are grander affairs, marked by extensive guest lists, elaborate arrangements, and a multitude of customs and rituals. They often involve structured components such as rehearsal dinners, bridal parties, intricate decorations, and lively receptions. While traditional weddings underscore family and …
The Swallows Are Back…Give Them A Nest
With international arrivals figures back to pre-Covid levels (and the soaring demand for student accommodation), Paul Stevens of Just Property asks whether it’s time to reconsider buy-to-let and offers a guide to maximising returns. South Africa's real estate sector has been receiving increasing attention, especially in the buy-to-let market. With the continent's breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cities, and burgeoning opportunities, there's no better time to invest in property. This article will delve into two lucrative avenues in the property market – short-term lets and longer-term lets to students and young people. 1. Short Lets: Tapping into Airbnb Opportunities The Tourism Surge Recent figures released by the Western Cape’s tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency, Wesgro, show an uptick in tourism arrivals, particularly in the Western Cape. “International two-way passengers remained strong between January and June 2023, reaching 1.4 million, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 104% and growing by 76% year-on-year.” The 2022/2023 season also welcomed “double the number of ship calls when compared to the last complete season,” said Wesgro, the Western Cape Government’s official tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency. A Property Goldmine Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property, believes that this offers embattled South African homeowners an opportunity to make extra income by listing their properties on platforms like Airbnb or buying properties for the purpose of renting them to tourists. The short-let market is flourishing with tourists keen on immersing themselves in local experiences and preferring homely accommodation over traditional hotels. "For property owners, this presents a win-win situation. Not only can they earn a substantial income from short-term lets, but they also keep their properties well-maintained and ready for use whenever they wish," says Stevens. By investing in sought-after areas and listing on platforms …
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Inspiring Local Entrepreneur In The Bay
Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay loves supporting and showing their love to local businesses who are making a difference. Therefore, we bring you another heartfelt story from 30 South, a company that produces sustainable sunglasses to make a positive impact on the environment. What is the meaning of 30 South? The name 30 South is abbreviated from the 30th parallel line of latitude, or South 30° (degrees) South. It is the meridian that bisects the country, pretty much forming its centreline. We wanted our business and products to be a balance of what South Africans want and need from their eyewear products. How does your initiative benefit the community? We recently moved to Cape Town and organized beach cleanups in Kommetjie. We partnered with SA Surfing and are selling limited edition sunglasses at the market to support their youth development programs. Why recycled sunglasses? We shifted from making traditional sunglasses to using recycled ocean plastics in our products. Our goal is to prioritise purpose over profit and care about the future of our planet for generations to come. How do you produce these sunglasses? Our company uses recycled ocean plastics to create frames, minimizing our environmental impact with eco-friendly colouring and recycled packaging. Why choose Bay Harbour Market for your pop-up shop? We are picky when it comes to how our brand is represented, where we position ourselves, and who we associate with. We only align with initiatives that match our ethos in some way, and Bay Harbour Market does. It is a vibrant melting pot of South African talent, with great ethical and local brands. How can the youth get involved? We appreciate help with cleanup efforts. Young people are leading the way in promoting environmental change by staying informed and holding companies accountable. They're making a positive impact and driving progress. Bay Harbour Market is proud to be a part of the great work that 30 South is doing and we …
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Let The Bay Warm You This Winter With Awesome Local Music
It is with the warmth of the roaring fireplace, a jovial atmosphere, and some awesome music that Bay Harbour Market welcomes you this Winter to enjoy local musicians doing what they do best. Musos from all over Cape Town will be performing on the Sound Stage every weekend this June to bring you music of every genre possible. On the 9th of June, we have an open mic by none other than Oceans Riff, a band with a passion for music who loves to empower and uplift their community. They have a unique blend of Jazz, Funk samba, and more. Next up we have the multi-talented singer-songwriter, Seth Cort who is a guitar player but also dabbles with the ukulele, harmonica, piano, and drums. Followed by Cort we have Lanky Jake to take the stage on Sunday the 11th of June. Jake is many things including a music producer who does live solo sets of various genres such as old classics, smooth acoustic, upbeat music, and more. Live music at the market would not be the same without a bit of Reggae music from the Sons of Selassie which lets you experience the authentic vibe of the market. The market is known for its iconic local music, vibrant art scene, rich history, and just generally a lekker vibe. Lastly, we have Brandon Lee Hunt with his mixture of rock and Indie music. He is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, guitarist, and producer originally from Kwa-Zulu Natal but currently resides in Cape Town. There you have it folks, weekends filled with multi-instrumental talented musicians that are sure to make this Winter much more enjoyable. If you find yourself near Hout Bay on any weekend in June then join us for a delicious meal, tasty cocktail, or just a good old fashion beer and electrifying music. Bay Harbour Market is open every Friday between 17:00 – 21:00, and every Saturday to Sunday from 09:30 to 16:00. For more information about the traders and what they have to offer, please visit Bay Harbour Market at https://bayharbour.co.za/ and follow them on Facebook …
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Attitude Is Everything
Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property, at the Group’s recent annual awards, shared some thoughts about what he believes sets great property professionals apart from their competition. As Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”. “I am wearing one of the shirts made famous by the late, great Madiba. Now, this extraordinary human being is an example of a great attitude - which was our theme for today. How many humans would have gone through what he did: enduring the hardships he did for so many years to eventually forgive and go on to be one of the greatest leaders of the world and an advocate for peace? What an example he is for us all. “While hopefully nowhere near as extreme, each of us will face challenges and hardships in our lives. Ultimately, it is our responsibility, and our attitude, towards these which determine how we come out on the other side. “Attitude is everything. And every day, we are given a brand new opportunity to make a conscious decision as to how our attitudes will impact not only our lives but the lives of those around us and the world at large. I encourage you to choose wisely. “As a country, we face a barrage of negativity daily. Similarly, our industry faces some potentially challenging times ahead. Our veterans have weathered such storms before, knowing that this is a great opportunity to actually gain market share if we adopt the right attitude. “We take comfort in the fact that we South Africans are nothing if not a resilient bunch and rest in the knowledge that this too shall pass. If we choose to focus on the positive. After every storm weathered comes the pleasure of the most brilliant rainbow. “A prime example of attitude is offered in our very own animal kingdom: we know the lion is the king of the savannah. While not the tallest, largest, strongest, or smartest animal, he is still the king. It is his attitude that sets him apart. When the lion sees the elephant, he does …
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A Stone-Throw From Cape Town, Elgin’s Happy Houseboat
Living in the city, sometimes all you want to do is escape the loud noises and crowds of people and experience something unique, tranquil and happy! Just a stone-throw from Cape Town in the idyllic Elgin Valley, South Hill Wine Estates houseboat Stokies Ark is perfectly poised to offer you all that, and more! Spending a weekend or longer on South Hill Wine Estate doesn’t only offer you a host of world-class experiences, but also a sense of vastness and serenity, something you can’t easily find so close to home. One of the many South Hill gems is their newly restored houseboat, tucked away on an inland lake, surrounded by vineyards. With its serene location to the chic Scandi-style, this 3-bedroom houseboat is perfect for an off-the-grid getaway allowing you to switch off from your life and take a breath of fresh air. If you are looking for a family trip, romantic getaway, or just a weekend away with friends, this houseboat is the only place to be. It sleeps 6 adults (or 4 adults and 4 children) and has everything you need from amenities to activities. Picture this: a morning swim, a day filled with games and kayaking (did anyone order an afternoon nap?), a superb wine tasting, an evening braai, and an uninterrupted view of the stars – now doesn’t that sound like a day of dreams? A dam quite literally at your doorstep, a blissful view of the mountains and not a soul in sight – this getaway is truly one of a kind! Contact our dedicated team to book your Elgin luxury getaway. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za for free. …
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A Love Performance In The Bay
What better way is there to celebrate the month of love than with Cape Town’s favourite duo, Kat Gilardi and Manila von Teez who are all about love? That’s right! Your favourite Drag Show with a sprinkle of love and sassiness will be happening on the 24th of February at the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay. These drag artists are like the Cape Town weather when they perform, one minute they get you all amped up while dancing and singing it out on the dance floor and the next you are as cool as a cucumber swaying to and fro with the tunes. You can catch these fabulous drag artists along with their feather boas and diamante stilettos at the market at 7 pm sharp! The market and all our amazing traders will be operational and waiting to serve you. Bay Harbour Market is open every Friday between 17:00 pm – 21:00 pm, and every Saturday to Sunday from 09:30 am to 16:00 pm. You can also catch these divas along with a few crowd favourites on the Grandeur Travel Pride cruise from Cape Town to Mosselbay for 3 nights. It is sure to be an extravaganza! To all our regulars we look forward to seeing you again and to all the newcomers you are sure to have a blast. For more information about the traders and what they have to offer, please do visit Bay Harbour Market at https://bayharbour.co.za/ and follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bayharbour, Twitter https://twitter.com/bayharbourmkt and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bayharbourmarket/. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za for free. …
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Trends that will make a big impact in the property sector in 2023 and beyond.
The good news Despite interest-rate hikes, the lending environment is still good, with interest rates not being excessively high and banks still aggressively loaning up to 110% of the property's value to the right buyers. Properties in new developments can be purchased with no transfer costs, offering buyers the lowest cost of acquisition. There is a great opportunity to save thousands of Rands when buying into high-quality developments – see examples here. Whether the market will swing in favour of buyers or sellers depends very much on local conditions – there is no “one size fits all” answer. Looking at inland municipalities, Ekurhuleni has the highest property inflation rate and Nelson Mandela Bay tops the coastal metros. Freehold properties have consistently outperformed Sectional Title properties (in terms of property inflation) for the past four years but the gap has narrowed significantly since June 2022 so this is something for investors to watch. We may be seeing the tail end of the COVID-related buying patterns where larger properties offering work-from-home spaces were in high demand. Movements in the property market will be driven more by life events (e.g. work- and school-related transfers, stage-of-life) than by short-term financial opportunities. Areas that have seen surges from a semigration perspective have been the Western Cape particularly, followed by the South and Eastern Cape. Coastal towns like Mossel Bay have seen unprecedented growth. This trend should continue if these area municipalities can provide the municipal services required to accommodate this growth. In the rental market, rent collections and vacancies have improved vastly over this past year. To maintain this, property practitioners must work hard to continue adding value to landlords through their property and tenant management. The not-so-good news There is increasing pressure on the real estate market from several directions, with both the rental and …
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2022 Was An Excellent Vintage For Cool Climate Vineyards
Escalating down the slopes of the Elgin Valley, South Hill Wine Estate’s 59 hectares take full advantage of the cool climate to produce some of the best wines in South Africa. Other regions in the world-renowned for their cool climate vineyards include New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany and most noticeably, Champagne. Already gaining critical acclaim is the South Hill Dry Shiraz Rosé 2022. With 100% Shiraz, and derived from a 2005 root-stock vine, the wine was made from grapes which were specifically harvested with rosé in mind – in other words, not made from a ‘bled juice’. The fruit was de-stemmed, crushed and received an average of one-hour skin contact in the press before the pressing cycle commenced. The limited skin contact period was conducted to minimise harsh phenolics and give the wine an attractive bright cherry hue. Being refreshingly dry, this wine is perfect for the summer! The nose bursts with ripe fresh cherry and chopped strawberries, followed by a crisp, refreshing palette. Perfect on its own, yet also pairs beautifully with lightly fragrant dishes, such as curries, through to deserts such as a strawberry panna cotta. For more information on South Hill Vineyards, please visit https://southhill.co.za/ or call (+27) 21 844 0888. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
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Growing Wealth Through Property
Mr Justin Netshikulwe, Principal of Just Property Mokopane, talks about the opportunities that property offers for growing generational wealth through investment and a career in the industry. Mr Justin Netshikulwe was born in Shayandima in Limpopo. He completed a National Diploma in Human Resource Management in the Free State and an NQF5 in real estate in 2019. His first job was a two-year stint as an HR intern with the Department of Education, then joined the insurance industry at Old Mutual Kroonstad as Financial Advisor. And then the property bug bit. “I love interacting with people because I learn a lot from others, so when one of my sisters (Priscilla Motseoile AKA Nana) introduced me to the property industry, I fell in love with it.” He now owns the Just Property franchise in Mokopane. The property landscape in Mokopane “Mokopane is a very small town, yet it’s very active. With surrounding mines attracting a variety of cultures, businesses and opening opportunities for young people to open their own businesses. I love that vibrancy and all the activities here,” he says, adding that, thanks to the mines, Mokopane has had a growing population in the last 5 years. “Demand for properties is on high at the moment but the supply is very thin. This opens up excellent opportunities for property investors, whether they want to buy and then sell for a profit or buy and rent the property out for passive income, because in this economy one stream of income is not enough. Property is one of the best investments you can make, and it is also one of our basic human needs. I’m honoured to be in a position to find solutions for the people of Mokopane,” says Mr Justin Netshikulwe. “The industry can be demanding but I focus on those incredible moments that I get to be part of – handing over the keys to someone’s dream home, placing the perfect tenants in a client’s property, finding the ideal commercial property for a Makopane business, or sourcing an investment that …