The picturesque village of Greyton is welcoming a new real estate presence with the opening of the Greeff Christie's International Real Estate office. The office will be led by long-time Greyton residents and real estate experts Monique Hess and Beverley Blumberg, who bring over 35 combined years of local market experience.
Hess, a Greyton resident since 1994, started her own real estate business in 2005 after years in the legal profession. She was joined by Blumberg, a former ceramics professional, in 2007. Together they have built one of the top real estate companies in the area through hard work, commitment to clients, and a professional, ethical approach.
Joining the Greeff Family
After being approached by Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie’s International Real Estate, they decided to join forces with the respected Greeff Properties group and launch the new Greeff Christie's franchise in Greyton. "It was an easy decision after investigating the Greeff brand," said Hess. "We're thrilled to elevate our business to better serve clients with the backing of an international luxury brand."
The new office will capitalise on Greyton's increasing popularity with domestic and foreign buyers alike. Just an hour outside Cape Town, the village has transformed from a sleepy artists' enclave to a vibrant weekend destination. It offers delightful architecture, stunning natural scenery, a thriving community of markets, shops and restaurants, and an array of outdoor activities like hiking and mountain biking.
"Many who visit Greyton end up falling in love and decide to make it their permanent or part-time home," said Blumberg. "The village has a wonderful spirit that really resonates with people from all walks of life."
An Exclusive Affiliation with a Global Reach
The new office opening comes on the heels of a record-breaking R200 million-plus sale facilitated by the Greeff Christie's Whale Coast team – a milestone that set a new record as the highest sales value for a single property in the history of Greeff Christie’s International Real Estate and an all-time high for agricultural real estate sales in the Western Cape, underscoring the area's flourishing appeal to foreign investors.
According to Jaco van der Merwe, co-principal at Greeff Whale Coast, "Our partnership with Greeff Christie's International Real Estate and access to their global buyer network was instrumental in making this historic sale possible." The exclusive affiliation allows marketing of exclusive Cape listings to the Christie's database of qualified international buyers.
Semigration and Foreign Interest on the Rise
Indeed, Hess and Blumberg have noticed a rising trend of semigrating buyers, moving from other provinces, and foreign buyers, particularly from Europe, being drawn to Greyton's laidback lifestyle and investment potential. They commonly assist clients from the UK, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France looking to purchase holiday homes, permanent residences or smallholding properties.
One recent success story involved assisting a couple from Pretoria acquire a turnkey cottage. "We were able to quickly understand their lifestyle needs and find them their dream home in the village," recalled Hess. "They were over the moon and have settled in beautifully as part of the warm Greyton community."
The surrounding area is dominated by historic fruit, dairy, wheat and wine farms, some of which have subdivided land into smaller residential or agricultural holdings. While inventory is limited, Hess and Blumberg are currently marketing a premier 22-hectare lifestyle property.
"We're seeing more younger families, able to work remotely post-COVID, choosing to relocate to Greyton for the lower stress and wonderful natural environment to raise their kids," said Hess. "And we've had great success helping foreign buyers' dreams of owning a lifestyle property in the Overberg region become a reality."
Unique Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges
Working with international buyers presents its own unique dynamics, from currency issues to buyers’ unfamiliarity with the local market, but the duo is well-versed in guiding foreign clients through the process and, with the support of Greeff’s trusted partners, the process has become even smoother.
"We always strive to provide a high level of hand-holding from start to finish," said Blumberg. "Purchasing property from abroad can be intimidating, so we make every effort to seamlessly overcome any obstacles that may arise, whether it's financial, legal or logistical."
With their communal knowledge, client focus and a promising new partnership with Greeff Christie's, Hess and Blumberg are ideally positioned to help more local and foreign buyers discover the unparalleled charm of Greyton living and find their dream property in this exceptional Overberg community.