With interest rates up, and the new credit act playing havoc on the market’s propensity to spend, December saw a surprising increase in sales within the eLan Group. During the month of December, R11 million was sold at Simbithi Eco-Estate, R17 million at Royal Jozini Big Six, and a whopping R27 million at Blythedale Coastal Resort and this is thanks to you!

With oil prices currently going up, and inflation increasing, at some point these increases have to level off, which will improve consumer confidence, and see the market stabilise. The reason for our positive sales figures is the Investor Club model of buying off-plan means that buyers are able to secure tomorrows value at today’s price. Consumers are willing to invest in the right product, at the right location, no matter what the market is doing.

Speaking of right product, right location, we bring you breaking news about our latest Joint Venture on an incredible product situated in Mauritius! Read on to find out more…

An update on Blythedale Coastal Resort is that this Saturday saw a huge step forward toward resolving the land claim. A meeting was held and all relevant parties signed the Heads of Agreement! We now need to follow the process as laid out in the Agreement and merely see this administrative process through.

Warm regards,

CEO The eLan Group

The eLan Group are incredibly privileged to be joining forces with Gamma Civic, the largest construction company in Mauritius on a Joint Venture development called Bon Aventure (place of adventure!). The site is located on the west coast of Mauritius in the district of Black River, 10km from the active city of Port Louis.

The eLan Group have focused on Mauritius as the island is a well established tourism destination. It is a beautiful island offering a myriad of activities combining first world infrastructure with pure paradise! Not only is Mauritius globally positioned as a leisure destination, the island is strategically located in the Indian Ocean crossroads of Asia and Africa and presents itself as a premier international business hub with a gateway of opportunities for foreign buyers.

Political and social stability are representations of good governance. Modern infrastructure and technological advances together with peaceful living conditions place this island on the international market. World class telecommunication facilities enable global links and Mauritius has the highest number of cell phone and computers per capita in Africa. Furthermore, attracting foreign capital has been a major objective of the country’s economic development strategy and numerous advantages, including tax incentives, are offered to foreign investors.

Domain Bonaventure will comprise of 573 individual villa’s, 150 apartments and 32 maisonettes. A large component of the development will incorporate a virtual hotel where owners can rent out their villa through the hotel operator in order derive a rental return. Sophisticated conference facilities will drive occupancies throughout the year.

High level overview of Domain Bonaventure 573 single residential villa’s 150 apartments 32 maisonettes Retirement Village Virtual Hotel Conference Centre Restaurants and Bars International Private School Day Clinic Commercial and Retail Complex Sport and Recreational Facilities Beach Club

An interesting article appeared in the Financial Mail recently (December 7). The cover story written by Ian Fife brings raises challenging arguments about holiday homes and coastal property as an investment. Overall, Gauteng prices continue to steadily grow and outperform all areas in South Africa, and this is largely due to the demand for permanent residences in a growing city. However, if we shift our focus to coastal property, KZN comes out trumps in every aspect! Prices in KZN have been rising faster than the Western Cape since 2003 and the gap in the rate of growth is growing. The relatively low cost of coastal properties in the Eastern Cape and KZN compared with the Western Cape has attracted more buyers. There is also little doubt that KZN has once more returned as Gauteng’s coastal playground.

The economic fundamentals are likely to ensure that price growth in KZN will outstrip that of the Cape in the future. As quoted by Ian,

How do you figure out the hot leisure property locations over the next 10 or 20 years? Here’s how: draw a line running along the N3 from Gauteng to Durban, up the N2 to Maputo (Mozambique) and back along the N4 to Gauteng. This is likely to be the focus of SA’s economic growth.”

Plot out eLan’s current developments; Simbithi, Blythedale and Jozini and you’re drawing 2 sides of this golden triangle, confirming that property owned in these developments are certainly excellent investments!

“Take the Nelspruit and Maputo corridor, a future high-speed train between Johannesburg and Durban- this triangle will contain more than 60% of SA’s population; it’s richest too. Beauty will be found or made within this triangle. New hot spots will emerge. While that’s happening, KZN North Coast prices are likely to overtake the Cape (with the possible exception of Clifton and Franschoek) within a decade”.

A trust has since been formed and Umhlali Prep remain the administrators for these funds. Sizani Primary is receiving a much needed clean up. Securing of the land of vital importance, due to the squatters and illegal trading on the land.

RA Padayachee requires a general cleanup, vast repair work, an upgrading of the library and securing of the school. Already the entire school has been fumigated to rid it of wood borer which has caused substantial damage. Umhlali Prep has used their allocation of the funds to kick-start the building of a Creative Centre housing an Art room, Music Rooms, an Auditorium, an Audio Visual room, a Zulu classroom, a full kitchen providing Home Economics facilities, a Science Room and a Full Media Centre. This vision realised by passionate teachers and parents, and set in motion with the help of caring developers, has resulted in a long-lasting relationship!

Peter Coulon, eLan’s Land and Conservation Manager reports on the season at Avenol Lodge…

Located in the Midlands, the farm is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of beautiful surrounds within KwaZulu-Natal. The farm offers 5 trout fishing dams and feedback over the December period is that one party managed to catch 40 trout in five days, with all fish being released! The trout are currently in excellent condition providing a good fight for fishermen and the fly with the best results was a black woolly bugger with a tinge of blue fibres. A third of the fish caught were in the region of 3 lbs the balance being stockies of about 12 inches.

Fishing from the shore is very suitable on the dams and if you have a kick boat there are two dams which you could fish. Fishermen are encouraged to fish barbless hooks to reduce damage to the fish. While fisherman may keep up to 2 fish per day, per group of anglers, we encourage you to please keep a record of the fish being caught in the catch register to enable us to monitor stocks and ensure good fishing is always available!

Wildlife (although not too prolific) found on the farm includes bushbuck, grey duiker, reedbuck and jackal. These are heard calling at night in the grasslands.

Avenol is currently a working livestock and timber farm although we are planning a farm yard which will have a variety of farm animals. The aim is to enable guests to collect fresh eggs and milk each morning! The farm also has huge natural grasslands with patches of forested areas making ideal conditions for walking. Situated on the midlands meander, the lodge provides ideal shopping opportunities within the meander and the region also has many restaurants and pubs in the vicinity.

Investor Club Manager