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| Foreword With Mark Taylor |
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It is with pleasure that I tell you that the eLan Group remains as committed as ever to property development and we are gearing up for the turn in the market which we expect to be early next year. We have a number of developments on the drawing board (at design and planning stage) that will generate positive economic growth for shareholders and investors and a growing sales track. Simbithi alone saw a 15% growth in sales, year on year, with 26 sales last month! |
The British and Irish Lions Tour has brought fantastic exposure and revenue to our country with over 23 000 visitors, and we have backed and supported this tour through our sponsorship of the South African Legends event. With every bar and accommodation venue bursting at the seams with rugby supporters, the tour as a precursor to 2010, shows the world what is in store for them during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa where over 400 000 visitors are expected in this 6 week event.
Warmest regards,
Chairman The eLan Group |
| Sovereign Sands - A prime Real Estate Development on Blythedale Coastal Resort |
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Built on Blythedale Coastal Resort and stretching for almost half a kilometer along the beach, Sovereign Sands is designed with coastal and nautical themes in mind. Offering freestanding homes, duo's and apartments, of the total 120 units, 48 are built and ready for occupation.
Freestanding homes have four to seven bedrooms and are an average of 500mē. This includes expansive outdoor decks and the option of incorporating a private pool. Duo's average 300mē with three bedrooms. Finishes have been selected from quality local and imported components and all units will include the latest in luxury requirements.
Located between two swimming beaches with direct beach access, this stretch is ideal for fishing and diving with a number of rock pools and gulley's to explore.
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Transfers immediate |
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Zero transfer duty payable |
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Direct access to the beach |
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3km of coastline to explore |
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Panoramic sea and breaker views |
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‘North Coast Address’ value |
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20 minutes from an international airport |
One of the last properties to be developed right on the beach
Click the button below to see our price list. Please do not hesitate to contact us on +27 (0)32 5513 919 or click the Call Me Back button if you would like one of our sales consultants to give you a call back!
Buyer Testimonial
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Our latest property acquisition is a home on the dunes in Sovereign Sands at Blythedale Coastal Resort. It's a seaside development in shades of stone and
wood which looks out upon the lush vegetation and a beach that is virtually
deserted apart from a couple of fishermen.
There is a pool in front of our unit and access to kilometres of stunning beaches and rock pools. At times we wonder if we are the only family in paradise and the only nightlife is crab catching on the beach! We have just taken ownership and are working hard to pay the bond which came in at a shade over four million, but prices have gone up by about 15%! |
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Derek Watts,
Brand Ambassador |
As an ambassador with the eLan Group, I've been waiting for Blythedale Coastal Resort to come on stream. This is going to be an amazing development.so many choices between Ocean, Forest, Golf and even an Equestrian Estate
When asked what advice Derek had for property investors, his reply was.
I'm hardly the Donald Trump of property investment.much more of an apprentice really. My primary rule is that I've got to be in love with the property. That adds a touch of soul to the real estate business and hopefully there are buyers who will eventually have similar feelings when making a decision. While we are all treading carefully right now, and it is so easy to get over-extended, the fact is that there are some really excellent opportunities being launched in the market. Maybe we can trim the sails in some other departments - like putting the ski trip on ice - and take advantage of the "adjustment" in property prices. Also maybe consider taking a share of a property - if properly structured this can work well as an investment as well as offering happy holidays. See you on the beach at Blythedale!
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| Loan to Value - How to meet the requirements |
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With the banks becoming even more conservative in their loan to value criteria, South Africa is finding itself in line with global lending requirements. While South Africans have for many years enjoyed the benefits of 100% mortgages and even 108% loans in some instances, the new loan to value ratio’s are coming as a nasty surprise to many property investors. But what might be perceived as a nasty move at first, is in fact an approach to protect the purchaser and all involved in the property investment game.
The main reasons banks call for higher deposits are:
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To encourage the client to put equity into the asset themselves. This will ensure the buyer does enough homework before purchasing. |
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It takes the deposit risk away from the bank and protects the client from being in a position where they owe the bank more money than the actual value of the property. |
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In essence, it is removing risky speculation from the equation and ensuring sound property investment. |
Ways to assist in meeting the Loan to Value Ratio are:
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Free up equity. Look at access facilities on your existing assets such as access bonds etc. |
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Consider co-applicants however this would require an entirely new application in which case the new LTV rates would apply. |
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A cash guarantee from the bank where your money is ring-fenced for the use of the shortfall. If considering this option, check the rate the bank will give you vs. placing your money in the trust account with the developer’s attorney. For example, the trust account for Blythedale Coastal Resort is currently earning 9.2%. |
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For further assistance and advice on Loan to Value Ratio's, contact eLan's dedicated Betterbond Property Finance Consultant.
Tel: +27 (0)31 576 9600
Fax: +27(0)86 683 4183
Mobile: +27 (0)83 630 5351
Email: lynne.griffin@betterbond.co.za
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| The heart of Simbithi |
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Simbithi Eco Estate’s newly appointed Estate Manager epitomises what Simbithi is all about, focusing on the family and community living. Steve Van Greunen brings the warmth of his hospitality background to the Estate, having fulfilled roles with Southern Sun and the Three Cities Group, Steve knows that “it’s all about the people”. Promoting togetherness, his goal will be to bring a bigger sense of interaction with owners and residents on the Estate and believes that as GM, it is very important to bring a sense of community pride to Simbithi. He has exciting future projects planned to secure growth and prosperity on the Estate and in doing this, Steve will be structuring events to make use of the already built fantastic community facilities.
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| Landscape vision for Simbithi |
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Johan Bodenstein was part of the original professional team who put together the environmental management vision for Simbithi Eco-Estate. Now, some five years down the line he is consulting to the Estate once more, adapting and reintroducing the environmental goals to suit the changing habitat.
The vision for Simbithi has always been to make it as natural and eco-friendly as possible, appropriate to the area. The 4 main habitats which currently exist on Simbithi are Grasslands, Coastal Forests, Swamp Forests and Wetlands. Endemic and not only indigenous plants are used in creating different wildlife habitats. In revisiting the plant list for Simbithi, Johan has:
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Expanded the list to include more indigenous plants. |
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Broken the plant list up into application zones which define plants according to the services they render for example sun loving plants, shade creating plants, shade dependent plants, plants to stabilize banks, wind screening plants, bird attracting plants, buck feeding plants, security plants, screening plants and large rooted trees. In each zone, the tree, shrub or ground cover is also identified in terms of the insects and birds it attracts. To read more about this list click on http://www.seehoa.co.za/downloads/ApprovedPlantListJune2009.pdf |
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Encouraged gardeners to plant the boundary space between units densely with shrubby plants and small trees to create links through which wild animals can migrate. |
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Allowed the planting of culinary herbs, where some, such as wild rosemary and wild garlic act as natural pest repellents. |
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Encouraged gardeners to create a functional habitat. Functional habitat design means doing something to give an animal a place to live for example bat boxes, nesting logs for birds and pipe tunnels or cavities for a mongoose to hide in. |
The Swamp Forests already existed on Simbithi and pockets of Coastal Forest occured although the coastal forests were very fragmented which made them vulnerable. The goal of the team has been to buffer these forests in order to reduce the external pressure exerted on them. While the wetlands are fully established and sustainable the grasslands require ongoing management as these have been introduced. Natural grassland evolve over eons of time and here we are trying to do it in a short space of time. The grasses have been selected for their ability to support game by only using palatable grasses of the natural range of species. In South Africa, grasslands in savannah regions have naturally and historically been managed through fire. Burning of the grasslands is considered as a sustainable management option and preparations are being put in place to burn some of the areas. Residents will be notified well in advance.
A wildlife survey has recently been carried out in order to measure the carrying capacity of game on the Estate with the view of introducing more game animals. Currently there are bush buck, grey duiker and blue duiker. Each private property forms an integral part of the Estate, and this reinforces the thinking of limiting fencing in and around individual homesteads to allow the movement of animals both small and large. Johan's view of the private gardens in Simbithi is: "Indigenous plants brought in from nursery's are like fresh lettuce from an organic food store. Expect your garden to be eaten!!!" His advice for homeowners who don't want their plants to be eaten is simple. Spray your plants with a dilute mixture of Allum and water. Allum dries the mouth and makes whatever would've been eaten distasteful.
Johan is preparing a Self-Guided Trail Booklet for one of the trails so that residents can walk through the various habitats within Simbithi and know what they are looking at.
Enjoy the privilege of having nature on your doorstep others have to drive for hours to get to it.
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| Simbithi Sales - a dedicated team! |
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"The recent movement in the market has seen a lot of focus on primary residence buys with family orientated values driving sales. Concerns for children and appreciation of the environment are what more and more families are looking for. In addition to the land currently available on Simbithi, the Home Package concept is a simplified and fuss-free way to streamline your approach to building a house. By saving you time and money in the build process, it is also a simplified way of streamlining the criteria that needs to be met with both the Estate team and the local authorities."
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Contact the Simbithi Sales team on 0861 002 001
Alan Coetzer | 082 508 7921
Nicolette Buytendag | 082 491 9289
John Kruger | 082 891 2436
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| Simbithi Building Update |
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| Houses complete |
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57 |
| Houses under construction |
72 |
| Plans passed |
184 |
| Sectional Title developments under construction |
3 |
| Sectional Title developments complete |
2 |
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| PUD units complete |
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| Sabuti |
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213 |
| Tamboti |
50 |
| Ilanga |
24 |
| Ilala |
99 |
| Ethafeni |
34 |
| Ezulweni |
12 |
| Lalapanzi |
21 |
| Emoyeni |
34 |
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| Global Outlook |
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Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham |
Addressing the Durban Chamber of Commerce this week in Durban, Lord Jones, UK Business Ambassador and Chairman of the International Business Advisory Board of HSBC shared his views on the power of businesses worldwide. Jones has a long list of accolades and is an influential global business leader with experience and knowledge derived from years of dealing with the international community. He served as the UK minister of state for Trade and Investment from 2007 to 2008, and accepted a lifetime peerage in the House of Lords, where he now sits on the cross benches. He changed the way that UK Trade & Investment was perceived in delivering a record year for inward investment and expanding the UK's presence around the world. Following his departure from ministerial office, he was appointed as a business ambassador for UK Trade and Investment. |
In his address, Lord Jones began by saying businesses are the only contributors to tax (through the business itself and the people it employs) and tax is what allows a government to operate and 'do things' for its people. However, rising businesses need to take communities along with them, to reach out and uplift people - that's their power.
So much of our world lives in poverty and many of its people are illiterate. Of the 1.2bn population in China, 800 million are poor, living on less than US$2 per day. To be able to read, write and count are the basic skills needed for adulthood yet in the UK, 1 in 5 Brits are illiterate (20%) and in France it's a surprising 19%! Furthermore, he emphasised that when an individual has access to water, shelter and can read and write they are less likely to turn to crime. This is because they feel they matter - they can make choices because they are informed!
Businesses should transcend political views and selfish wealth creation and need to start becoming more globally engaged. Reaching out to communities means equipping them with skills - equipping them to handle the challenges of globalization. He concluded by emphasising how much business has an influence on making the world a safer, better place and that job creation starts with business. The wheel gets set in motion with business! |
| The Worx Zone... A smart office block for savvy investors |
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The Worx Zone, a unique sectional title office development launched recently in the Umhlanga Town Centre offers a new age working environment at a fraction of the cost. This new up-market block offers investors and small businessmen the opportunity to own a 25mē Business Module that will have access to a 650mē Business Hub.
The Business Hub will feature a high tech PABX system with a permanent receptionist and full secretarial service. This will eliminate the overhead cost of having full time staff and installing a separate system. Other facilities include wireless internet and a fully equipped boardroom with LCD screens, conference call facility and projectors for those all important presentations. Tenants and owners will be able to relax in a state-of-the art business lounge equipped with LCD screens showing the latest business news feeds.
The Worx Zone can also be used by businesses based in other South African cities as a satellite office. Investors may also buy more than one Module at a time and will appeal to two kinds of buyers - those who want to buy to let and those who want to buy to use.
The Work Zone is being developed jointly by Growthpoint and Key Developments and sold and marketed by
the eLan Group.
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| Leopard project takes its first step |
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The eLan Group recently contributed to the Northern Zululand Honorary Officers Leopard Project. This project plans to undertake a full-scale leopard population density survey in Somkhanda Game Reserve and a few surrounding game farms before the end of the year 2009. The project aims to include community members as field staff and as a result raise awareness of the plight of leopards in the area. The research will be done by means of camera traps where the leopards may be identified. The field staff will help monitor the camera traps, collect data, and get involved in collecting spoor and leopard movement information. The skills learned will enable staff to take positions as animal monitors or research assistants after the project or alternatively, to aid the reserve in it's future monitoring efforts of priority species.
The Leopard Project team:
Shannon Chapman, Debbie Rodriguez,
Victor Meyer
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Sharks Rugby player, Keegan Daniel. |
The Leopard Project is looking for assistance in the form of any possible financial donations towards the running of the project. The use of a quad bike for the duration of the study would be very useful. The field staff would use this vehicle to check all the camera trap sites (the sites are spread over 12,000 hectares per phase of the survey). This would lower petrol expenses and allow those assistants without driver's licenses to operate a vehicle. They would also help navigate the difficult terrain inside Somkhanda Game Reserve. Other necessary items are digital trail camera units and a computer which will enable the assistants to continue to compile reports for management on future monitoring of leopards and possibly other species. |
Should you be able to assist in any way, kindly contact Peter Coulon on petercoulon@elan.co.za.
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| Breakfast with Durban City manager, Mike Sutcliffe |
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The eLan Group hosted a business breakfast with Mike Sutcliffe at The Riverside Hotel. Mike addressed the current challenges facing the city and expanded on the numerous projects that are underway addressing these challenges and gearing up for 2010. His presentation encompassed the Inner City Redevelopment, the Urban Regeneration Project, the Public Transport Strategy, Key Projects around the district, the city’s Eventing Strategy, the City Beautification Project and the infrastructural requirements around fibre optic cabling in the CBD.
Mike Sutcliffe, John Smit, Mark Taylor
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(Front) Mike Dowsley, John Barton, Andrzej Keipeila (Back) Mike Sutcliffe, Thami Kamanga
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(Front) Geoff Chennells,Peter Cameron, Butch James (Back) Trenley Tillbrook, Peter Coulon, Anthony Arbuthnot |
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| Noble House AG - The Swiss Companies |
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NOBLE HOUSE AG can give you an individual guidance for your international business as well as your long term personal wealth into Switzerland. Having a team of Notaries, Lawyers, Trustees and an international back office they can set up an established Swiss AG personally for you. |
Each Swiss AG is available directly and can be conducted with its complete infrastructure such as tax number, account number as well as:
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Administrative board |
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Custodian |
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Domicile of the corporation |
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Bookkeeping |
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Balance Sheet |
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This corporation is not an offshore company, but an operatively working company with which you can:
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Hold and administrate real estate |
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Purchase and keep holdings |
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Conduct imports and exports |
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Operate vehicles, ships, airlines |
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Conduct consultancy services |
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Realize patens and licences |
With your personalized Swiss AG you can act anonymous as international entrepreneur, use the best banking facility and financial planning of the world with highly qualified employees.
Visit www.noble-pro-ag.ch
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| Flyfishing Catch Register with Peter Coulon at Avenol Country Lodge |
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With our six trout dams now well stocked, Avenol is truly a fly fisherman's dream retreat! According to the catch register, the largest trout known to be caught is a 9, 5 pound fish by Marius Els. It was caught at House Dam on an overcast day on 31 December 2005. The fishing is currently very good at Avenol. In the last two years 108 fly-fishermen have fished our dams, and a total of 265 fish have been caught.
This works out to an average of 2.4 fish per fishing outing. The best fished dam is House with a total of 108 catches. Recent fishing has been excellent especially at James Dam which is producing some nice fish of approximately four to five pounds each. A recent angler caught six fish around the 4.5 lb range on his kick boat. According to the records, only 27 fish have been removed, which means only 10% of the fish caught are kept for eating.
More trout were introduced in 2007 and 2008 and the result is an excellent fishing facility combined with a large, comfortable lodge. Only residents staying at the lodge or participants in the eLan /ESA fly fishing clinics are able to fish in Dams making it a very exclusive experience.
We hope that by December a lucky fisherman will hook a six pounder. The dams are well stocked and ready for the fly-fishermen.
To book the Avenol Lodge,
contact Hector on +27 (0)82 451 8848.
Should you wish to attend a fly fishing clinic
contact Peter Coulon on +27 (0)82 551 5704.
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