If your idea of heaven is living in luxury on the beach, you’ll want to know more about the Bungalow at Aucor Property’s upcoming auction in Houghton, Johannesburg. This sought-after Clifton bungalow is set to go under the hammer on Tuesday, February 20 with Double.D Property Consultants and Aucor Property, Africa’s auction authority. “The USP is the position. It sits between First and Second, and it’s one of only two bungalows right on the beach,” saysAucor Property’s Business Development Executive Brett Pozniak.
The Bungalow offers 272 square metres of prime property, a stone’s throw from the water, with direct access to a Blue Flag beach. You will literally feel the mist wafting in off the waves, perhaps waking you in your ocean-facing bedroom or adding natural fragrance to your open living space. Two bedrooms ensuite, and the living area, dining room and kitchen are all fronted by floor-to-ceiling glass doors that fold away to maximise the panoramic vistas. There is also a guest toilet, an entertainment deck with a private pool and a covered secure parking bay.
The seller’s decision to choose auction as the route to market follows tradition. “If you look at the way the Australian market works, any high-demand property goes to auction because it’s the way of maximising value for service,” explains Pozniak. “This one is ideal for someone looking for a holiday home or entering the lucrative short-term rental market. In season, you can get R40 000 daily for this type of asset.”
The bungalow falls in the Cape Town luxury property segment that consistently attracts enormous interest from wealthy local and international buyers. Last year, 60 per cent of all high-value sales were concluded on the Atlantic Seaboard, with villas and apartments in high demand. According to Propstats data, Clifton ranks fourth in the top 10 suburbs for super luxury sales above R20 million in 2023, and that’s the figure that will start the bidding for the highly desirable Bungalow.
The area has a fascinating history. According to the Bungalow Owner’s Association (BOA), which works to protect Clifton’s heritage status and safeguard the value of the lifestyle and homes here, an old shoemaker in the Clifton caves used to fix farmers’ shoes as they passed by on the way to selling produce in Cape Town. In 1890, it was renamed after Bessie Clifton, who ran the only hotel in the area. By 1990, “Clifton-on-Sea” became a summer destination known for its wind-free beaches. Vacationers built wooden beach houses on sites leased from the City Council. By 1923, there were 90 bungalows, and owners had to leave in winter – the Council’s way of ensuring no permanent residents. The Clifton Owners Bungalow Association later overruled this, and by the 1990s, the area known simply as Clifton became freehold after the Council sold the leasehold land.
What you should know about the auction process
Aucor Property’s experienced brokers are available to assist all clients, especially those new to auctions.
Registration: Register on the auction day or pre-register with proof of ID and address. Pay a fully refundable registration fee. Properties are sold “as is”. Stick to your budget to avoid getting carried away in the excitement.
Auction process: Familiarise yourself with all lots, scrutinise them, and read terms and conditions. Discuss fixed property with the agent and obtain a “fact sheet” to enable informed decisions. Understand deposit and payment terms for the auction.
Bidding: Don’t wait until the last moment and ensure the auctioneer acknowledges your bid. Purchases cannot be cancelled once items are knocked down. Have the necessary funds available; no sales are subject to finance arrangements. Bidding prices exclude VAT and auctioneers’ commission, for which the buyer is responsible.
Charges: The auctioneer’s commission is 10 per cent plus VAT over and above the bid price.
Payment: Property buyers must pay a deposit immediately; payment terms are specified in the conditions of sale. Wait for confirmation at the registration office, then pay via various methods, including electronic transfer.
