Val de Vie, one of South Africa’s most prestigious housing estates in South Africa, and possibly the most popular in the Drakenstein, reinforced its reputation by advertising a piece of land called a “lifestyle farm”, of 27 ha, for R70 million.
Ian Gardiner, real-estate agent of Pam Golding Properties, is advertising the sought-after land and said it had been in the market for about two months with already a few enquiries. He told Paarl Post that the current owners find the piece of land too small to start a wine estate and opted to sell.
Surina du Toit, Pam Golding Properties area manager for Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington and Worcester, told Daily Investor that a preference for lifestyle farms had become particularly evident in recent years.
“Ever since Covid there has been a marked increase in interest in lifestyle farms, with buyers wanting space, security and the ability to live and work from home.
“Families love Val de Vie and Pearl Valley estates mainly due to the reputable schools on site or close by as well as the lifestyle, but it’s the combination of natural beauty and all-round security that really draws them in.”
She explained that the Franschhoek residential market had historically been fuelled by European buyers, though there had recently been a notable surge in interest from Americans seeking property in the region.
“We are also seeing numerous South Africans returning from overseas because they have missed their home country and the lifestyle it offers.”
According to Gardiner a lifestyle estate, which is agriculturally zoned, offers the option to house some livestock, such as horses, or plant crops of people’s own choosing, small amounts of harvest, to be self-sustaining.
This, however, first has to pass municipal and Home Owner’s Association approval. It is also zoned for one main residence and two cottages.
“It is extremely rare for a working farm of this scale to become available inside sought-after Val de Vie,” Du Toit told Daily Investor.
Gardiner, originally from South Africa, but who lived in the United Kingdom (UK) for about 27 years and now calls Val de Vie home, said the housing market in the Drakenstein is mixed in with the trend of people from Gauteng moving down as well as international buyers from countries such as Germany, Belgium, the UK and America.
He believes the Winelands is a popular destination because it is centrally located yet offers small-town living with numerous amenities in close reach.
He added that Val de Vie in particular is a popular choice, first and foremost due its good security. Additionally it has alot of amenities, including a pre-school, swimming pools, a gym, a polocrosse field, restaurants and medical services.
According to Lightstone statistics, sales activity at Val de Vie peaked immediately following the Covid-19 pandemic before returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, as reported by Daily Investor.
While the median sales price has generally risen over the past decade, 2024 and 2025 have seen a pronounced acceleration in prices achieved.
Between 2016 and 2021, the most active segment of Val de Vie’s property market consistently fell within the R3 million to R6 million range, reflecting strong demand for mid-level luxury homes that balanced lifestyle with affordability. By 2022, however, a noticeable shift occurred.
Transactions increasingly fell within the R6 million to R12 million bracket, signalling heightened interest in larger, premium homes and reinforcing the estate’s position as a high-end destination.
This upward trend culminated in 2025 when, for the first time, a Val de Vie residence sold for over R35 million, cementing the estate’s prestige within South Africa’s ultra-luxury residential market.
Agricultural properties within the estate have mirrored this trajectory. Recent sales include a smallholding that achieved R84 million, comprising a main residence and multiple cottages.
Two further agricultural transactions were recorded at R35 million and R49 million, respectively, demonstrating both the scarcity and increasing desirability of substantial lifestyle holdings within Val de Vie.
The most expensive house in Val de Vie, currently on the market, according to Porperty24, is for R140 million which boasts 12 bedrooms and 12 and a half bathrooms with staff quarters advertised by Greeff Christie’s.
