Ennik is the CEO of Johannesburg-based Ennik Estates, an affiliate of the Christie's International Real Estate organisation, whose operations cover more than 40 countries and generate US$100-billion a year in top end home sales.
"As the net worth of these budding new South African millionaires rises, they will become increasingly more active as buyers and sellers of luxury homes - in a sector in which the persistent wide gap in buy/sell price aspirations is now steadily closing in line with the realities of the post-recession market," says Ennik.
Another important factor is the increasing potential for foreign investment into Africa - and not least into the South African property sector - in a climate of anticipated low growth forecasts in the debt-burdened US and euro zone for the next five years. "Meanwhile, already firmly entrenched in our luxury homes market is a core of 116 000 people in South Africa who, according to the Credit Suisse Wealth Report, are in the top 1% of people who alone account for 44% of global assets," says Ronald.
"Taking all these factors into account, the overall outlook for growth in the luxury homes market in South Africa is becoming more and more encouraging," he concludes.
