Pushing the boundaries and embracing new technologies, Gold Coast Estate was the first premium estate of Devmco Group’s to install South Africa’s first no-touch biometric system. With the creation and implementation of new technologies in an ever-changing world, Gold Coast Estate aims to constantly innovate to make life seamless and accessible.
This new system is part of a bigger picture which embraces technology to enhance life, which is happening worldwide and is set to become a way of life for many of us.
Currently, several ‘biometric’ technologies are in use- fingerprint scanning, facial recognition and retina scanning with many of these now seamlessly becoming part of our lives. Although we have, and are embracing this technology, it has the ability to one day makes passwords and pins obsolete. Think about it for a minute; how many of us would be comfortable to use a retina scanning system to draw cash, or authenticate a legal agreement using just a thumbprint instead of a handwritten signature? This is the future of non-physical authentication and of course, there are advantages and disadvantages.
Firstly, the days of trying to remember a million passwords will be over. Life becomes cardless, touch-free and without passwords and pins. You, the person, will become the means of authentication and with that comes less opportunity for fraudulent activity using your data. Without you, the human, there can be no transaction or authentication. At the moment, not all systems are fool proof; facial recognition can be fooled using photographs or a recording can be played in place of a real human voice. With any kind of biometric authentication, there is always a risk. Although it is very unlikely, there will come a day where data criminals will find a way to intercept our valuable biometric data, which means these systems will keep evolving and advancing. The next evolution of biometric authentication will have to include some sort of intelligence that recognises that there is a live human attached to the fingerprint, voice and so forth.
Although it’s a possibility that biometrics could replace and surpass all other forms of authentication it does not mean that they will. What may emerge is a sort of hybrid multi-step system which blend your unique biometric signature (be it voice, fingerprint, retina or facial scanning) along with a unique pin or password.
Perhaps you are thinking about selling your home but are not quite sure of the best way to do this? After all, you want maximum exposure for minimum input so you will likely be weighing up the options. Selling your home within a residential development takes a certain kind of agency – one that has intimate knowledge of the area, the estate and the kind of buyers who would be interested. Often, it is best to sell your home through the developer, like Devmco Group, who have their own in-house estate agency, Devmco Realty.
Estate agencies are professional organisations whose sole goal is to get your home sold for you. Agencies have the necessary tools and tech in place to make the sale of your home as smooth as possible. What’s more, is that agencies will have a database of buyers they can pitch the home to thereby helping to find a buyer in a much shorter timeframe.
An estate agent is already equipped with the knowledge and the skill needed to successfully sell your home. They will shoulder the lion’s share of the responsibilities and will do all the running around (that can take up valuable time). Estate agents are also adept at gauging a buyer’s interest in a property, as well as picking up on the subtle and unspoken cues which indicate a buyer may not like something. These are things that you may not pick up on.
An estate agent has a good in-depth knowledge of the area where your property is located and will therefore know what kind of price it can fetch. Sometimes you may pitch too high and miss out on a heap of interested buyers. An agency will always want to present your property in the most favourable way and will therefore highlight its best features and unique selling points. What you may think is a notable feature, may not be, and the estate agent will guide you on this.
When it comes to the administration and paperwork, your agent has got your back by taking care of all of this. What’s more is that the agent is suitably qualified and legally allowed to conduct the sale on your behalf. An agent is bound by the regulations of the Estate agencies Affairs Board (EAAB) and therefore has to ensure that he/she does what is legal and is best fiduciary practice in their capacity as an estate agent.
An estate agent will always provide honest and objective advice – they want to sell your home as much as you do. Your agent is your ally, and they are there to support you when it comes to the things you may not be familiar or comfortable with – especially the legal agreements. Estate agents are generally good with people, and are able to negotiate offers for you, in a professional, polite, and honest manner.
It pays off to list your home with an agency, like Devmco Realty, which has a good track record. Do some research to see what kind of homes the agency is selling and how successful they are at doing that
The demand for convenient living grows ever stronger, and people are looking to invest in primary-use property which will enhance their lifestyle. The market’s desire for what is termed ‘blended living’ is driving much of the buyer activity along KZN’s North Coast, especially within key growth areas like the Sibaya Coastal Precinct.
Sibaya’s positioning and lifestyle elements, along with the secure estate living on offer and the clear value growth trajectory of properties in the precinct is the ideal trifecta when it comes to where to invest.
One of the things that makes Sibaya so successful is that it is designed to connect the community, and the estates within it, like Gold Coast Estate echo this ethos on a smaller scale. Gold Coast Estate is undeniably one of KZN’s most forward-thinking and luxurious residential estate. With a design that moves beyond mere aesthetics, each facet is designed to create ultimate ease and to connect you to your community.
Within your home, super-fast and seamless fibre keeps you connected to family and friends while also enabling you to conduct business from home with ease. The added benefit of being with Gold Coast Estate is that you’re connected wherever you are in the estate through estate Wi-Fi provided in common areas. Slink by the poolside while you order in for the evening or get home and snuggle up with the family to stream your favourites on Netflix. The variety of facilities within the estate provide ample opportunity for family time or solo adventures whether that be fun in the sun at the clubhouse, a quick session in the gym, a bite at the estate restaurant or a breakaway into the green areas with your furry friend by your side.
From your home within Gold Coast Estate, you are literally steps way from the amazing Sibaya Coastal forest. Get connected to nature as you meander through a safe, managed environment. You can explore the beauty of the forest at canopy height along the elevated boardwalk, or meander slowly down to the beach. Get to know the local birds better as you spy them from one of the many bird hides found throughout the forest. The benefit is that you can access the forest quickly and easily at virtually any time of the day.
Along with several pockets of boutique retail, Sibaya’s grand design includes a retail piazza. This piazza can be reached safely through the precinct and is close enough to be accessed on foot from Gold Coast Estate. The piazza lends a European flavour to SA’s best performing residential node, through its design which encourages interaction and is a place where people can come together in a casual and inclusive setting.
The precinct has its very own dedicated thoroughfare, the Hezela Boulevard. This roadway provides safe passage within Sibaya for pedestrians and cars and is a vital link between the various nodes within the precinct. The M4 highway is only minutes way from most of the estates within Sibaya, lending a high degree of accessibility and providing a connection to the business nodes of Umhlanga Ridge and Ballito. Just beyond the M4 you’ll reach the N2 which provides a direct route to King Shaka International Airport in minutes- perfect for those who regularly commute in and out of KZN for business.
As a thoughtfully designed precinct for the future, every facet of the Sibaya Coastal Precinct is designed to connect you to your community and bring you closer to nature. Similarly, Gold Coast Estate’s world-class family facilities, high-tech security and seamless connectivity are also designed for community connection and ultimate convenient living.
Thank you to those of you who joined our live Q&A session.
The last live session delved deeper into Sibaya to look at how its catalytic nature accelerates job creation and the economy, what investment opportunities already exist within the precinct, what is happening with upcoming developments and a future value forecast.
Sibaya Snapshot
• R4-5 billion worth of development already exists on the coastal side of the Sibaya Coastal Precinct.
• 60% of Sibaya will remain green and undeveloped, this includes the 350 hectares of coastal forest which is actively being made clean, safe and secure to allow forest and beach access and opportunity for other recreational activities. The forest area will also be actively patrolled by security personnel.
Sibaya Tomorrow
Ultimately Sibaya will be a mix of different types of residential, commercial and retail developments:
20 000m² retail including kid-focused outlets, eateries and coffee shops
5000m² modern medical facility
A Curro school that caters for Grade R – Matric and can accommodate 2000 learners
A private university valued at R1.5 billion
A 500-bed international hotel
A frail care facility
Sibaya Node 6
• Will introduce and develop 350 – 400 freestanding retirement opportunities which are competitively priced and pet-friendly.
• In the next 2 -3 years, 500 + freestanding homes in the R2 – 4 million range will come onstream.
Job creation and the impact on the economy
• Sibaya has created 30 000 – 40 000 jobs over the last 5 years, and another estimated 70 000 – 80 000 jobs will be created over the next 10 years, with 10 000 of those jobs being permanent.
• On average Sibaya generates R150 million in rates for the city and about R1.2 billion is effectively given back to the city through VAT (Value Added Tax).
• The upcoming Node 6 will unlock approximately R20 billion worth of work over the next 10 years and Node 5 will unlock another R10 -15 billion worth of work over the same period.
Devmco Group Developments and Value Projections
• Gold Coast Estate and Parc are 3 months from completion. Gold Coast Estate has 50 houses currently under construction and another 50 upcoming this year.
• Covid-19 will not impact the speed of delivery of Gold Coast Estate and Parc, and we will be implementing stricter Health and Safety measures on site and administering PPE and hygiene protocols in line with Government regulations. Essential services such as cleaning, repairs and maintenance are happening at Gold Coast Estate to ensure we are ready to get going once we enter Level 3 of the lockdown.
• Our existing developments have seen capital appreciation of 40% over the last few years which is set to increase by an average of 10 -20% per annum as demand for the Sibaya lifestyle grows. Investors who get in early will naturally get a higher yield; the unmatchable location, convenience factor and natural assets will drive up values as demand for park-like lifestyles and secure estate living grows. Beach access, managed green areas and proximity to the airport will attract regional semigration (JHB) and also domestic migration from other Durban suburbs which will also drive up values.
Please watch our video to get the full picture as we unpack the topics in more detail.