admindemands a huge fortune for one to be a resident therein and enjoy such cosy and trendy lifestyle.
If anything, most of these low-density residential areas were first the domiciles of the previous colonial masters who didn’t want anything to do with the majority of the black people who populated the so-called “locations” in the high-density areas.
Most of these were inspired by suburbs found in England, Scotland, France, Italy and other countries and when they were set up, they assumed similar looks, ambience and some even adopted some foreign names.
But with the advent of independence, and more blacks having attained a high level of education that meant a high level of income, more and more low-density residential areas were set up.
Zimbabwe has its share of such areas and these include Borrowdale, Mandara, Chisipiti, Crowhill, Mt Pleasant, Westgate, Glen Lorne, The Grange and Highlands among others, whose houses are havens, if not heavens on earth.
These are very expensive to buy because of the square metres they occupy which often run into thousands and thousands that can afford facilities like a pool, garages, playground for the children, netball or basketball court and not to mention the mansion itself and a cottage in the backyard.
All this requires a fortune.
According to the local real estate agent sales representative identified as Lady Maria said homes can still be picked up for bargain prices that don’t reflect their attractions, such as cafes, art galleries and community spirit.
“People need to try to focus on the in-between suburbs — the areas you never hear about,” says Lady Maria.
She said that while they may be off your real estate radar, experts have identified a handful of areas set to become the next ‘hip’ places to live.
“The area appeals to first-home buyers and investors who want an affordable home in a suburb which has ‘significant potential growth’,” she noted. However, it is true that when it comes to purchasing a new home, the area you move into will become a big part of your life, so it’s important you make the right decision.
“Remember you can make a lot of changes to a house but you can’t change its location. It’s really important to know the areas you are going to be searching in from day one.
“House hunting can be a time-consuming process, so you don’t want to waste hours looking in areas that just aren’t right for your needs,” said Charles Mugodi.
Mugodi, who is an architect, said the end result will depend on your individual taste, needs and budget but you should take a long look at a number of areas before making a decision.
Pardon Magudi, a stockbroker, said suburbs play a pivotal role in house buying.
“Of course, one of the main factors determining where you are going to buy is your budget. There’s no point buying in your ideal suburb if your budget’s been pushed to the max and you can’t cope with the mortgage repayments,” he said.
Nevertheless, experts suggest that if the areas you really like are out of your budget, consider making a list of features you love about those areas and see whether these can be found in other areas you may have overlooked.
Well, high-income earners are the ones who often occupy these areas because of the kind of perks that are on offer at their companies.
Another reason is prestige — most people opt for these areas because they want to be associated with a certain level of class in society, and this class is believed to reek of loads of money.
With the high-density suburbs infamous for noise and other forms of vices which come with overcrowding, low-density suburbs are ideal for those who are in need of peace and privacy and it is true that life there moves at a very tranquil pace.
These areas also offer a high level of security which is seldom found anywhere because of their nature.
The rentals there automatically are higher than anywhere else and some just go to rent there for the sake of hob-knobbing with a certain upper-crust class.
Online Reporter