With 96% of residential property in Rosebank, Johannesburg comprising convenient sectional title apartments, savvy, young, career-minded individuals and investors are moving into the area to capitalise on all the benefits of this vibey, central location with a host of entertainment and other amenities on tap.
Whether they are seeking proximity for full-time or hybrid work scenarios or work from home, Rosebank is not only easily accessible to commercial centres, including nearby Sandton, but it’s also close to all the entertainment and leisure action, says Alisha Dippenaar, Pam Golding Properties area manager based in Hyde Park in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs.
Lightstone statistics show that 53% of existing owners have owned residential properties in Rosebank for less than five years, highlighting the impact of the numerous new developments in attracting new residents to the area. Furthermore, the vast majority of recent buyers were middle-aged (36-49 years) or young adults (18-35), suggesting that first-time buyers and young professionals are entering the property market in Rosebank to take advantage of the suburb’s convenience and lifestyle offerings.
Says Dippenaar: “Certainly, the return-to-work trend is picking up, with many large corporates offering flexible hours or even 3-4 days a week in the office. However, there is a call to return to corporate headquarters on some level in most large organisations. Far fewer people are working entirely remotely, which is having a positive impact on the demand for accommodation to buy and rent.
“The headquarters of Standard Bank and several other large corporates are situated in Rosebank, while there is also the Rosebank clinic with its numerous doctors and specialists, so living in the area is ideal for staff.”
Dippenaar says that for the younger set, Rosebank Mall and its surroundings offer a plethora of eateries and menu options across various price ranges, as well as coffee shops. The Gautrain Station is also a significant advantage for those commuting into Johannesburg’s inner city or out towards Tshwane.
“The vast majority of residential sales fall into the R1 million to R2 million price category, which will acquire a loft, one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment, although there are other, more upmarket apartments selling from R2 million to around R3.5 million and beyond. There are also luxury penthouse units in the newer-built apartment complexes, which sell for over R3 million,” says Dippenaar.
“Generally, across the suburb, prices per square metre average at R26 500, but the range is from R12 500 in older buildings to over R38 000 per square metre in newer, serviced apartment buildings.
“For example, Deeds Office records across the marketplace reveal that a serviced penthouse apartment in The Tyrwhitt sold for R8.2 million in early 2023 and another at Park Central for R8 million in early 2024.
“In some circumstances, working professionals residing in the Western Cape or Eastern Cape require a ‘base’ in Johannesburg for partial use, and Rosebank is an excellent option. They will sometimes buy or rent an apartment.”
Dippenaar adds that two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments have long been the sweet spot for buy-to-rent investment, although there is also an appetite for one-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments.
“Apartments with reasonable levies are always attractive to buy-to-let investors. Rosebank offers a host of suitable apartment complexes, with many of the newly developed apartment complexes also offering their own amenities, such as a gym, conference rooms and swimming pools, over and above all of the amenities available in the immediate locale.
“Investors will consider apartments at entry-level pricing, which attracts young professionals, or even students who are at the universities in Johannesburg, as well as higher priced units in complexes with more amenities or services, as those will attract corporate tenants.”