The fourth and final phase of the Sardinia Bay Golf & Wildlife Estate development represents a significant return on investment for those who have settled at the gated community in Gqeberha.
Early adopters’ belief in its potential has paid off handsomely as the value of plots has more than doubled and, in many cases, even tripled since the first stands were sold over a decade ago.
This level of growth is comparable with premier lifestyle estates in the Western Cape and Gauteng, though Gqeberha homes of the same size and quality are considerably more affordable.
According to a January 2026 report by BetterBond the Western Cape outperformed the rest of the country with a rate of growth of 7.3 per cent compared to 1.7 in the past year.
The escalation of the average house price in Gqeberha has been in the 3.3 per cent bracket in recent years.
With Sardinia Bay Golf & Wildlife Estate’s plot prices growing from a low of R425 000 at release to a minimum investment of R1.5-million today, the annual return tops 10 per cent – significantly higher than the local market.
Remax estate agents Alan Moore and Leon Erasmus, who have listed properties at the estate from the outset, say the last phase is the “cherry on top” for all those who have bought previously.
“In most developments you get the starting phase, middle phase and the end phase,” Erasmus explains.
“You start off with a price bracket that makes it affordable to buy into the development and then prices get bumped up in the middle phase. And then you get your real value at the end.”
People are now willing to pay premium prices in Phase 4 because residents who invested in the previous ones have made the estate what it is today.
This, in turn, increases the value of their own properties.
Moore says in the past five years up to 15 houses have been resold, mostly due to life-stage changes or relocation.
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These dwellings have moved quickly once placed on the market.
The agents say one of the big drivers of the estate’s success has been the fact that the developers have never rushed the project.
They came in from a strong financial position and therefore were not burdened with the high carrying costs and monthly expenses that often impact others in the property industry.
“To fulfil all your promises costs a lot of money but the developers’ patience has paid off for everybody. They haven’t skimped on anything,” Moore says.
The men also have high praise for the homeowners – as much as 80 per cent are from Gqeberha – and the effort they have put in to ensure the property remains pristine.
Erasmus says the final phase, noted for its secluded and more rugged character, has come online at the right time as the development now enjoys a reputation for being one of the most sought-after addresses in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The pair are very confident that by year-end all 10 of the Phase 4-plots will have been snapped up.
Five are still on the table and Moore says they are currently in discussions with several “good and motivated” prospective buyers, meaning there is some urgency for others wanting to invest.
Lifestyle estates like this one in Sardinia Bay are growing in popularity across South Africa.
According to statistics from property intelligence firm Lightstone, preference for such homes grew from 11 to 15 per cent between 2009 and 2023.
It reports that there are some 500 000 homes located in estates across the nation – four times the number recorded in 2003.