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REACHING FOR DREAMS MADE EASIER WITH RE/MAXRE/MAX of Southern Africa firmly believes in contributing to a better society. What better way can there be than to assist the process of making the very special dreams of children struggling with debilitating illnesses come true. Since 2004, RE/MAX has contributed more than R5 million to the Reach for A Dream Foundation, an organisation dedicated to the belief that children can beat life-threatening illnesses by dreaming of better things. The Foundation was founded on July 7 1988 by Owen Parnell. On that day "JC" Steinman of Johannesburg was treated to rides on a pony and a motorcycle for his birthday. Since that first dream, it has fulfilled the dreams of more than 6 300 children. On average three dreams are fulfilled each day and five outings arranged each weekend nationally. The Foundation is self-financing and relies solely on the generosity of the public contributions that assist with the dreams of children between the ages of 3 and 18 years old. There are many examples of how RE/MAX aided the foundation's process. On March 28 this year, young Dumisa's dream of owning a Playstation game came true in Cape Town. Dumisa was very shy, but his mom was wonderful on the occasion. She was just as excited as he was, and when asked whether he can remember what his dream or wish was, he immediately responded: "TV Games!" Needless to say, he was absolutely delighted and the facial expression said it all. In February, six-year-old David was in seventh heaven when he realized that the Foundation and RE/MAX contributed to making his dream of owning a trampoline come true. Some blue and green helium balloons were put around the trampoline which had been installed in David's family's garden that day. The team had just finished putting them up when David came screaming through the garden door. His mom had arranged that they would get back from school at just the right time! So in came David, bubbling with excitement, only to see two strangers that he probably wasn't expecting. He did a 360 degree turn-around and waited for his mom to catch up with him until he felt ready to investigate his new trampoline. He was a little shy to begin with, but soon warmed up to us and in no time showed us his tricks, clearly very at home on his trampoline, as if he was born to do it. In March, 14-year-old Mosa Ntlatseng got to see the fabulous aquarium in Cape Town. Mosa has been at Red Cross Hospital for 8 months recovering from a liver and kidney transplant. Coming from Johannesburg, she had no idea where the team was going until we got to the Waterfront. She was so excited when we entered the aquarium and saw all the "Nemos" swimming in the tank. She was fascinated with all the fish and sea animals, sharks and penguins. When we finished she wanted to go through the aquarium again! Her ambition in life is to become a fashion designer and her dream was to go shopping for clothes. We decided to fulfil her dream another day, as she was very tired. She was taken to Cavendish Square. She was absolutely delighted and had such good taste in choosing her clothes, mixing and matching with great flair. These stories illustrate to some extent the joy experienced by the children. Those who have been involved with the Foundation for a while never tire of being present when the kids express their joy. To read more about RE/MAX of Southern Africa's sponsorship of Reach for a Dream, go to www.reachforadream.org.za |
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A Paarl property to Fulfill Your Lifestyle Needs
Paarl is located in the heart of the Boland. This Western Cape town is regarded by locals and visitors as a perfect location for a perfect lifestyle and properties are in constant demand.
Paarl is a location that is not to far from the maddening crowd. A property in this town is a mere sixty kilometers north-east of the mother city i.e. Cape Town. It takes about thirty minutes to drive to the city.
This Boland gem is where families and international clients choose to settle and buy a property. The town is also inhabited by students who attend the well known and respected Boland College. This mixing of generations means there is a flow of for sale properties.
A property in this area is sought after for many very good reasons. Paarl properties provide what can only be regarded as a typical rural lifestyle with all the necessary modern amenities.
Here, a property for sale comes with amenities to suit most budgets but the demand for an idyllic lifestyle leaves no time for unduly lengthy considerations. Reasonably priced properties are snapped up.
Paarl is such a beautiful location that some property seekers are willing to forego one or two demands to gain a home for sale in or around the town.
Those with properties in the area are firmly placed in the world renowned Cape Winelands. Paarl is made up of town properties, smallholdings and farms that sometimes are up for sale. The area is a producer of wine grapes, olives and fruits like avocado pears, citrus fruits, apricots, mangoes and guavas.
In many instances, a property for sale in this location can be a home and provide an income. This is due to the town's healthy economy and unique character.
Paarl has a history very typical of the greater Cape. A large portion of the history of the Winelands comes from indigenous peoples as well as French and Dutch settlers. It was the settlers from France who realized the Boland had a location, soil and climate perfect for growing grapes to make wine and for the table. Today, some of those original properties for sale are available to discerning and serious property investors.
It was at the end of the seventeenth century, when determined French Huguenots, seeking freedom, left the Cape settlement to cross the Berg River that the area became inhabited. Eventually properties of Daljosaphat, and surrounding areas became properties of Paarl.
When the historical struggle to establish a settlement in this area is understood, it increases the cultural value of the town. Every property whether for sale or not becomes more desirable.
Paarl properties become even more remarkable when they show how successful the original peoples were in establishing a town and an area with an economy that is lasting. Today, this is one of the reasons for a never-ending list of property seekers who want homes and commercial premises for sale.
Not only does Paarl offer properties suitable for residing and working but it also provides an environment with a sustainable economy. Unlike many other areas with a thriving business economy, this location is not made unattractive by purely functional and industrial areas. The town properties and many farm properties are exceptionally well-maintained historical buildings displaying traditional Cape Dutch or Victorian architecture. The inhabitants are very proud of their neat and well managed town made extremely pleasant by each old property. As soon as a historical property is for sale it generates a great deal of interest near and far.
Even though Paarl is made so unique and attractive by the traditional architecture, there are also many properties that are more modern. These buildings make excellent family homes and usually only enter the for sale market when families are grown. This is because families who reside in a property near the town have no need to live anywhere else. Everything they need is right here and why there is a need for properties that are up for sale.
Kids growing up in Paarl have a choice of excellent schools. This includes a number of boarding schools that have served the wider surrounding farming community for generations. However, parents with a property needn't be bound to a school in the town. It is possible to drive kids to other nearby towns with excellent schools such as Franschoek - 28km and Stellenbosch – 35km.
Kids can go on to attend either the Boland College campus or Cape Technikon: Paarl campus. The other excellent alternatives for tertiary education are Stellenbosch University - 35km or University of Cape Town - 65km.
Like Stellenbosch, another historic Boland town, Paarl also has a history of solid education. The importance of education was translated into proper institutions by both American and Scottish educators. Beautiful old properties that housed such institutions are still standing and admired.
Both French and Dutch were spoken in the early Paarl area. However, over time, the most common language became Afrikaans. Educators, Marthinus Jacobus Stucki and C P Hoogenhout from the Netherlands began teaching in Afrikaans. Nowadays, most property owners speak both Afrikaans and English. Seekers of properties will find for sale portfolios available in both languages.
Close proximity of the town's properties to other picturesque towns doesn't only benefit education. It makes this town a haven for visitors who want easy access to other Boland towns of interest. A visitor can use accommodation in Paarl and get to the following towns quickly and easily [Franschoek - 28km, Riebeek Kasteel - 35km, Tulbagh - 55km, Stellenbosch - 35km].
The city of Cape Town is - 60 km away and the international airport 55 - km away. The nearness of the city and airport make it easy to view properties for sale. Visiting or living in a property situated in Paarl means you have easy access to the Boland and all the way to the coast of the city.
Even though the town itself is made picturesque by the interesting architecture of properties and pretty cultivated gardens, the star quality of the area comes from its breathtaking natural beauty. The town's gardens and the farmlands provide a cultivated beauty against the wild splendor of rugged mountain and riverside Fynbos.
Many property seekers are surprised to find portfolios containing uncultivated land for sale. A lot of potential property buyers, dream of owning a farm or smallholding already established with crops, animals, homestead and outbuildings. Such well equipped and thought-out properties for sale do exist. However, there are also those who prefer a property they can develop and build up. Fortunately, it is possible to find a for sale property that suits this need.
Paarl is at the foot of the awe inspiring granite pearls of the Paarl Mountain. It is placed within a green sheltered valley. On the eastern side is the equally inspiring Dutoitskloof Mountain range and the town and surrounding area has the benefit of the waters of the Berg River. These are all reasons why the location is so fertile and well situated for a farming property.
Visitors to nearby Dutoitskloof Mountain range and nature reserve can view wild and protected Fynbos like Erica (24 types), Protea (13 types), Gladioli (10 types). There are also protected birds (182 varieties), honey badgers, leopards, otters, grysbok, klipspringers, steenbok, frogs and fish.
The request for properties for sale rises when visitors experience the Paarl Mountain nature reserve. It is a popular picnic site filled with crystal clear mountain dams. The mountains are filled stunning fauna and flora, plus gigantic granite rocks that tower majestically against the blue sky. The natural beauty and pleasure of such splendid outdoor delights leads many to the nearby town of Paarl. It is the town that provides property inhabitants with homes and also business opportunities.
There is no shortage of both residential and commercial properties in Paarl. However, there are fewer properties that actually enter the market for sale. There is no doubt that the prime reason for residential and commercial property buyers being eager to locate to the town and surrounding areas of Paarl as soon as possible is the peaceful environment and high standard of living. This makes all for sale properties a possible purchase for waiting buyers.
Owning properties in a rural town allows close to nature living. In the city it's not always easy to enjoy or even recognize all of the seasons. For anyone wanting to live according to natural cycles, the Boland town of Paarl provides all four seasons.
Many a home for sale either has trees on the property or lining the streets. The trees provide leafy shade in summer and a kaleidoscope of earthy hues during autumn. In spring, due to the abundance of fruit trees in gardens and orchards, the landscape is filled with masses of blossoms. During winter, the landscape changes when the tops of mountains are capped in white snow.
It is the seasons that allow property owners to enjoy an interesting and changing landscape. The situation of properties for sale dictates on what kind of view a particular property has. Some properties have views from all sides while others have a single viewpoint. A property in town may not have expansive views but will have a pretty garden or perhaps a small orchard. In many parts of Paarl the traditional white-painted architecture and large old trees provide a pretty scene that is much sought after by property seekers.
For sale signs in Paarl are backed up by agents with varied portfolios. They have the knowledge to show properties suited to the expectations of buyers and investors. The town and outlying area is idyllic but even here properties for sale may require some give and take between the buyer and his or her expectations. However, the area of Paarl is so beautiful and favorable to a safe and relaxed lifestyle it's easy to overcome minor issues like the wrong color wall to own a property.
Having the benefit of safely walking or cycling and taking part in the local calendar of community events is the dream of many property investors. This town has provided its inhabitants with an active community lifestyle for more than three hundred years.
Paarl has a population of one hundred fifty thousand. This includes four thousand tertiary education students. Like other student towns it is the students who keep the life of the town vibrant and exciting. There are many clubs that provide sporting activities to all town residents.
A potential property owner can expect to enjoy membership of the following clubs: athletics, golf, hockey, judo, badminton, jukskei, cricket, squash, bowls, polo, netball, rugby, soccer, tennis, land cruiser and racing pigeons.
From the variety of sporting activities it can be seen there is an activity to suit a range of property owners' requirements in Paarl. The cost of membership depends on the activity. For example, polo is a more costly pursuit than squash. Most clubs allow differing membership fee structures dependent on full participation as a sportsperson or partial participation as a social member.
A great favorite of young and old is the Paarl Golf Club. It surprises many resident property owners and visitors that it is the best twenty-seven hole course in South Africa. It has also been rated as the 'best greens in the country' by Jonathan Halliday. The club has produced a number of junior Springbok golfers. Ten tees and eighteen holes challenge golfers while soaking in the stunning beauty of the DuToitskloof Mountains. This friendly and high quality club is a bonus for retirees viewing for sale properties.
Sports lovers who view for sale property portfolios can be assured the town has other extremely well maintained sports fields , golf courses , the Boland Cricket grounds and tennis courts as well as a swimming pool (Olympic sized). Many who live in Paarl properties are avid joggers and walkers. They make use of a walks on Paarl Mountain, the Arboretum, and the Afrikaans Language Monument at the foot of the Paarl Mountain, which also hosts a number of farms as residential properties of Paarl.
Due to the space available on many properties around the town and on nearby smallholdings, many local children live out their dream of keeping one or more horses. Town property owners without the space for a horse make sure their children go for riding lessons provided by small stable owners.
Property seekers who want Paarl properties to include space for horses can make it known to a local agent. This will ensure viewing of for sale sites with ample space and local requirements. Those keen on keeping horses can make life easy by simply gaining a property for sale within an established equestrian lifestyle community and be close to likeminded neighbors. In fact, there are a number of such property owners who make a living from offering horses for out rides.
Another benefit of investing in properties in this location is Paarl's situation on the main line to Johannesburg and Kimberley. This ensures a constant flow of visitors with easy access to all the town has to offer.
Some stop for petrol and a meal while others make use of the opportunity to stay over a night or two. This is a source of business for a property turned guesthouse or restaurant. Understandably, many visitors simply fall in love with the character and charm of the town and want to find out more about properties for sale.
Another reason Paarl is enjoyed by local property owners and visitors alike is the wine. There is a variety of wine cellars from large established wine farms to smaller boutique wineries. The area has three cellars that belong to one co-op. For those who have been enticed by the town's 'for sale' signs, why not take the time to visit some of the best known cellars in the country,
Other wineries frequented by Paarl owners of properties are Nederburg, Fairview, Landskroon and other members of the Paarl vintners and co-operative wine cellars in the Boland region. These wine property owners have a strong sense of eco and social upliftment. This echoes the ethos of Paarl towards all who invest in properties and reside here. Taking a look at residences for sale is a good time to taste the excellent wines and brandy produced by local wineries and distillery.
The town of Paarl may be rural and medium in size, l but it has enterprises that provide employment to a large number of residents. Apart from the very successful local wine farms and wineries there are thriving manufacturing and processing enterprises.
Those families that have owned a town property for many years know that several well-known brands are resident in Paarl, such as KWV, Pioneer Foods, Meadow Feeds, Ceres Fruit and Paarl Media Group. They continue to provide work for thousands of employees residing in local properties. .
For sale signs are always welcomed by people looking for the right property. The many people who make a living from employment in the table grape, wine and fruit industry know they are part of a highly regarded business because they live in properties in the right town. Paarl is known nationally and internationally for producing high quality wines, table grapes and export fruit.
Paarl is still a rural town that receives sophisticated visitors and property owners who want a simple but good life. This is achieved by being surrounded by great natural beauty, good climate, sporting activities and access to local wholesome, high quality products.
Easy access of those living in local properties to a natural lifestyle results in a happier life. Many people are prepared to wait before buying elsewhere until they have viewed properties for sale in this location.
The town and surrounds of Paarl offers a high quality standard of living. Those seeking to see homes for sale will have a variety. There are properties ranging from authentic historical like Cape Dutch and Victorian to ultra-modern face brick properties.
The town has small blocks of flats starting from one bedroom units. It is also possible to find a property that offers rustic comfort. Those who want the ultimate in luxury from a home property will have access to view via an agent's for sale portfolio.
At times, farms that are fully productive are put up for sale. Those who want a farming lifestyle on a smaller scale opt for a smallholding property. There is a rising need for smallholding properties just big enough to supplement a steady income. This could be anything from keeping bees to milking goats to chickens to a small orchard. In such a fertile area the property choices and lifestyle improvements are endless.
A property seeker going to view homes for sale in Paarl can be assured the location is extraordinarily beautiful. The economy is thriving and the community of properties is settled. Another assurance is a town that is well maintained and provides sporting activities, high standard of education, social mindedness, culture, arts and creativity.
The vast majority of property owners in and around Paarl would tell those wanting to see homes for sale it is a perfect location. However, they would all agree the most important ingredient for a happy and peaceful existence in sought-after properties is the friendly and welcoming community.
The benefit of such a community spirit is it provides great peace-of-mind to families, students, couples and retirees who choose to live in a property in the unique, historical, easily accessed and beautiful Boland town that is Paarl.