South African Property Trends: 2025 Market Overview

South Africa’s residential property market continues to evolve in 2025, with regional dynamics shaping buyer behavior, pricing, and development. Cape Town leads in luxury sales, while emerging metros like Buffalo City and Polokwane show strong growth in mid-tier affordability. This report covers average prices, recent sales, and key insights across the top 10 cities.

🏘️ Average Property Prices by City

City

Province

Average Price (ZAR)

Notes

Cape Town

Western Cape

R1,800,000

Luxury coastal demand

Johannesburg

Gauteng

R1,500,000

CBD cooling

Durban

KwaZulu-Natal

R1,100,000

Coastal growth

Pretoria

Gauteng

R1,200,000

Stable market

Ekurhuleni

Gauteng

R1,250,000

Steady increase

Nelson Mandela Bay

Eastern Cape

R950,000

Affordable

Buffalo City

Eastern Cape

R900,000

Fastest growth

Bloemfontein

Free State

R800,000

Most affordable

Polokwane

Limpopo

R850,000

Slow rise

Mbombela

Mpumalanga

R870,000

Tourism influence

 

 

🔍 Market Analysis

 

Price Band Distribution

Across all cities, 42% of sales fall in the R1M–R3M mid-market range, while 18% exceed R10M, driven by Cape Town and Sandton. 

Entry-level (< R1M) accounts for 26%, mostly in Bloemfontein, Buffalo City, and Polokwane.

City-Level Averages & Medians

Cape Town’s median sale price is R3.2M, skewed by luxury suburbs. 

Johannesburg averages R1.5M with a median of R1.3M. 

Buffalo City shows the highest year-on-year growth at 8.3%.

Property Type Trends

Houses dominate in Pretoria and Cape Town, while apartments lead in Johannesburg and Durban.

Townhouses are rising in Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay, reflecting densification trends.

Suburb Hotspots

Top luxury suburbs: Fresnaye, Camps Bay, Sandhurst, Umhlanga Rocks. 

Most active mid-tier zones: Woodstock, Claremont, Bedfordview, Beacon Bay. 

Emerging growth: Polokwane CBD, East London North.

Tags
  • South Africa property market 2025
  • Cape Town luxury real estate trends
  • Affordable homes in South Africa
  • Average house prices by South African city