Morningside at a glance
Those seeking to relocate to the leafy Durban suburb of Morningside have very diverse lifestyle requirements, from big green outdoor spaces and trendy entertainment areas to top-notch security and proximity to a range of amenities.
"However it manages to deliver for just about everyone," says Nicole Sheppard, Chas Everitt International sales manager for Morningside. "Even the most particular among them can usually find their forever homes here without much compromise."
Morningside is one of the city's most popular heritage suburbs, with the first homes having being built in the early 1950s and many of these still adding charm to the area with their Victorian and Edwardian architecture, even though they are no longer family homes but mostly used as guesthouses, student accommodation and commercial spaces for offices, shops and restaurants, she says.
"And living here puts residents within easy reach of a number of amenities, attractions, entertainment hubs and key roads that make travelling to various locations around Durban easy. For home buyers with children, for example, the suburb is home to popular schools such as Morningside Primary, Livingstone Primary, Gordon Road Girls'; Durban High , Clifton, Maris Stella, and only a few minutes' drive from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard College) and the Durban University of Technology."
Meanwhile for residents looking for entertainment options, Morningside's Florida Road offers a string of restaurants, cafés and bakeries such as Mozambik, Butcher Boys, Taco Zulu, Sugarlicious and Wicked Donuts.
"Or if relaxing outdoors is more your scene, Morningside is home to Mitchell Park and Jameson Park where you can spend sunny days having fun with family and friends, and Durban's picturesque North Beach is only 10 minutes away."
Sheppard says that although there is still demand for freehold homes in the area, sectional title apartments and townhouses are currently more popular options as buyers increasingly seek a lock-up-and-go lifestyle in which safety, security and convenience are the priorities.
"Most of the enquiries we get are for two and three-bedroom apartments in the R1m - R2m price range. For those with a bigger budget, townhouses with private garden areas priced from R2m to R2,5m are the preferred choice.
"The area also boasts a flourishing rental market that attracts many buy-to-let investors. These buyers generally purchase units in apartment blocks or townhouse complexes where rentals range from R6000/pm to R9000/pm as this is where the bulk of tenant demand lies."
Lee-Anne Naik, the Chas Everitt International long-term rentals manager for Morningside says rental demand is currently being driven primarily by young people who work in the CBD, as well as students.
"However, because of the variety of rental properties available in Morningside, from sleek modern apartments to spacious older units and family homes, the age of tenants ranges from 25 all the way up to around 50."
The biggest drawcard for all these tenants, though, is the affordable monthly rentals that can range anywhere from R4800pm for a one bedroom apartment to R6800pm for two-bedroom units and R9000pm for three-bedroom homes.
"The most popular units are two-bedroom apartments in the R7000 to R9000pm price range that have safe and secure parking."
As a bonus, the suburb's central location makes for short commutes to work for its residents. "Bordered by Berea and the Umgeni River, Morningside is just an eight-minute drive to the CBD, 19 minutes from Westville and 20 minutes from the new commercial hub of uMhlanga.
"In addition, shopping is easy at the Windermere and Musgrave centres, and the Netcare St Augustine's Hospital and Greyville Racecourse are also within easy reach."