A winning town and the homes we never let go

What makes a town worth voting for – and a home worth keeping? This month we head to Hartbeespoort, fresh from its Kwêla Town of the Year 2026 win and look at why seven in ten of South Africa’s property owners will only ever own one home. With national house price inflation climbing to 5.9%, the September edition paints a telling picture of what South Africans value in a home – and where they want to live.

Town of the Year 2026 is a favourite Gauteng breakaway

Hartbeespoort has been named Kwêla’s Town of the Year 2026, adding to its appeal as a popular Gauteng getaway and residential destination. Lightstone data shows a market dominated by homes valued above R1.5 million, while Tracker telemetry highlights its tourism pull, with an estimated four visitor vehicles for every resident vehicle during November and December 2025.

For many in South Africa, home ownership is for keeps

For most South Africans, property ownership is a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Seven in ten of the country’s 6.7 million property owners will only ever own one home. Lightstone’s analysis shows that property value, rather than age, is the stronger indicator of multiple ownership, with higher-value homeowners far more likely to own several properties over their lifetime.

House price inflation reaches 5.9%

South Africa’s residential property market continues to strengthen, with national house price inflation reaching 5.9% year-on-year. While the Western Cape continues to outperform Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, momentum is also evident across several value bands. The Affordable segment recorded a particularly strong rebound, while Mid Value and High Value properties maintained positive growth trajectories and Luxury inflation eased slightly.

Happy reading!

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