So you think you know what type of property you want to own in the country. You would be amazed at how many buyers we meet who walk in with their wish list and end up buying something completely different. There are some things to consider.

Farms

Owning a farm offers you total and utter freedom. If you want to paint your house purple, fish your own private trout waters, grow an organic vegetable patch or navigate your land with a quad-bike (without asking your neighbour's permission), then this is the option for you.  If you don't plan to live on your property permanently - do you have the means to ensure it is managed or looked after? Farms are wonderful for privacy and freedom, but they do require some work, for example the burning of fire-breaks in fire season.

Residential Homes

Do you want a house on a small holding or in a secure “lock-up-and-go” residential estate?  Do you want to be a five minute walk from the local pub or further afield on the outskirts of the village where it is more private.  There are only a handful of residential estates in Dullstroom itself, each with their own attributes (size, access to amenities, density etc), which offer security, but one must remember that you need to abide by the home-owners association rules and regulations.

If you still aren’t sure, then perhaps it is worth considering buying into a Country Estate.  You get the best of both worlds by owning a home with the added advantage of being able to access all the amenities the estate has to offer including country walks, golf, horse riding, game watching mountain biking and excellent fishing, but without the hassle of maintaining the common property or dealing with staff issues.

There are some incredible country Estates in the Dullstroom area from Walkersons Private Estate and Dullstroom Country Estate (both offering game and trout fishing) to The Lost Valley the latest low density estate to hit the market.  

Each property type is unique and it is worth speaking to your local estate agent to discuss which one appeals to your personal requirements best.