November 19, 2025
There is a common belief that foreign buyers dominate the Atlantic Seaboard and that they are responsible for driving the majority of sales and price growth. The coastline attracts global attention, so it is easy to assume that international buyers make up most of the market. The real numbers tell a very different story.
In this edition of Myth vs Fact, BBG Chief Executive Officer Paul Berman unpacks the data and explains who is actually buying property along one of the most desirable coastlines in South Africa. His analysis of deeds office records from Green Point to Llandudno gives us a clear and factual view of buyer activity.
Foreign buyers make up the majority of purchases on the Atlantic Seaboard.
Only one third of Atlantic Seaboard buyers are foreign. Two thirds are South African.
Paul analysed deeds office data from 2021 onward. The findings cover more than R30 billion in registered property sales between Green Point and Llandudno. This represents about five hundred sales a year and close to one hundred and twenty eight thousand square meters of property transferred annually.
The data confirms that only one in three buyers are foreign. The rest are South African buyers who continue to invest with confidence in the Atlantic Seaboard.
- Paul’s analysis reveals the following:
- Total sales since 2021 equal about R30 billion
- About five hundred sales are registered each year
- About one hundred and twenty eight thousand square meters transfer annually
- One third of all purchasers are foreign
- Two thirds are South African
- Eighty two percent of buyers purchase in cash
- Eighteen percent purchase with a mortgage bond
This confirms that the Atlantic Seaboard is supported by strong local demand along with international interest. Paul explains that BBG developments attract a balanced mix of local and international buyers. This is consistent with the broader trends reflected in deeds office data.
“A third of our purchasers are foreign. The rest are South African. We also see a very high percentage of cash buyers. On average about twenty percent of our purchasers use a mortgage and the rest are cash.”
Several factors contribute to the misconception that foreign buyers dominate.
Foreign buyers are highly visible.
International clients often purchase premium units that attract media coverage and public attention. This creates the perception that the majority of buyers are foreign.
Media headlines create a sense of scale.
Reports on foreign interest tend to focus on large transactions or high profile sales. This leads many people to assume that a large portion of the market is international.
The coastline has international appeal.
The Atlantic Seaboard features world class views, exceptional lifestyle amenities, and easy access to the city. These qualities create strong international interest which may appear larger than it really is.
A healthy property market is one that has broad and sustainable demand. The fact that two thirds of buyers are local creates stability and long term confidence. It shows that South Africans continue to invest in the Atlantic Seaboard based on lifestyle, security, and proven capital growth.
International interest remains valuable, but it is not the main force behind the market. It simply adds depth and strength to an already active local buyer base.
The idea that foreign buyers dominate the Atlantic Seaboard is a myth. The facts show a balanced and healthy market where South African buyers remain the majority. Foreign buyers contribute to activity and global visibility, but the long term strength of the Atlantic Seaboard comes from consistent South African confidence and genuine market demand.
