January always feels like a good moment to take stock. The rush of the festive season has passed, the city exhales a little, and it becomes easier to look at the numbers and ask what they’re really telling us. If you’ve ever wandered through De Waterkant and wondered how the property market here is actually performing, this update is for you.
De Waterkant remains one of Cape Town’s most distinctive neighbourhoods. Compact, walkable, layered with history and energy, it continues to attract buyers, investors and short-term guests for slightly different reasons, and the data from the past year reflects that balance.
The longer average time on market suggests that buyers are selective, and pricing plays a significant role in achieving a sale.
Sectional title units continue to drive activity in the area. A shorter average time on market points to steady demand, particularly for well-priced and well-located apartments.
As of January 2026, there are 97 properties listed in De Waterkant on Property24 with an average asking price of R5,492,500 and an average sale price of R3,500,000.
Most expensive property on the market: R25,300,000
Lowest priced property on the market: R1,950,000
The gap between average asking and sale prices highlights the importance of realistic pricing and informed negotiation in the current market.
Here’s a breakdown of average asking prices by bedroom count:
1 bedroom: R3,500,000
2 bedrooms: R6,847,500
3 bedrooms: R14,575,000
4 bedrooms: R22,000,000
5+ bedrooms: R19,090,000
As bedroom count increases, pricing steps up sharply, particularly from two to three bedrooms. At the upper end, layout, views, and overall appeal often influence value as much as bedroom numbers.
This equates to an increase of 9.59% YoY.
That means there were 166 more active listings in De Waterkant YoY.
That is a difference of 23.6% increase YoY.
Despite a noticeable increase in active listings, demand has grown at a similar pace. Occupancy holding steady at 77% suggests a well-balanced short-term rental market, though competition between listings is clearly increasing.
This occupancy graph shows demand spiking last year in August from mid-east business travel, in October for the marathon, in December for the holidays, and in February for Mining Indaba. January 2026 is atypically slow in part because Mining indaba was moved one week later than normal this year.
Overall, De Waterkant remains a resilient and attractive market, but it is not without its nuances. Buyers are engaged but value-driven, sellers need to be strategic, and short-term rental owners benefit most from professional oversight and strong positioning.
*Sources: CMA | PriceLabs | Property24
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