As Waterfall City’s commercial hub expands rapidly, Midrand is being compared to the "new Sandton," featuring modern residential developments, tower blocks, and a large shopping centre that mirrors Sandown's transformation into the "richest square mile in Africa" during the 1970s.
With major companies like PwC, Deloitte, Novartis, BMW, Dis-Chem, and Cisco now operating in the area, Waterfall has firmly positioned itself as a prime business and logistics hub.
Waterfall also offers a wide range of upscale residential options for the employees and executives of these companies, within a massive mixed-use development that includes the Mall of Africa, green spaces, a new hospital, and a variety of sports facilities.
Julie McDonald, principal of the Firzt Realty office in Midrand, noted that Midrand’s growth has been ongoing since the 1970s, when several high-profile companies set up operations following the completion of the N1 highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Early adopters included pharmaceutical giants like Johnson & Johnson, MSD, and Janssen, followed over the years by other major players such as BMW, Siemens, Oracle, and Vodacom.
By the late 1990s, Midrand had already established itself as one of South Africa’s fastest-growing areas, thanks to its central location, high visibility, robust infrastructure, and forward-thinking local government, which opened the western side of the N1 to further development.
This growth spurred the development of thousands of new homes catering to different income groups, alongside new retail centres, business parks, schools, and medical facilities.
Gallagher Convention Centre was also established, hosting national and international events, while Grand Central Airport saw a multimillion-rand upgrade to serve local business customers with private aircraft.
The 2010 launch of the Gautrain further boosted Midrand’s appeal, making it easy for residents to commute to Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport. McDonald notes the surge in commuter traffic, reflecting Midrand’s rise as both a residential and commercial hub.
“It’s a popular choice for those who want to live close to work or have family members commuting between Pretoria and Johannesburg," said McDonald. "Midrand has also become highly attractive to affluent buyers due to the variety of residential developments."
She points out that while sectional title apartments and townhouses initially dominated the area, Midrand now offers numerous country and lifestyle estates, including Kyalami Estates, Blue Valley Golf Estate, and Waterfall Country Estate, to name a few.
Midstream, located just outside Midrand, remains a top home sales area, with 745 homes sold in 2022, totalling R2.6 billion.
"These estates appeal to high-end buyers who want to leave city suburbs but maintain proximity to offices, schools, and shops," McDonald said.
Midrand also provides access to top schools like Reddam House and Curro Sagewood, as well as over a dozen shopping centres, offering extensive retail, dining, and entertainment options.
"Currently, a large number of buyers are already residents of Midrand, upgrading to larger homes. Demand is strongest for properties around the R2.5 million mark, particularly three-bedroom clusters," she said.
Full-title homes in areas like Vorna Valley are selling well, and developers are confident in continued demand, as evidenced by significant investments in new projects despite challenges like water supply.
One developer, for example, is spending R15 million to build a reservoir for a new project in Carlswald.
“As interest rates continue to drop, we anticipate even greater interest in Midrand, and home prices are likely to increase. Our advice to potential buyers is to secure a property here as soon as possible, whether it’s a first apartment, a large family home, or a retirement residence,” McDonald said.
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