“Fixer Upper With Potential”: Western Cape House With Tin Roof Listed at R980K Leaves Mzansi Divided

• A post about a shabby house in Moorreesburg, listed for a staggering price, ignited a fierce online debate about property value and location
• The image of the rustic house, shared on Reddit, presented a property with significant structural issues and a rusty roof, leading many to question its high cost
• Social media users responded with shock at the initial price, but others offered alternative perspectives on the property's true worth, based on its land and location

A contentious post stirred up a heated online discussion about the surprising value of a property located in a rural town. The post, shared on Reddit by user @p0ngi3b0b, displayed a house with a hefty price tag, leaving many social media users divided on its worth.

The post featured a two-bedroom house with a rusty tin roof that was clearly in need of serious tender, love, and care. It was evident from the image that the property, which had one side of its wall broken and no fence, would need some work.

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A house with hidden potential

The house, however, located in Moorreesburg, a town in the Swartland region of the Western Cape, was listed for an asking price of R980,000. It was also listed on Property24 for a sizable 1,989 m² plot of land. This high price point for a seemingly rundown dwelling immediately became the central focus of the online debate. Moorreesburg is located about 100km north of Cape Town, near the N7 highway, making it an accessible, although rural, location.

SA debates about the property

The post gained a flood of comments from social media users who were initially shocked by the price. Many pointed to the house's old and rusty appearance, declaring that the asking price was insane. They argued that one could purchase a gorgeous, ready-to-move-into apartment in a popular area like Johannesburg for the same amount, questioning the logic behind the Moorreesburg listing.

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Others countered these initial reactions, offering a different perspective. They noted the massive amount of land the property offered, suggesting that one could build many properties on the expansive plot, thereby justifying the price. Furthermore, some highlighted the property's proximity to the beach and the presence of a borehole and water tanks.

User @Flux7777 said:

"In their defence, there are places in Centurion you can buy hectare plots for less than a million, so a 2000m² plot with an old house you'd have to bulldoze before you started for the same price is a fairly deal."

User @mayor_of_buitenkant shared:

"Fixer upper with great potential and a gorgeous open plan sun room at the rear. Perfect for first-time buyers, or anyone who wants to invest in making it into their own home."

User @socket0 added:

"Practically on the beach, easy commute to Cape Town."

User @b88g commented:

"With a fully fenced 1989 m², borehole, 4 x 1000 water tanks, current owners breed and sell Khoi fish in a hut on the property, with an existing chicken coop, I can see so many commercial opportunities in this listing that make the price sound about right."

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User @Uberutang shared:

"Look at the erf size. It’s a bargain."

User @Thick_Platypus_1051 said:

"The answer lies in the plot size. There is earning potential there for an individual who has some money to invest in some apartments."

See the Reddit post below:

3 Briefly News articles about houses

• A 28-year-old woman surprised her mom with her new home, which she built and completed in seven months, and social media users praised her.
• A woman shared a collage showing a young man standing next to a shack he once called home, alongside another photo of him posing by his mansion and a fleet of cars.
• A Cape Town couple showed off their new home, a massive four-bedroom house with two garages, an entertainment area, a large kitchen and enough space to install a swimming pool.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News