Ling Dobson, area principal in Pam Golding Properties in Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, believes that second-home owners are not merely planning a lifetime of holidays, but making smart investments. “Holiday homes in secure estates offer an asset yield over the years while the property is used for holidays, and often the holiday house becomes the owner’s future retirement destination,” she says. “Holiday towns ‘grow’ and accommodation becomes a premium – so it also becomes a rental opportunity.”

The trick is to find the right location and do homework to find the right property for you. Below are a number of factors to think of when considering property for sale in the Garden Route:

Do all the necessary research - buy in an area you know you will enjoy, and buy a property that you know you can afford to purchase and maintain.

Keep an eye on the market - Tourism goes up and down, be aware of the high and low seasons and when tourism is experiencing a high or low in the country.

Understand the responsibility -  A holiday home will require maintenance, management and security.

Be patient - while the property is an investment, it cannot deliver large returns right as soon as you purchase it. If you have decided to rent it out to make an extra income, it will take time to gain interest in the property and for a profit to be made after the monthly bond payment has been made and maintenance has been performed.

While property values have gone up, holiday homes are a part of the tourism market that is heavily influenced by the countries economic and political activities. Ensure that before you decide to make an offer on a holiday home property, you have the finances available to see you through both positive and potentially negative conditions.