While retirement in its broadest sense represents a change in lifestyle in one way or another, the fact is, the traditional concept of retirement has changed significantly over the past few decades, with, for example many people in their 60s still very active and in their 70s still working, says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group.

With sales of R150 million to date, only 52 out of the total of 143 apartments are still available for purchase in the brand new, designer apartment development, Le Boulevard, in the heart of uMhlanga on the rapidly expanding KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, according to Carol Reynolds.

The year began with renewed confidence across all sectors of the financial and property markets.

Much has been said about the semigration of buyers – notably Gauteng buyers – to the Western Cape.

Situated towards Umdloti on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, the new Sibaya precinct has rapidly become entrenched as the region’s property ‘hotspot’ – a monniker it is likely to hold for at least the next 10 to 15 years.

Modern homes are generally becoming smaller as more people look to live in convenient sectional title apartments or more compact, manageable houses.

With average selling prices of freehold residential property and sectional title homes increasing in value by 56 percent and 34.5 percent respectively from 2010 to 2015 (Lightstone statistics), Durban North’s property market strikes a chord with home buyers and instils investor confidence, particularly in the higher income group.

As 2016 kicks off to a tumultuous start, perhaps one certainty is that the coastal belt from Durban North and uMhlanga through to the burgeoning Sibaya node and Umdloti is still booming.

Encouragingly, the residential property market is currently in an upward cycle and we are seeing a strong resurgence of investors entering the market, says Carol Reynolds, Pam Golding Properties area principal in Durban, Durban North and La Lucia.