The FNB Holiday Towns House Price Index, comprising towns (both coastal and inland) whose housing markets are deemed to be strongly driven by holiday home demand, continue to show a mild “outperformance” in terms of house price growth, relative to the overall national market.

For many families it’s a cherished dream to own a holiday home at the coast. But what are the factors to consider when acquiring such a property, to ensure you make a wise decision that will provide you not only with years of leisure enjoyment, but also a sound investment in the medium to long term - and perhaps even a home to retire to in the future.

As the year-end holiday season rapidly draws near, and with many heading for the popular KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Garden Route coastlines, this may be an opportune time to get a feel for the property market if a permanent relocation for retirement or acquiring a leisure home is on your priority list.