Limpopo home loans: why SA's Great North is red-hot

Published September 2025

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Limpopo is currently South Africa’s hottest property destination, with the allure of bushveld living driving strong demand and steadily pushing up house prices, says Bradd Bendall, BetterBond’s National Head of Sales.

According to recent BetterBond data, the Great North is also leading the way when it comes to the value of residential buildings completed in the past six months. This provides clear evidence of a booming market.

“Known as the ‘safari capital of the world’, Hoedspruit is favoured for its majestic lowveld setting. It offers residents semi-rural living surrounded by wildlife. Growing interest in holiday homes, safari properties and a slower pace of life has seen house price inflation in Limpopo surge to 6.82%, according to Lightstone’s latest property data,” says Bendall.

Property24’s sales report for Hoedspruit shows that transactions have almost doubled compared with last year. In 2024, there were 383 sales; so far this year, 504 properties have changed hands. Much of this activity is being driven by mature buyers, possibly seeking an investment safari property or a retirement home. Almost 60% of buyers in Hoedspruit were over 65, followed by 20.7% between the ages of 50 and 64. Families are also looking for the “slow-veld” lifestyle, with nearly 16% of buyers between 36 and 49.

Hoedspruit’s average sales price, according to Property24, is still below R2 million which is exceptional value for money, notes Bendall. Farm sales have been one of the main drivers of Limpopo’s house price inflation, climbing from R2.3 million in 2024 to R2.9 million this year. Prices rise significantly within estates or wildlife and game farm developments. In the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate, the average property price is just under R4 million, while game farms average just over R42 million. Many of the buyers in this price bracket are from overseas, according to estate agent reports, particularly from the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and France, who often invest in game lodges that combine lifestyle and income potential.

Rental demand is also booming. PayProp reported in June that Limpopo topped the table for rental growth, surpassing the 10% threshold to reach 10.9%. This put it ahead of the Western Cape, which came in at 9.6%, albeit off a much higher rental base. “This province has a thriving mining and agricultural economy. This makes it appealing to people moving in search of better economic opportunities,” explains Bendall. The latest Wise Move Migration Report (2025) shows balanced movement into and out of the province. However, the rental surge suggests increasing in-migration – especially younger tenants seeking jobs.

This may also explain why Limpopo recorded such strong year-on-year growth in the value of residential buildings completed during the first five months of 2025, reaching a cumulative R296 million. “Although this growth does come off a very low base, it does suggest interesting activity in the northernmost province’s property market,” says Bendall.

Demand for Limpopo home loans is also being driven by infrastructure investment. The approval of SA’s first bullet train, the Limpopo-Gauteng Speed Train Project, is expected to link Pretoria and Polokwane within the next five years. This high-speed connection could make the province even more attractive to buyers who want bushveld living without giving up access to urban job opportunities.

With rising sales, surging rental demand, and landmark infrastructure on the horizon, Limpopo’s Great North is no longer just a holiday or retirement destination, concludes Bendall. It is emerging as one of the country’s most dynamic property markets.