Property prices up 30% in this coastal town where retirees buy half the homes

In the last year, property prices in Trafalgar on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast have increased 30%.

This rise means this small town is beating the likes of major metros like Cape Town.

The increase is nearly four times the national average and eight times higher than KwaZulu-Natal’s average.

Property prices jumped 30% in one year

According to Property24, the average property price for Trafalgar in 2025 was R665 000; the most recent data puts this at R892 000, a 34.2% increase.

Forty-five properties have sold this year, 2 more than in 2024 and only 3 fewer than in 2025.

Buyers over 50 account for 57.7% of the town’s house sales. The over-50s also make up 77.3% of Trafalgar’s property owners.

Data from Property 24 shows 30 properties were sold between June and July.

Why are retirees buying homes in Trafalgar?

KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast has been booming since the start of the year.

Data suggests Trafalgar’s cost-effective pricing may play a role in its success.

In neighbouring San Lameer, 28 properties have sold since the start of the year. The average house price is R1.45 million.

In Palm Beach, 38 homes have sold since the start of the year. The average house price is R756 000, lower than in Trafalgar.

Yet, Palm Beach seems to be attracting a younger crowd. Buyers aged 18 to 35 make up 23.5% of the region’s home sales.

Retirees may also be choosing Trafalgar because of the town’s comforts.

Residents have access to Trafalgar Beach, a Blue Flag beach, one of only nine beaches that have been awarded this status in KwaZulu-Natal.

The beach remains unspoiled because of the Trafalgar Marine Protected Zone (TMPZ), a 6-kilometre zone that includes Trafalgar Beach.

Hardy Avenue, the farthest road from the beach, is only a 15-minute walk or 3-minute drive from Trafalgar Beach.

Then there’s Mpenjati Nature Reserve, where residents can bird watch, hike, fish, and swim.

Cost of Buying Property in Trafalgar

Item	Price (2026)
Average Home	R892 000
Average Sectional Title	R1.3 million
Average Erven	R865 000
Rates	R340 – R4 400

Trafalgar Crime Statistics

Yet, retirees moving to the area have to contend with crime.

Trafalgar is part of Port Edward, where crime increased 8.4% year-on-year.

According to data from the South African Police Service (SAPS), property crime is up 17.5%.

There were 172 house break-ins in Port Edward between April 2025 and March 2026.

This data shows figures from Port Edward, which, besides Trafalgar, includes Leisure Bay, Munster, WaNzimakwe, Mgangathe, and Port Edward.