Semigration

You've probably heard the term semigration before - but what exactly does it mean? Semigration is short for 'semi-emigration' is a term used to describe relocating or moving to a new city or town within a country.

So why do people semigrate? The underpinning motivation is usually to increase their quality of life.

Lifestyle - for the majority of semigrants this may mean trading frenetic big city living for a more relaxed lifestyle in a coastal setting, allowing them to experience a slower pace of life, greater proximity to extended families and outdoor activities and even a more defined sense of community.

·           Security - living in a densely populated urban area, such as a city like Johannesburg, could put you at higher risk of falling victim to crime. People may decide to semigrate away from urban centres to smaller communities like Knysna, in the hopes of creating a safer lifestyle for themselves and their families.

·           Climate - people may decide to semigrate to new parts of the country in search of a different climate, such as leaving the hotter, drier parts of the country like Johannesburg to move to more temperate coastal destinations such as Cape Town or Durban.

·           Job opportunites  - one of the major reasons why people decide to semigrate is for work. They might be relocated by their job or make the decision to pursue new jobs in economic hubs like Johannesburg..  However, technology now often allows people the opportunity to work remotely, even for a portion of their working time, creating an opportunity to work from wherever they wish and increasing semigration opportunities.

·           Retirement - oftentimes when people retire, they find themselves wanting to switch from the hustle and bustle of city life to move to a quieter more peaceful location. Many retireeschoose to semigrate from big cities to smaller towns such as Knysna, Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route.  Other coastal gems such as Kenton-on-Sea in the Eastern Cape are also popular.

·           Schooling: another reason for semigration can be parents choosing to relocate to a new city in order for their child to attend a particular  school, creating specific educational opportunities for their children...

How does semigration affect the property market?

Semigration, as with emigration, can have a marked effect on the property market - in both rentals and sales. Semigration trends have continued to benefit the Western Cape, especially areas like Cape Town, as more and more people choose to move there from other provinces, such as Gauteng. This, along with emigration, has resulted in there being an  increased supply of houses on the market in Gauteng which is one of the factors which has led to the emergence of a "buyer's market" in that area. . Conversely, semigration has ultimately had a positive effect on the rental market as people who are moving to new areas often choose to rent first rather than buy, giving them the opportunity to familiarise themselves with an area prior to making a significant financial commitment. .

If you're considering selling or renting your home so that you can move across the country, contact Hamiltons for a valuation or estimate today.

Read our previous article here

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