Pretoria or Joburg?

I had that same question a while back (internal question... didn't post it on the forum) and I decided to move to Centurion, mostly because it is central. Quick to Pretoria or Sandton or even Roodepoort (N14) or if I feel I need an escape route back to Nelspruit, it is quick to the N4.
Still busy house-hunting though... will be looking for squash partners soon. :)
 
I agree with the people mentioning Strubens Valley. I stay just around the corner in Honeydew. Used to stay in Honeydew Ridge. The whole area around here are nice since you are just outside the super busy parts of Joburg but you are close enough to everything. The people are friendly and relaxed and the housing is cheaper than on the other side of the N1.

How is traffic in Pretoria though? Because here in Joburg traffic is a big problem and it takes a while to get to places during peak traffic times.
 
powderbucket said:
This is obviously a question for those who have some knowledge of both Pretoria and Johannesburg, or at least a bit about Gauteng.

My question is, if you had to choose, where would you stay and why?

I went to Pretoria for the first time in years yesterday and seriously liked it. It's so vast and so big but so chilled at the same time. Did not expect that. I also liked the alternative feel of the place.

So yes! Random, but opinions?
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You should come to doors its a really chilled alternative club. People are really chilled and cool
 
Solitude said:
How is traffic in Pretoria though? Because here in Joburg traffic is a big problem and it takes a while to get to places during peak traffic times.
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I can't speak for Pta, but in the parts in Centurion where I was looking yesterday was not so bad, has a bit less of a "city-feel". I always feel rushed and tired out when I hit Rdp/Kdp (our office is there).
 
ViperGTI said:
I always feel rushed and tired out when I hit Rdp/Kdp (our office is there).
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LOL!

I'm from K-Dorp and I think it's way more chilled vibes than anywhere in Johannesburg. Hard to believe that Pretoria could be more chilled, but awesome for Pretoria if it is.
 
ViperGTI said:
Posted my reply at same time as you so missed your post. You obviously know the area so how is Eco Park, Highveld and Rooihuiskraal?
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Eco park is part of highveld just one of the extensions but for me that whole area is bundled with over priced complexes that are easily a grand or so more expensive. IF yo uare looking at that areas id advise on Hennops park or Zwarkops they are close and better areas.

Rooihuiskraal and the reeds has crazy Crime stats. Houses are very cheap . We looked at one in the reeds that was a Rent for a year then offer to buy option. They wanted R4000Pm and R500 000 for the house and it is a 3 bed , study big garden etc etc


.

I wouldnt buy now as i can see house prizes already coming down more and more.


Depending on your income you can look at irene ( between PVR and Highveld ) - VERY EXPENSIVE

Or Amberfield ( Rooihuiskraal x 20 - 23 ) moderate. And then where I grew up was In valhalla a poor Military area that if i Buy a house it would be there again.

A big traingle surrounded by airforce army navy and police bases and training grounds. Well kept houses ( not all of them ) and a very very chilled area to stay in.


IF you are looking for big complex type houses your best bet would be PVR as they are old and still built big.

My room is 6 x 7 M and for a complex that is by no means tiny.


And not that i like to splash out these type of details but our 3 x Bedroom simplex Kitchen Living room 1 bathroom + shower own Garden lapa and braai and carport ( afdak ) for 2 cars is R5500

With my GF still studying law for 2 years we decided to rent for 2 years then buy :D
 
ViperGTI said:
I can't speak for Pta, but in the parts in Centurion where I was looking yesterday was not so bad, has a bit less of a "city-feel". I always feel rushed and tired out when I hit Rdp/Kdp (our office is there).
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I should really go drive around in Pretoria. Funny thing is that I've lived in Joburg for about 2 years now and during that time I've only been to Pretoria once and it was work related.
 
As an ex Cape boy, I really like Pretoria. The east of Pta especially. Not too Blue Bull! Hahaha, but seriously, Pretoria is generally a relaxed, easy paced kind of place. Not as busy and crowded and rushed as Jhb tends to be. Also seems to be more open spaces in Pretoria. Not all concrete jungle.
 
Cranky said:
Eco park is part of highveld just one of the extensions but for me that whole area is bundled with over priced complexes that are easily a grand or so more expensive. IF yo uare looking at that areas id advise on Hennops park or Zwarkops they are close and better areas.

Rooihuiskraal and the reeds has crazy Crime stats. Houses are very cheap . We looked at one in the reeds that was a Rent for a year then offer to buy option. They wanted R4000Pm and R500 000 for the house and it is a 3 bed , study big garden etc etc


.

I wouldnt buy now as i can see house prizes already coming down more and more.


Depending on your income you can look at irene ( between PVR and Highveld ) - VERY EXPENSIVE

Or Amberfield ( Rooihuiskraal x 20 - 23 ) moderate. And then where I grew up was In valhalla a poor Military area that if i Buy a house it would be there again.

A big traingle surrounded by airforce army navy and police bases and training grounds. Well kept houses ( not all of them ) and a very very chilled area to stay in.


IF you are looking for big complex type houses your best bet would be PVR as they are old and still built big.

My room is 6 x 7 M and for a complex that is by no means tiny.


And not that i like to splash out these type of details but our 3 x Bedroom simplex Kitchen Living room 1 bathroom + shower own Garden lapa and braai and carport ( afdak ) for 2 cars is R5500

With my GF still studying law for 2 years we decided to rent for 2 years then buy :D
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Thanks for the info.
/Deleting bookmarks for houses in The Reeds and Rooihuiskraal

The places I've had a look so far are depressingly small... feels like the walls could attack me at any time. This whole house-hunting thing has not been a warm-fuzzy experience this far (more like cold and unsatisfied).
I'm actually looking for something in an estate... so it will be secure and have a bit of a yard for the dog. Collie dogs needs their space.
Will give it another shot on Monday
 
I'm quite happy in Lonehill, northern Jozi suburbs. Not a big fan of the Pretoria vibe, but to each his own.
 
DenSweeP said:
As an ex Cape boy, I really like Pretoria. The east of Pta especially. Not too Blue Bull! Hahaha, but seriously, Pretoria is generally a relaxed, easy paced kind of place. Not as busy and crowded and rushed as Jhb tends to be. Also seems to be more open spaces in Pretoria. Not all concrete jungle.
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Ya, I agree. From what I saw when I went there yesterday, it's all pretty vast but still has this feeling of being quite developed. I just love the scale of the buildings in the area and the fact that it's a mountainous / hilly area. I also like the whole military feel of the place.
 
powderbucket said:
LOL!

I'm from K-Dorp and I think it's way more chilled vibes than anywhere in Johannesburg. Hard to believe that Pretoria could be more chilled, but awesome for Pretoria if it is.
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Krugersdorp is far and theres plenty of traffic that side.
 
What I like about Kdp (in contrast to Rdp), is that it is quick to get to from Pta side or quick to Lanseria.
With Roodepoort, it just always feels like regardless of where you'll be driving to, your starting point will always be in busy traffic and will remain in busy traffic until you've gotten out of Rdp.
The area close to Clearwater is probably a bit better since it is closer to the N1, but if you've first had to go through Ontdekkers... nuff said.

My initial choice was between Centurion and Roodepoort actually. I've gotten to know Rdp a bit in the past years due to regular visits plus I like "Meet & Eat". Eventually my dislike of traffic and option of having quick access to the Gautrain to the airport, won out :)
 
ViperGTI said:
What I like about Kdp (in contrast to Rdp), is that it is quick to get to from Pta side or quick to Lanseria.
With Roodepoort, it just always feels like regardless of where you'll be driving to, your starting point will always be in busy traffic and will remain in busy traffic until you've gotten out of Rdp.
The area close to Clearwater is probably a bit better since it is closer to the N1, but if you've first had to go through Ontdekkers... nuff said.

My initial choice was between Centurion and Roodepoort actually. I've gotten to know Rdp a bit in the past years due to regular visits plus I like "Meet & Eat". Eventually my dislike of traffic and option of having quick access to the Gautrain to the airport, won out :)
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I travel Ondekkers every day and it isn't bad at all compared to Hendrik Potgeiter which goes past Clearwater Mall... That is just wak with traffic. But ya, Roodepoort after 6:30 is not so lekker, and it's not the nicest area IMO.

I wish there were more Gautrains and more Gautrain stations because the whole of the West Rand (and I'm sure a few other areas) are excluded. I would definitely use it because I've only heard good things from people who do use it as well as the buses.
 
Don't let traffic decide for you. If you are driving anyting more than 3Km to work, then no matter where you live, traffic is a bitch. Unless you are on a bike or you live in Prieska.

Centurion is very nice as well. As for the language thing, whatever. Persoanlly, I've been living in my house in Elardus Park (bought) for 4 years and I still have no clue who my meighbours are, much less what language they speak. And where else is language really a factor, because in every other aspect again, no matter where you live in SA, you will encounter any one of our 11 languages. Obviously some areas will lean more towards certain languages, but I really don't see why that should be a deciding factor. I mean there will 9/10 times at least be someone who speaks at least english or afrikaans. It's not the dude at the local KFC or PnP is only going to understand Italian or Polish.

Crime? Agreed, some neighbourhoods are more prone to crime than others. One to avoid in Pta East is Newlands. But most of those places are super expensive anyways. They are measured in the millions, not hundreds of thousands.

Overall, I really love Elardus Park. Very close to all highways. N1 north and South. R21 to airport and to Pta Central/North. Nice little shopping centres with all the day to day stores you need. Tian Tian makes brilliant sushi! And within 10km to major shopping centres for the bigger shopping sprees.

Each to his or her own, but if you like a life that isn't too hectic and paced just okay for normal living, then Pretoria East/Centurion is definitely worth considering.
 
I like where I live. I stay in orange grove(north east)

Its ten minutes from my fav club, 5 minutes from my fav bar :p and it has all the shops I need walking distance :D

Also I like the people here they are cool:p My area is very jewish so the place is kept very clean and safe.

I am also 5 minutes away from a hospital :p
 
powderbucket said:
I travel Ondekkers every day and it isn't bad at all compared to Hendrik Potgeiter which goes past Clearwater Mall... That is just wak with traffic. But ya, Roodepoort after 6:30 is not so lekker, and it's not the nicest area IMO.
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I should perhaps provide some context... I'm from Nelspruit and the definition of hectic traffic here is 10 cars on the road with, one truck in the left lane, 3 of them in the fast lane and the rest in the middle. (ok, not really, but you get the idea... pretty easy going most of the time, except when a big event occurs like a new Makro store opening).
So Ontdekkers, Hendrik Potgieter and whatever that other big road in Rdp's name is, is hell for me.

powderbucket said:
I wish there were more Gautrains and more Gautrain stations because the whole of the West Rand (and I'm sure a few other areas) are excluded. I would definitely use it because I've only heard good things from people who do use it as well as the buses.
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Same here. Which is why I'm actually looking for a place close to one of the pickup points. Especially when I need to visit one of our clients in central Jhb. I hate driving the M1 and the Gautrain drops off one block from where I need to be.
 
DenSweeP said:
Don't let traffic decide for you. If you are driving anyting more than 3Km to work, then no matter where you live, traffic is a bitch. Unless you are on a bike or you live in Prieska.

Centurion is very nice as well. As for the language thing, whatever. Persoanlly, I've been living in my house in Elardus Park (bought) for 4 years and I still have no clue who my meighbours are, much less what language they speak. And where else is language really a factor, because in every other aspect again, no matter where you live in SA, you will encounter any one of our 11 languages. Obviously some areas will lean more towards certain languages, but I really don't see why that should be a deciding factor. I mean there will 9/10 times at least be someone who speaks at least english or afrikaans. It's not the dude at the local KFC or PnP is only going to understand Italian or Polish.

Crime? Agreed, some neighbourhoods are more prone to crime than others. One to avoid in Pta East is Newlands. But most of those places are super expensive anyways. They are measured in the millions, not hundreds of thousands.

Overall, I really love Elardus Park. Very close to all highways. N1 north and South. R21 to airport and to Pta Central/North. Nice little shopping centres with all the day to day stores you need. Tian Tian makes brilliant sushi! And within 10km to major shopping centres for the bigger shopping sprees.

Each to his or her own, but if you like a life that isn't too hectic and paced just okay for normal living, then Pretoria East/Centurion is definitely worth considering.
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I'm just on the other side of the N1 from him, and I approve this message. @DenSweeP: I'm looking for a better Sushi place, since I don't like the one close to me, and Kung Fu Kitchen is a little bit too far. Where exactly is Tian Tian?
 
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