Mauritius: South Africa’s Rising Star for Offshore Property Investment

In 2023, researchers at Stats SA released their Migration Report Profile for South Africa, showing that many of their countrymen are making their way across the world to seek new opportunities. The data shows that around 413 000 South Africans have emigrated since the dawn of the millennium, with many opting to move to the United Kingdom (the top destination), followed by Australia, the United States, New Zealand, and Canada.

However, when it comes to offshore property – which often goes hand-in-hand with emigration – reports of a new investment destination have been emerging over the past few years, especially from within the real estate sector. Many property companies and analysts, including 2Futures, had already noticed that an increasing number of South Africans are purchasing properties (residential and commercial) across Mauritius.

Naturally, we have many types of clients looking for different property types, and they have varying reasons for investing in Mauritius. However, one common trend has been that many of them are already advanced in their careers, usually above the age of 40, and have the capability to perform hybrid work, whether they are self-employed or working for a larger entity.

 

The personal reasons for moving to Mauritius are obvious: the social and political stability, island environment, and overall high standard of living. However, this is something offered by numerous locations around the world. While buying international property in other popular investment destinations like Spain, Cyprus, or Malta offers similar security, Mauritius is a short plane ride away from South Africa, meaning these new residents can easily return to their home country for work or to visit family and friends.

 

However, our own experience in the local property market has shown that offshore real estate investment is not limited to the highest income brackets. We have seen an increasing demand for studio, 1-bedroom apartments over the last two years. Investors focusing on rental returns prefer smaller units and purchase multiples if their budget allows.  For example, the Black River and Grand Baie regions are attracting both commercial and residential investors at every phase of development. This includes properties connected directly to nearby hotels, which then receive their respective hotel services and access to their facilities.