Property As Investment

Property as investment remains the world’s surest means of wealth accumulation. Studies have shown that in the generations past, as well as in this our generation, real estate has continued to be the underlying source of sustained growth of wealth by individuals, families and corporations.

And I dare say that this trend will continue for a long time to come, if not perpetually.

Raw land in particular, has been the millionaire maker of the past and continues to make waves as an investment. Multimillions of respective countries’ currencies have been made through the purchase of vacant land, held for some time and off loaded.

Understanding Your Local Housing Market

The Nigerian housing market has been a structural impediment to economic growth since the price collapse started in 2008. Recently, a number of price indices, sales reports and anecdotal stories are pointing to an apparent housing recovery since 2012. This may or may not be a boon to the broader economy, but what does it mean for local markets?

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Senator Yerima and Constitutional Review

Maryam Uwais

Once again, Senator Yerima is in the news, claiming Islam as the basis for his argument that a girl automatically transforms into an adult of ‘full age’ once she is married, with the attendant responsibilities that relate to the renunciation of citizenship, irrespective of her age or mental capacity. Because the Senator from Zamfara State has gone public with his personal comprehension of the Shari’a, it has become necessary to respond publicly to his utterances.
It should be pointed out, however, that several media reports on the constitutional review debate at the Senate give the impression that underage marriage has been endorsed by the Senate Chambers. Facts are that S.29 of the 1979 Constitution permits a Nigerian citizen of ‘full age’ to renounce his or her citizenship by declaration in a prescribed manner, for which purpose ‘full age’ was stated to be 18 years and above. The subsection also provides that, ‘any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age’. In its current efforts to review the Constitution, the Senate Committee had ...

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing means different things to different people. It includes homes that are sustainable, beautifully designed, professionally managed, and connected to services.

Due to the economic standard in Nigeria today- housing that is affordable to the lowest income continues to shrink, the concentration of housing needs, among the poorest families continues to rise.

Affordable housing, however, is not only a compelling concern of the very poor. One needs not be poor at all to realize that housing costs are high, or that the housing choices open to people with low/moderate incomes are often limited at best.

For New Home Buyers

Finding the right home can be a long and difficult struggle particularly if you are new to the property
buying game. Presently, prices are stable and there are a number of houses on the market, so it’s best you take your time. I’ve made a list of some important things you need to look out for before signing that offer:

• Location: In real estate, they say the 3 most important things to look out for are location, location and location. This is true as you can change everything else about your home except the location but again it’s also when the real work of looking begins.
• Structure: This includes the foundation, walls, floors, ceiling, and roof. One of the things you'll want to watch out for is water penetration, water logged areas or areas prone to flooding. Take a walk around the building, look for any signs of mold and mildew on the floors or walls. This is a sure sign of damp. Check to see the water drainage system of the building within its compound and outside. Also, go inside and knock on a few walls. Walls that sound empty and hollow are probably just that, so be wary. 
•  Kitchen: the most expensive room to remodel is the kitchen. You’ll want to carefully examine the following:
  

o   Cabinets: painted or stained solid wood or particle board? Know what you're buying. If it’s an old house you are buying, make sure the cabinets have been sprayed and they close properly.

o   Counters: laminate or solid surface? Laminates tend to stain and chip easily. Solid surface counters are more durable. But do you like the color? If it is new, this might be an added expense on your part.

Home Sellers Take the Power Seat

The housing recovery has “transformed the mind-set of many buyers and sellers who grew accustomed to the buyers’ market we saw for years,” says Bimbo Oyadiran, CEO of Century 21. "Buyer confidence is building back up and demand is getting stronger... sellers are now in a more favorable position."

What Makes a Great Looking Real Estate Brochure?

Whether you are a real estate agent, a developer or in property management, a brochure can be a powerful marketing tool for your business, if it is done properly. We are surrounded with all kinds of brochures. It could be a direct mail piece that came through the mail showcasing a house being sold in the neighborhood. Maybe it is a brochure that is advertising a new luxury condo tower living or