Lamudi.com is a global property portal focusing exclusively on the emerging markets with presence in Nigeria, has released a whitepaper on the state of Nigeria’s real estate and general housing climate.
In the whitepaper, Lamudi revealed that the trends that have influenced the increase in real estate investment in Nigeria over the past five years to include, economic development (71%), infrastructural development (62%), standard of living (57%), migration, both inward and outward (38%) and average population age (38%).
Substantiating the report, a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data shows that the real estate sector now contributes up to 15% of the recently debased gross domestic product, “as investing in building is considered to provide a significant multiplier effect on the broader economy as it contributes to GDP through two main drivers, namely, private residential investments and consumption spending on housing services.
The report contains that the growth recorded in the overall Nigerian real estate sector on a year-on-year basis stood at 11% in 2012, which was demonstrative of a recovery in the sector and following significant falls influenced by the global downturn in 2009/10.
According to a report by Agusto & Co., a leading pan African credit rating and research agency, activity in Lagos State accounts for at least 40% of the total Nigerian real estate market.
Also, Ernst & Young (EY) report on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria, has been growing at an annual rate of 23.4% over the last six years; while the country’s economic outlook has previously dependent on oil & gas, the non-oil sector has witnessed strong growth across agriculture, telecommunications and retail services.
On technology trends in house-hunting, Obi Ejimofo, managing director of Lamudi (Nigeria) told Nigeria CommunicationsWeek at one year anniversary of the Platform in Nigeria, that its (Lamudi’s) analytics shows, 30.5% of house-hunters searched for properties using a mobile device between May and October 2014; 43.26% of these visitors to the website used tablets to carry out the search, with 56.74% using other mobile devices.
Obi added that, however, there is still room for growth as 33% of real estate agents believe the internet is often used for house-hunting, and all respondents believe this will increase over the next decade.
He said, “Whilst traditional house-hunting methods remain popular in Nigeria, local real estate companies are also adapting to the changes in how people are using the web. According to Lamudi survey 81% of real estate agents believe that the most popular method for house-hunting remains the using a real estate agent.
“However, just under half believe that online listings are the favoured method with 67% of those asked revealing that they advertise their properties online”.
Nodding in agreement, Oyewale Adekunle, managing director of Ajibex and Company, said that, “social media is improving the growth of real estate, as all properties can now be listed and promoted online, to reach people both within and outside Nigeria”.
On his part, Udo Okonjo, chief executive officer, Fine & Country West Africa, stated that the advent of the internet and social media has boosted the avenues through which real estate agents can interact with clients, enabling more effective and efficient communication with those whose lifestyle are suited for such platforms.
Mr Sina Ganiu, senior partner & chief executive officer, Jide Taiwo & Co Estate Surveyors & Valuers, expressed delight with the Lamudi’s real estate revolutionary site.
Meanwhile, Lamudi with over 6000 real estate agents as partners, serving 32 million app users and 70, 000 per week visitors to the site, also revealed that 66% of people searching for properties within Nigeria, actually reside in the country.
The Lamudi Real Estate White paper was also launched globally in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other parts of Africa.
Allie Morse, CEO, Lamudi West and Central Africa said. “In its first year, Lamudi has cemented itself as a global leader in real estate, and we are honoured to welcome the best of Nigerian real estate to celebrate the launch of the white paper alongside our colleagues around the world.
“We want to ensure that our knowledge on the future of real estate in the emerging markets one that educates not just our clients but current and future customers too.