Citismiles Properties

Africa’s real estate story is changing. 5.58% projected annual market growth. 6.9% projected CAGR for Nigeria.28 million-unit housing deficit in Nigeria. Up to 10% gross rental yields in selected markets. Behind these numbers are markets, gaps and opportunities worth paying attention to.

There’s something I think every person looking to invest in land should understand.

Flooding and waterlogging are not the same thing.

And if you don’t know the difference, you could easily walk away from a good opportunity or worse, put your money into a property that will keep giving you problems.

Let me put it in simple terms.

A property can experience flooding for different reasons.

Maybe there was unusually heavy rainfall. Maybe a nearby river overflowed. Maybe the drainage system couldn’t cope with the volume of water.

The important thing is to understand what caused the flooding and what happens afterward.

If the water is occasional, drains away, the cause is identifiable, and there are realistic measures or infrastructure improvements that can reduce the risk, I wouldn’t automatically write off the property.

Some properties in places that have experienced flooding still perform well as investments.

But persistent waterlogging is where things get much more serious.

If an area naturally holds water, has poor drainage, stays saturated for long periods, or repeatedly becomes difficult to use, you need to look beyond the attractive price.

Because the question is no longer:

“Will the water come again?”

The real question is:

“Can this land support the investment I want to make?”

Think about it.

If you buy land and later discover that you need to spend heavily on:

Improving access

Preparing the site for development

Dealing with foundation challenges

Managing constant drainage issues

Making the property attractive to tenants or buyers

Carrying additional development and maintenance costs

That cheap piece of land may become very expensive.

And that’s why I always tell investors:

Don’t let a low price make the decision for you.

Buying into a chronically waterlogged area can be an investment-suicidal strategy if the underlying problem cannot be reasonably managed.

I’m not saying every waterlogged property will automatically lose money.

I’m saying you need to understand exactly what you’re getting into before you commit your money.

This is where proper real estate advice matters.

Don’t inspect land only when the sun is shining and everything looks perfect.

Ask the people living around the area.

Find out what happens when it rains heavily.

Look at the drainage.

Study the terrain.

Understand where the water comes from and, more importantly, where it goes.

If possible, observe the property during the rainy season.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget the other fundamentals:

Title.
Location.
Accessibility.
Demand.
Development potential.
Exit strategy.

At Citismiles Properties, we believe buying real estate should be about more than finding a property and negotiating a price.

Someone telling you “this area will soon develop” isn’t due diligence.

Someone saying “buy now before the price goes up” isn’t due diligence.

And a cheap price definitely doesn’t mean you’ve found a good investment.

Understand the land before you buy it.
Understand the environment before you build.
Understand your exit before you invest.

Because sometimes the most expensive property isn’t the one with the highest price tag.

It’s the one you bought cheaply and have to keep spending money on just to make it work.

Investigate first. Invest second.

If you’re considering buying land or property and want to make a more informed decision before committing your money, talk to Citismiles Properties.

Before you buy any property, Talk to Us FIRST

Call/WhatsApp: 08037052013

We don’t just sell properties. We help you make better property decisions.

Many of you lacked financial literacy to understand that most billionaires are in debt and that doesn't make them poor. We have good and bad debts.

Is it Time to buy more Real Estate or panic?