As a first-time homeowner, you might find it a bit difficult or confused when getting your first home due to the fact that there are many arrays of houses available. These houses range from detached houses, terrace houses, and semi-detached houses. Although the type of house determines you buy or build depends on your goals and the funds available.

Before we go on to analyzing the benefits of this housing type, let us take a look at what a detached house is and its types.

What then is a detached house? The word detached simply means separate or disconnected. A detached house is a free-standing structure or a single building in which it does not share its walls with another building. It could be a bungalow, duplex, or mansion. If at the point of making a decision as a first-time homebuyer and this housing type was the one that comes to your mind, it is a good pick because it has a lot of advantages.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/few-reasons-why-detached-house-is-good-for-you/

The House numbering system in Nigeria is the system of assigning a unique number to each building in a street or area in order to make it easier for people to locate a particular building. House numbering describes both residential and commercial properties. This system varies from one city to the other. Over the past 10 years, Lagos has been struggling with issues regarding the proper numbering system. This problem led to the establishment of the house numbering project in which the purpose is to implement a system where all structures will be assigned a permanent house number to ensure orderliness, especially in properties occupying two or more boundaries.


Benefits Of House Numbering System In Nigeria

Having said the above, the following are the major benefits of house numbering in Lagos Nigeria.

1. Provide a convenient, accurate, and systematic means of identifying properties for owners, residents, and visitors.

2. Facilitation of emergency response by fire, police, rescue, and other emergency services. Consider a situation whereby an Emergency response team is trying to locate a house that needs their service. Without a proper numbering system, it would be difficult to locate the house. Also, the time spent on reaching a particular house can be saved.

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If you are to name the most annoying pest in your home, cockroaches should be the number one. These household pests pose a potential threat to human health. They are very difficult to control in homes because of their reproductive capabilities. Their nesting and feeding habit makes it easier for them to be able to disease-causing pathogens such as Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and parasites on their bodies.

Diseases such as Dysentry, Hepatitis, Pneumonia, E Coli, e.t.c are spread by this pest. They contaminate any food substances they come across causing illness to humans.

Unlike mosquitoes, cockroaches transmit diseases from food items they have come across with rather than through bites.

CONTINUE READING: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/how-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches-in-homes/

Owning multiple studio apartment investments in Nigeria is a fast way to become wealthy. A studio apartment is an apartment that consists of the living room, bedroom room, dining area, and toilet with open floor space. The rooms in a studio apartment have no walls separating them except in the toilet. Sometimes, the bedroom are been demarcated with a wooden wall so as to create privacy.

In recent times, the demand for studio apartments in Nigeria has been relatively high because they generate rental income. It can be difficult accomodating guests and one must be strategic about the storage. It offers budget-friendly rent, low utility bills but can be short of space. This kind of apartment is usually suitable for students and single guys or ladies who cannot afford a large apartment space and are willing to stay on a budget.

Differences Between Studio Apartment and 1 Bedroom Apartment

Oftentimes, people mistake a one-bedroom apartment for a studio apartment. A one-bedroom apartment or a single room apartment consists of the living room, bedroom, kitchen, and toilet in which all are in distinct separation by a wall. They are usually more spacious and offer more privacy compared to studio apartments.

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Just like the smart city of Lagos, Abuja is one of the best and most expensive places to live in Nigeria. Abuja is the eighth-most populous city of Nigeria. The home of Nigeria’s political and administrative capital.

A city filled with beautiful and luxurious houses, job opportunities, and luxury real estate.

The city boasts of a large granitic rock called ASO rock, the supreme court, Nnamdi Azikwe international airport, the National assembly, and the presidential complex.

This article explains in detail the affordable and expensive places to live in Abuja.

Affordable Places To Live In Abuja
As a young couple or a young guy willing to start a family, you might want to consider living in the following places listed below

1. Lugbe Abuja: A residential and densely populated area in Abuja. This area shares proximity with the Abuja airport and the Central business district of Abuja. One major disadvantage of living in this location is that its prone to heavy traffic due to the airport around it. It boasts of malls which made it an area for leisure and shopping. The location also boasts of other big companies such as the National Space Research And Development Agency, Nigerian Biotechnology Agency. The business and social activities have skyrocketed the growing population of Lugbe. If you are looking forward to living in this area, you are good to go.

Continue Reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/places-to-live-in-abuja/

Nothing adds more beauty to our homes and offices than the flowers of indoor plants. Indoor plants have been proven to have strong health benefits than you could ever imagine. Indoor plants can be placed in any space in the room be it the living rooms, bedrooms, kitchen etc .

Many want gardens in their homes but unfortunately, Nigerian real estate has changed as developers are now erecting blocks of flats on limited land space.

Research shows that these plants offer psychological and health benefits that include the following;

1. Absorbs many toxic pollutants from the air
2. Helps to reduce dust from rooms
3. Asides from beautifying the environment. They improve air quality by releasing water vapor into the atmosphere thereby minimizing the occurrence of headaches.

Continue Reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/indoor-plants/

Mosquitoes are a potent cause of the diseases; fever and Malaria in humans. These insects can be found everywhere around us most especially in water-dominated areas. The worst of it all is that they can keep you all awake at night.

In this article, we will highlight the natural and artificial ways that they can be controlled and their types.

DIFFERENT SPECIES OF MOSQUITOES
The following are the different species of mosquitoes;

1. Anopheles Mosquitoes: These species are usually found in rain, ponds, and streams. They are a potent cause of malaria in humans.
2. Culex Mosquitoes: These species are usually found in freshwater habitats such as pools, pools, and ditches.
3. Ochlerotatus Mosquitoes: This type of mosquito species is usually found in natural and artificial containers, floodwater pools, and so on. They bite readily outdoors at all hours of the day. It is uncommon for them to enter homes to feed on humans.

NATURAL WAYS TO CONTROL MOSQUITOES AT HOME
1. Camphor: This is a waxy, flammable solid with a strong aroma. Camphors are readily available in the markets for sale at an extremely cheap price. A detailed analysis of how it can be used is by putting it in corners where mosquitoes can hide, ensure all doors and windows are closed, and leave for a period of 30 minutes for evenly distribution of odor. By the time you return, the mosquitoes would have been successfully gotten rid of.

Continue Reading : https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/tips-on-how-to-get-rid-of-mosquitoes-at-home/

Lagos is Nigeria’s main hub of economic activities. This has brought about several good places to live in Lagos. Thus attracting people of all tribes from the nation. If you are new to Lagos and seeking a place to stay or are based in Lagos, and looking for a place to stay in, then you should consider the following locations.

[center]Top Places To Live In Lagos[/center]

1. Lekki

Lekki is one of the places to live in Lagos, Nigeria located on the island and is a hub of social and economic activities, it is still largely under construction, as a lot of land and properties are still being developed.

Lekki currently houses several gated residential developments, agricultural farmlands, areas allocated for a Free Trade Zone, with an airport, and a seaport under construction.

Lekki is a nice spot to reside in with a huge presence of malls, shops, restaurants, gyms, spas, and other top and modern amenities.

2. Victoria Island

Victoria Island is a hub of economic activities connecting Lagos Island, Ikoyi, and the Lekki Peninsula by the Lagos Lagoon.

They are a lot of posh and classy locations to engage in once you live here, from classy restaurants to ensure fine dining, 5-star hotels, clubs, art studios among others.

If you are outgoing and like to try out new spots and fun locations this is definitely the spot to live in.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/top-spots-in-lagos-to-live-in/

Not all rooms get enough natural lightning. This can be so frustrating that you might always have to put on the light during the day. This article exposes you to ideas on how to brighten up your dark room if it lacks natural lighting

Seven Tips To Brighten Up A Dark Living Room

1. Paint the ceiling with bright white: A white ceiling makes the room clearer. Ensure you paint the ceiling with the clearest and the brightest white and avoid cream or off-white.

2. Trim trees close to windows: Trees serve as a provider of oxygen to the natural environment. Asides from that, they also beautify the environment. On the other hand, they can lower natural lighting from reaching the room when close to the windows. The best way out of this is to trim trees close to the windows so as to improve natural lighting to penetrate in.


Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/brighten-up-a-dark-room/

The effect of colors in our homes has a significant impact on the mind. The type of colors you paint your home affects your physiological and psychological well-being. It remains the visual language that many understands all over the world, this is why architects are now exploring the potential of colors in homes.

It is generally known that the kind of colors you use to paint your home reveals your kind of personality.

This article will expose you to what different colors mean in architecture;

1. BLUE: This is a calming and serene color that signifies intelligence. Using blue as your interior décor creates a feeling of confidence in your home. Medically, the color has been proven to lower blood pressure. It is also known to suppress your appetite when used in the kitchen. This is because they are no many foods with the color of blue.

2. WHITE: Everyone loves white irrespective of the fact that you have a favorite color. It signifies simplicity, innocence, and perfection. It can be used to create an atmosphere of freshness and purity in your home. It is usually combined with other colors when used in homes to call attention to certain things and elements in your home. Although, people believed that the color stains easily, especially if you have kids at home. A good way to get past this is to have some white paint left in your store to correct the stained area.

3. GREEN: This symbolizes growth and health. If you come to think of nature, the color expresses life and renewal. It indicates a feeling of abundance. Using Green for your house design symbolizes a stable home. It can also be combined with other colors so as to make your home sophisticated.

Continue Reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/colors-in-homes/

Many people want to rent an apartment in Lagos because of its center for the commercial hub in the country. People’s desire to live in this city has made them become a victim of a rental scam. This affects their financial goals as they might have to start gathering money to rent again. Asides from the fact that it affects their financial goals, it also affects the victim psychologically because they will have to brood over it. Honestly, getting scammed by fake real estate agents is not a thing to wish your enemy not to talk of yourself.

In order to avoid being a victim. We will be analyzing some secrets to you as to signs you need to take into consideration so as to avoid being a victim.

Tips On How To Avoid Being A Victim Of Scam When Renting An Apartment In Lagos

1. Quick transaction: If you have ever found yourself under pressure so as to quickly pay for an apartment, just know that you are about to fall, victim. Scam agents will try as much as possible to lure you to pay before inspecting a property. Also, they stage the process by connecting you with other prospects by claiming they have also shown interest in the apartment whereas these people are part of them.

2. They send you very attractive photos: This strategy is very rampant among fake real estate agents, they tend to send you fascinating pictures to get you more interested in the apartment. It is important to take your time to visit the property physically and if possible do a live video call with the agent. As far as Nigerian real estate is concerned, inspecting a property has shifted from physical to virtual. By inspecting the property you want to rent, would save you from losing money because a fraudulent agent can easily get pictures online.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/rental-scams-in-lagos/

The benefit of hiring real estate agents when buying a property in Lagos can not be underrated as they can make a huge difference in your home buying process. Although, the internet has made it easily accessible to home buyers to find the right property and budget they will have to look forward to it. With several real estate agents across the state, picking the right one might be quite difficult because everyone prefers to work with people that complement their personality.

It is important to also bear in mind that real estate agents have their advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we have analyzed in detail these advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages Of Hiring House Agents When Buying A Property In Lagos

Although, working with agents might be somehow challenging. Yet, they might save you a lot of trouble that may lead you to regret not hiring one. Below are the advantages of having real estate agents.

1. Real Estate Market Knowledge: Real estate agents understand how the buyers’ and sellers’ markets work. The question is what are the buyers’ and sellers’ markets. In supply and demand, a buyers’ market is the one in which the market favors buyers over the sellers as a result of changes in the market conditions. In other words, purchasers have an advantage over the buyers in price negotiation. Sellers’ market, on the other hand, the sellers have an advantage over the buyers.

2. They save time: Real estate agents save you a lot of time you have to spend in hunting for houses. This is possible when you give the agent information on your budget and the type of property you want. It can be time-consuming when you have to visit neighborhoods to check the properties available.

3. Legality: Buying and renting a property comes with some additional fees known as statutory charges. There are also important documents you need to be aware of. Going through this process yourself might be difficult but with the help of a property agent, you tend to have no hassle regarding legal issues.

4. More Alternatives: Hiring a real estate or property agent when buying a property in Lagos gives you an opportunity to have multiple options you can choose from. Unlike searching for property yourself, real estate agents have more connections with property owners or developers.

Continue reading : https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/real-estate-agents-in-lagos/

One of the major fears that people have when buying Real estate in Lagos is the fear of being a victim of scam of one’s hard earned money when buying property to the tune of millions of naira. Here are some of the tips to abide by to avoid being scammed.

Avoid Excision in Progress:

Excision is the act of dividing the land between the community and the government. Some lands are still under the process of being divided between the community and state and this can take a very long time, hence the term Excision in progress. So do not purchase any property under Excision in Progress.

Go with a good property Lawyer:

Property lawyers are experts on land laws and property laws. Hence they are very much recommended when you want to seek out or buy out a land. Guaranteed, they are usually expensive or can be pricey, but I think it’s a small price to pay to be potentially swindled of land that can run into millions and time battling in court over a land dispute.

Continue Reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/real-estate-scam-in-lagos/

The cost of getting a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) varies from one state to another. places like Lagos and Abuja are known to be relatively more expensive than every other places. Also, the cost of certificate of occupancy can be calculated based on square meters of land and the location where the land is situated. This is referred to as Fair Market Value. This value is determined by professionals who are adapted by the state government.

PROCEDURE OF OBTAINING C of O IN LAGOS

The procedure of obtaining a C of O may require 30 working days. The following are clearly spelt out procedures to obtaining one.

1. Applicant purchase an application and submit allocation to the Land Use Allocation Committee.
2. Applicants gets allocation slip and letter of allocation.
3. Applicants make payment for allocated land and gets letter of allocation with block number.
4. Scheme officer processes C of O application, signs, and forward files to secretary of the Land Use Allocation Committee.
5. Digitized survey is produced by the surveyor general, which is later passed to the scheme officer.
6. Letter of allocation gets signed by the executive secretary
7. The executive secretary signs off on file and sends file to the Superior Special assistant to the Governor on lands.
8. The Superior Special Assistant sends entire file with a covering memo the Permanent Secretary on lands bureau.
9. If file comes with query, a message is relayed back to notify where file is coming from
10. The Governor approves file and signs the C of O electronically.
11. The file is sent to the Deputy Registrar for processing.
12. The Deputy Registrar further processes the file and send it further.
13. The Registrar of titles finally registers it, signs off and request for printing of C of O.
The above procedures are steps for obtaining the C of O of a state owned land.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/certificate-of-occupancy-in-lagos-state/

Certificate of occupancy also known as C Of O is a legitimate document issued by the state government in Nigeria to property buyers or landowners as legal proof of land ownership in Nigeria for all purposes.

The C Of O spelled out what the land can be used for; residential, commercial, or mixed-use.

According to the Land Use Act 1978, all lands in the state are been controlled by the state government of every states in Nigeria. This act gave the state government the power to grant the statutory right of occupancy as deemed appropriate.

The C of O is only granted for a term of 99 years. What will happens after 99 years? No one knows.

A distinctive feature that separates C of O from every other land title is that no land can bear the same C of O document because it is first issued on land that has never been registered at the land registry.

This write-up will provide you with more insights that you need to know about C of O.

COMMON THINGS TO INCLUDE IN A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY

Below are vital things to be found in a C of O

1. Certificate of occupancy number
2. Size of the plot
3. Date issued
4. Plot number
5. File number
6. Location
7. Survey plan
8. Terms and conditions
9. Date issued
10. Term of lease
11. Purpose of land use

IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY IN NIGERIA
1. It prevents the government from revoking your rights to land without compensation.
2. It makes the land more valuable and expensive.
3. It is acceptable as collateral to take loans from banks and other financial institutions.
4. It prevents a situation where a single property is claimed by multiple owners by clearly identifying the specific owner of the land.
5. It is important for mortgage transactions.
6. It can be used to settle land disputes that involve ownership conflict.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/certificate-of-occupancy-in-nigeria/

Finding perfect lighting for different rooms in your home is not an easy task. A major mistake people make is using one type of lighting for all the rooms in the house. Proper lighting makes you feel safer, comfortable and also allows you to enjoy your home to its full potential. Every room in the house has specific lighting needs. The type of lighting you will use for your living area is totally different from that which you will use for other rooms in the house. There are so many lights to use in the house and these range from chandelier light, dim lights, led light to bright light.

If you are going to pick a perfect light for your home, you need to set out a lot of time. This article will expose you to how to select the right lighting option for every room in your home.

TYPES OF HOME LIGHTING
The following are the different types of home lighting

Ambient: This is the primary type of lighting found in a room. It allows you to move around the room safely. This type of lighting is referred to as general lighting because it is typical lighting that is required for each room in the house. For instance, brighter light is more needed in the kitchen and toilet than in the rooms which require dim light.

Accent: This type of lighting is more decorative and is often used to provide mood lighting. In addition, accent lighting is used to draw attention to focal things in the house such as wall paintings, bookshelf e.t.c. They are usually chandeliers and lamps.

Task lighting: As the name implies, this light is always needed when a certain task is required. That is, they are meant to provide lights for certain activities in the house. Activities such as reading a book or making up in front of the mirror. They can be mounted on the mirrors, wall or be sited to a desk. They are meant to light up the entire room and areas where the activities are been performed.
Now that you have understood the different types of home lighting, let us now look at the different lights required for every room of the house.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/home-lighting/

Wherever you live in Nigeria, your location may be subject to heavy rainfall that could deter or damage your home if proper precaution is not taken. To save yourself some repair costs, below are vital tips to prepare you and your family for the wet months.


1. Check your roof seldomly: In order to save yourself unnecessary expenses during the rainy season, it is better to take some time to inspect your roof. Doing this makes you aware of any cracks that might exist on the roof. And also, makes you and your family remain dry during this season. It is strongly advisable to hire a professional in inspecting and repairing the roof. Also, make sure you check out your roof to avoid any leakages. Any form of molds or discoloration of the ceiling should be subjected to immediate repair. 

2. Mind the walls: External walls should also be inspected. Inspect the exterior walls for any form of cracks because when rainwater penetrates these walls, it begins to cause serious problems.

3. Repair faulty windows and doors: You never might know the direction the wind will take the rain towards. It is always advisable to shut external windows and doors during rainfall to make the room warm and cozy. Having faulty windows and doors give room for water penetration. This is why you need to ensure that broken or faulty windows and doors need to be fixed before the rainy day.

4. Fix every electrical issue in your home: It is better to repair any worn-out wires in your home before the rainy season. Hire an electrician to fix every faulty electrical issue for the better safety of your family.

Continue reading : https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/prepare-your-home-for-the-rainy-day/

Nearly every aspect of our life has entered the domestic space. With the introduction of home technology which is also refer to as smart homes has brought peace of mind to homeowners, allowing them to monitor their homes remotely with a device usually a smart phone or tablet.

A smart home simply refers to a sophisticated and convenient home setup where all home devices can be automatically controlled from anywhere with the internet using a smart phone. Home automation, is often refer to as smart home. Its benefit cannot be over emphasized as it provide homeowners with maximum security, convenience, and energy saving. Often times, a phone app is usually used to control or monitor home attributes such as lightning, entertainment systems, security, and appliances.

[center]FEATURES OF A SMART HOME[/center]

The following are best features of a smart home;

1.       Lighting control: This is one of the main features of a smart home. Despite, the fact that people are not satisfied with manually turning lights on and off. They can now turn control your home lights remotely from a distance. Interestingly, homeowners are now welcoming new technology of the lighting system whereby colors can be change based on your moods and schedule. More importantly, lightning can also be controlled using a voice.

2.   Door Entry: Smart homes automation have saved homeowners from having to go all the way to the door when a door bell is rang. With the intercom, visitors can communicate with homeowners from the phone. The most interesting part of it is that this communication can be done anywhere without which the homeowner have to be at home. Also, with this feature, home access can be granted via the app. Furthermore, smart homes can also be accessed via fingerprint or code or card unlike the traditional method of using the keys.
     
3. Home Device Control: With the Alexa or Google Home voice activated system and your phone app, home devices such as the television, audio systems, refrigerators, blinds with  other home appliances can be controlled with ease.

4.     Climate control: With the intelligent climate control system, you can control every room temperatures. The sensors place in the entire room of the house monitors every room temperatures. With that, you can adjust and schedule every room temperature to favorite.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/smart-home/

Its generally know that the real estate sector in Lagos Nigeria has been dominated by some impostors and fraudsters who claimed to be licensed real estate practitioners with the purpose of defrauding people of their hard-earned money while seeking accommodation or buying a property.

In a bid to sanitize these fraudulent activities among real estate agents and property developers, the Lagos state government has made it compulsory for all real estate practitioners; real estate agents, developers, and professionals to register with Lagos state.

This is to be done via the Lagos State Regulatory Authority also known as LASRERA. The essence of this body is to regulate real estate transactions in Lagos State by identifying persons eligible to be licensed as Real estate practitioners and provides for the issuance or renewal of annual permits, as well as collating and registering Real estate consultants in the state. In a bid to promote honesty, Lagos state must keep a database of people dealing in Real estate transactions, monitor the activities of all real estate practitioners, and as well sanction unlicensed real estate agents in the state.

To do these, the agency launched its official website stating its practice guidelines for property developers and real estate practitioners. Speaking on the launching of the website at Alausa Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka mentioned that this became necessary in order to capture and update a unified database of real estate practitioners and their activities. She also said that the Lagos state governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu had approved the change of name of the government department from Lagos Real Estate Transaction Department to Lagos state Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).

Mrs. Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka, a Legal Practitioner is grounded in different areas of the Law profession ranging from Insurance Law including Underwriting policies, Risk and Claims Management. She also possesses expertise in Litigation, Probate, and Land matters.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/regulating-real-estate-practitioners-in-lagos-state/

Getting a land excised is a very tedious process that requires lots of funding. And you know, sometimes to get things done in Nigeria you need to have connections.

PROCESS OF OBTAINING LAND EXCISION IN LAGOS STATE

The process starts with

1. Applying for excision: This starts with the submission of an official excision request to the Land Use Allocation Committee of Lagos State. This application is usually done by the Baale or family head. In this application, information such as the family history, occupation, population, land location with the reason why they want the land excised is required. This request is expected to be drafted by a professional lawyer with a reasonable level of experience in excision processing.
2. LUAC Technical Committee: This committee is saddled with the responsibility of administering, managing, and control Lagos state land. After the request has been submitted to the governor of the state with the Technical Committee (a committee under the Land Use Allocation Committee) also gives their positive or negative recommendation. This Technical Committee is made up of;
a. The lands bureau
b. Ministry of Agriculture
c. Ministry of Justice
d. Ministry of Environment
e. Ministry of urban and physical planning.

The technical committee is also to ensure that the land is in accordance with the city master plan.

This processing takes a week after the letter has been received.

3.  Charting of the land: The survey of the land to be excised has to be submitted to the Surveyor Generals office for review. The result from the charted land will reveal if it falls under committed or uncommitted land.

4. Physical Site Inspection: The physical inspection is being done by the Technical Committee to ensure that the information provided is valid by conducting a physical assessment on site. This process takes virtually 2 weeks after the Surveyor General's report has been released.

To continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/excision-of-land-in-lagos-state/

Excision of land simply means when the government frees an expanse of land to the people or community to use for their own personal purpose.

Every community or village has lands that have been in possession for thousands of years which have been passed from generation to generation. These lands owned by the families are known to possess some element of natural resources like Gold, Copper, Oil, Silver, and Cash crops. The custodians of the family which are usually the head of the family keep the record of these lands in their possessions and aggressively ward off trespassers.

The Birth Of Excision Of Land
Some decades ago during the era of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Federal government enacted the land use act of 1978 to curb the government from paying families before they can acquire land for certain purposes. This law made the government own all landed properties in Nigeria with the state governments becoming owners of land in their respective states.

Prior to 1978 before the enactment of the land use act, families could control whoever could own land in their communities even the government.

The introduction of the Land Use Act of 1978 gave the federal and state government 100% authority to own all lands in the country and state respectively.

However, for you to own land, you need to seek the permission of the government to own one. It is also pertinent to note that not all lands can be excised. The lands under global acquisition can be subject to excision.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/excision-of-land/

As far as Nigeria is concerned, owning modern houses is considered a symbol of success because you tend to be financially secured. There are many things to put into consideration when building modern houses especially in metro cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Portharcourt.

Most times people overlook certain factors when building homes forgetting that there is a lot of things that go into building your own modern house, even though you have the funds.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUILDING MODERN HOUSES IN NIGERIA

So you have bought that plot of land in a prestigious location…great! But you are not too sure of things you need to put in place even after you have done your due diligence. You will be overwhelmed by the insight Thinkmint Nigeria is about to provide you with.

1. Size of your family: This plays a very important role before building your dream home. Think about the life of your family considering the numbers, hobbies, talents, etc. If you have a family that has an interest in research, you might want to set aside a room for the library; if sports, then you need a bigger surrounding. In addition, do not forget the number of rooms you need to have, do you need to have more than one ensuite?. Although, your budget and land size determine the space of your house.

2. Lifestyle: This is another factor to consider, your manner of living. Are you the type that prefers to have some elements of greenery around you?. Also, consider your interest as well as your family, what makes your family happy. Whatever makes them happy needs to be integrated with your dream home.

3. Design: The design of your dream home is something you should not joke with. There are many modern house designs recently. Ensure you choose the one that suits you without forgetting that it has to be modern. It is vital to also consider that the approved layout plan determines your design. To avoid having hassles with the government, it is better to build your building to suit the approved building plan.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/modern-houses-in-nigeria/

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, shelter is one of the most important needs of people. However, in the past months, there have been cases of collapsed buildings in Lagos and some other states in Nigeria. These issues are always attributed to many factors which we are going to address in this article.

A substandard building refers to any building or structure which endangers the life, health, property, safety of the public or occupants. On the other hand, substandard building or structure refers to any unfinished structure that is partially constructed or destroyed to remain in a state of partial destruction or construction. Its appearance reduces the value of the property and its neighborhood.

The Lagos state-building control agency is saddled with the responsibility of building control in all ramifications.

CAUSES OF SUBSTANDARD BUILDINGS IN LAGOS STATE
1. Financial factor: As a result of lack of funds for quality construction of buildings, incompetent laborers and inexperienced contractors are employed to carry out the jobs on sites. This leads to the use of non-quality materials which birth low-quality buildings posing danger to occupants of the building. Furthermore, substandard buildings suffer from ignorance of relevant building codes, lack of supervision, poor maintenance, and many more.
2. Corruption: This is an endemic that most people suffer from. Corruption is not only an attribute of the government but also the masses. Most especially the personnel at the top, always abuse entrusted powers for profit. Corruption does not only encompass the government but also those who are engaged in the building construction process. Corruption also arises as a result of unethical behavior which includes bribing to win contracts, wrong invoicing of nonstandard materials. The influence of corruption poses rapid deterioration of buildings and consequently higher maintenance costs.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/substandard-buildings-in-lagos-nigeria/

Ogun state, a southwestern part of Nigeria known to border Lagos state to the south and Oyo and Osun state to the North, and Ondo to the east.

Excerpts from Business day show that Ogun state elbows Lagos state in Nigeria’s industrialization. It is known to house several manufacturing hubs in Nigeria some of which include; Lafarge Cement, Nestle, Dangote cement, Gamble amongst many others.

This industrialization has really skyrocketed the development of the state thereby bringing in more investors to the state. In addition, due to the hustle and bustle activities that characterize Lagos state, have led to people moving there to start a family.

This article critically explains places you can live in Ogun State especially if you are starting a family.

These places are selected based on the factors; peacefulness, cost of living, and social amenities

1.Arepo: This is one of the populated cities in the state sharing boundaries with Lagos state. Arepo is few minutes drive from the capital of Lagos State and its dominated by residential properties with good neighborhood and commercial hubs like malls, amusement centers, Punch Newspapers, The Tribune, Opic Scheme, and lots more.

2. Abeokuta: This is the capital of Ogun State. Being the capital, its known to be beautiful with social amenities easy to access, with a reasonable cost of living. A peaceful area to be especially to young ones willing to start a family. Olumo rock which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nigeria is located here.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/live-in-ogun-state/

The land tenure system in Nigeria is giving an individual a legal right to own a parcel of land and the resources on or in the land. The land tenure system defines who uses the land and its resources for a particular length of time, and under certain conditions.

Every society varies with their system of property rights, these rules changes over time. The tenure system of land can be based on official policies or informal customs. When these rules overlap, confusion starts to set in.

The land itself can be seen as a tool for economic development because it is used for agriculture and tourism. The land tenure system differs in ethnicity, gender, and political affiliation.

Different Forms Of Land Tenure Systems In Nigeria
The following are the different forms of land tenure systems in Nigeria;

1. Communal land tenure system: in this form of land tenure system, the community is seen as the owner of the land. Usually, the head of the community determines how the land is distributed among natives. Don’t forget that such lands are mainly used for agricultural purposes. A major disadvantage of this type of system is that such lands cannot be used for residential purposes even though all the community members have a right to ownership of the land.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/understanding-land-tenure-systems-in-nigeria/

Lagos is the most populous city in Nigeria and the second-largest in Africa. Despite, the fact that buying a fully finished home in Lagos can be very expensive, most especially for first-time homebuyers. Real estate developers have now decided to make off-plan homes available, whereby you have the ability to spread your payment for a year or two with or without interest.

What are off-plan homes? Off-plan homes are projects undergoing construction and so have not been completed yet.

As far as Lagos is concerned, accommodation is skyrocketing compared to the cost of renting an apartment. Below are the topmost affordable off-plan properties in Lagos to consider as a first-time homebuyer.

1. The Rex Apartment: This is one of the most affordable properties in Lagos. It is a 14 premium apartment compromising of 12 units of 3 bedroom/maid room pent floor configuration. All room en-suite with generous living spaces with fitted kitchen and store. The pent floor apartments are made of 3 bedrooms en-suite with a maids room, large living room, separate dining with open plan kitchen. In addition, we have generous open terraced areas and balconies, adding a unique appeal to the exterior view of the building. Located in Freedom Way Lekki. This apartment allows you to spread your payment for a period of 12 months after the initial deposit has been made.

Continue reading : https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/affordable-off-plan-homes-or-properties-in-lagos/

Buying affordable land in Lagos is one of the most sought-after assets. Lagos is the fastest growing economy in Nigeria for commercial activities and investment has made people’s eyes to be wide open.

This is why we will be unveiling the most affordable estates to go for when buying land in Lagos.

1. The Amari Gardens: This estate is located in a serene community accosted by neighboring estates. This estate has a Certificate of Occupancy as title and shares proximity with the notable Lakowe Golf Course, international schools; Green Spring and Caleb International School; Lufasi Nature, Funtopia, Omu Resort. This estate promises several infrastructures; a drainage system, 24 hours electricity, street light, access road, security, green area, and many more. Buying a plot of land in Amari Gardens located in Lakowe, Lagos guarantees good returns on investment and also gives you the opportunity to own a plot of land within a period of 24 months, isn’t that amazing.

2. Martel Grandiose: This estate located behind Yaba College of Technology, Epe already gives you an idea of the kind of investment the property can be used for. Having multiple hostels is a good way to make as much rental income as you want. This estate also promises state-of-the-art facilities and grandeur. Speaking about Epe, a place for multi-billion naira investment which makes landed properties in this location to appreciates so fast. Martel Grandiose also offers the opportunity to own a plot of land within a period of 12 months. You can now see that you do not have to break the bank to own a plot of land in the fast-growing city of Epe.

Continue Reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/buying-land-in-lagos/

Getting a building approval plan in Lagos State indicates that the building complies with the statutory laws and regulations in erecting a building. In our previous post, we undressed into details what a building plan is and its importance and types.

The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) is saddled with some of the following responsibilities; inspection and certification of various buildings, building control in all ramifications. The Lagos State Physical Planning And Development Authority (LASPPDA), a section under the Ministry of Physical Planning And Urban Development is in charge of approving the building plan.

It is expected from the investors that after building plan approval has been obtained from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). Workers must strictly follow the rules guiding the construction process. The project might get sealed off if there is any deviation from the rules as such buildings are prone to imminent collapse.

Five (5) Processes of Getting A Building Plan Approval In Lagos State
The following a process of getting a building plan approval;

1. Get Architectural drawings, building plan, and survey plan: This process is called Vetting because you are applying for a building plan approval using the structural drawings and the survey plan. At this stage, the survey plan is charted using its coordinates to see if it located where it claimed to be located. Also, the survey is charted to detect if it truly registered. In addition to that, the building plan is also passed through rigorous checking to determine if it meets the standard of its design. The criteria evaluated are; ventilation, standard measurements, green areas e.t.c . Furthermore, the architectural drawings need to be signed by The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN. The COREN engineers ensure that the drawings are acceptable with corrected with the calculation sheets.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/getting-a-building-plan-approval-in-lagos-state/

Getting a building plan approval in Lagos Nigeria is an important part of the housing construction process and it requires hiring some professionals who can aid in getting the job done.

Before we continue, let us mentally UnCloth into minute details what the building plan is.

A building plan is a drawing that shows how a building will look like after it has been constructed. Usually, they are used by contractors and builders in the construction of buildings of any type. The birth of a building plan arises when the developer or owner approaches an architect with the notion of a new house or building. The architect comes up with several drawings for easy working of the construction process.

Its importance cannot be overemphasized as it

a. It aids in knowing the total estimates of a project.
b. It also aids in preparing the budget for a project.
c. It guides the builder through the project.

However, not having a building plan approval in Lagos Nigeria might hinder the interruption of building construction by government officials. The agency saddled with the responsibility to plan, devise and implement the state policies on physical planning and urban development is the Lagos State of Physical and Urban Development.

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It is common in the Nigerian real estate business that both the owner/landlord and the tenant prefer verbal agreement to legal paperwork. This has caused havoc as there is no proof of the agreement between both parties after negotiation. Before we go further to understand the right of a tenant and landlord, let’s identify the two parties; Landlord and Tenant.

Who is a Tenant: A person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord. While a Landlord on the other hand refers to someone who owns land or property and allows another person to use it for a certain fee. The association between both parties arises from an agreement by which the tenant occupies a property subject to a fee called the rental fee.

[center]The Legal Right Of A Tenant And Landlord In Nigeria[/center]

Below are the legal rights of a tenant in Nigeria.

Right to an agreement: Every tenant has a right to have an agreement with his landlord. However, after negotiation, such an agreement should be based on some legal paperwork to avoid misunderstandings between both parties.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/legal-right-of-a-tenant-and-landlord-in-nigeria/

Recent statistics of the Nigerian real estate market have shown that most people prefer to rent a house than to buy. However, house rents differ from location to location. Most Nigerians believed that they do not have the capacity to buy their dream homes because they believe buying a house requires a lot of millions whereas it’s just due to their lack of information.

With the recent downturn in the Nigerian economy, the real estate market has turned a new leaf as you can now own your dream home through an off-plan housing scheme where you have the opportunity to spread your payment for a year or more. Gratitude to some real estate companies that have simplified the process of getting a property via installments. This is not only applicable to housing schemes but also landed properties. The good thing about off-plan housing schemes is that you tend to buy below market value and also serve the opportunity for you to own more than one property depending on your monthly income. In addition, a mortgage may apply to securing an off-plan property depending on the real estate developer you patronize.

The problem first-time homebuyers encounter is that they do not know the procedure of securing an off-plan investment.

[center]Procedures on How to Buy A Property With Up To Two(2) Years Flexible Payment Plans In Lagos Nigeria.[/center]

The following are processes of how to secure a property with up to two(2) years flexible payment plans in Lagos Nigeria

1. Have a plan to be sure that you can afford it.
2. Check out available properties with payment plans on Thinkmint Nigeria
3. Book physical inspections with the brokerage firms in charge of the property and ensure you ask questions where necessary.
4. Request for the property terms and conditions, you might want to seek your lawyer’s advice on those terms before you sign.
5. Decide on the payment plan that suits you
6. Make a deposit for the property and ensure you get the contract of sale for that transaction.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/property-with-up-to-two2-years-flexible-payment-plans-in-lagos-nigeria/

Landed property in Nigeria is of two classifications which can either be free from the government or acquired. For land to be free from government acquisition, it means the government has no interest in the land and such land is safe to invest in. On the other hand, land that is classified as acquired means such land is not safe to buy.

Have you ever come across a scenario where government officials are demolishing certain buildings because their owners failed to perform due diligence before building on a committed land.

This post will educate you on the safe land to invest your hard-earned money in.

[center]Types Of Land Classifications In Nigeria[/center]
Land can be classified into two major types of acquisition

1.General acquisition
2. Committed acquisition

General acquisition: It is generally known that all lands belong to the state government and every state has a master plan for development. As more people migrate to the urban areas, these master plan changes led to the perfection of land before erecting a building on it. A landed property that is generally acquired can only be free when it undergoes a process called EXCISION

What is Excision: Simply put taking apart from a whole. Excision in real estate is a process where government frees a portion of land that is not under government acquisition to an individual or a company. Such lands record is published in the official record book called GAZETTE. The gazette of such land can be used to process the CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

However, there are some lands made available for sale while their excision is processing. Such lands are usually cheap and they have no title other than Survey and Deed of Assignment. Although experts in the last edition of Grow Your Wealth With Real estate show, organized by Thinkmint Nigeria, know that such lands are not safe to buy. But if you will be investing in such land, ensure you buy from a reputable real estate company.

Continue reading: https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/land-classifications-in-nigeria/