For many Guineans living abroad, owning a home in Guinea is a lifelong dream. Jobomax Homes has made that dream a reality for over 10 years now. They have helped not only Guineans but Ghanaians and Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora build high-quality homes.
In this interview, we meet Marie Soumah, a Guinean-American and the first to purchase a Jobomax Homes property in Guinea. She shares her journey and explains why Jobomax Homes is the trusted choice for Guineans in the diaspora investing in their future.
Can you share your name and a little bit about yourself and background? Were you born in Guinea? How long have you lived abroad?
Yeah, my name is Marie Louise Soumah, I was born in Senegal, but I’m from Guinea. Kindia is my town in Guinea. I studied in Guinea and I finished my university in Guinea. I majored in Agriculture in university but I came to the United States in 1989 because I followed my husband here.
What do you do? Where do you currently reside in the United States?
Right now, I own my own business. When I came here, I had to struggle like any African coming to America. I did all kinds of jobs and finally, I went to school here. I translated my certificates in the Embassy so I could continue agriculture here in the University of Maryland.
You know, English is my second language. In my country we speak French and it was not accepted so I went to the university college and I did nursing. I did nursing school here and I worked for different hospitals, assisted living, group homes and finally I opened my own in 2011.
The name of my assisted living facility in Maryland is Monique’s home Inc. I named it after my mother. I am licensed in the state of Maryland for 5 residents but now I have 3 because last month I lost one resident. I have lived in Maryland since 1990 because when I came here, I followed my husband to Mississippi State University. I stayed there for 1 year and we moved here in 1990.
How did you first become acquainted with Jobomax Homes and what made you consider them? What made you decide to build with them?
I found out about Jobomax Homes because every year, the Guinean community has a soccer game where all the Guinean communities in the United States come to one state. So that year, it was in Maryland.
So I went for the game with my husband and I saw the stand of Jobomax Homes. I approached them and I took the flyers. I talked with, at that time, Mr. Doumbouya.
He took all of my information and that evening, he, his wife, and his son came to my house. I said, “Oh no, I’m not ready, I was just asking.” He said, “Oh no, you can do it!” and I was motivated too.
Because when you are an African and you live in the USA, you send money all the time to build a house but they don’t do anything for you. So I had lost a lot of money with family members and friends because they never built anything for me.
So it was an opportunity for me to go through Jobomax Homes and get a house so I went for the first house. But they really helped me because Mr. Doumbouya encouraged me, and Robert, Jonathan – they all followed me. They came and helped me for the first step and then it was approved.
So you have had an experience where you send a lot of money but don’t get a building?
Oh yeah, a lot of money! No, I didn’t get any building after sending money. I bought land in my city, but there was no house because when I sent the money they didn’t build it. And there was about 1 acre of land there.
But when I put my trust in Jobomax Homes, my first house was built. It was built on their land in Gomboyah city.
How would you describe the process with Jobomax Homes? Was it a smooth experience or did you encounter some challenges?
The process was not bad because Robert came to see me, either Robert or Jonathan. So they introduced me to one man to check my credit. The man came to my house to see if I had good credit. Then, I had the credit from them to purchase the house and make a deposit. I was in Maryland when the house was being built.
I had my brother. He was in Gomboyah too, so I called my brother and told him to go and see the house that Jobomax Homes had built for me.
And my brother went there and he saw the house and he said, “That’s a house for a President! This house is immaculate, this house is a nice house!” So my brothers went there and got the key, got into the house, and checked everything for me and were satisfied.
When building your properties with Jobomax Homes, how did you keep track of Jobomax Homes’s progress?
They were giving me information about the process. We are always in contact.
I started paying monthly like a mortgage and it was for 5 years. It was too hard for me, so we made arrangements for me to pay within 10 years and they accepted.
When did you start building your house and how long did you wait for your house to be completed?
I’m going to finish paying the mortgage in 2025 so I don’t exactly remember but I know it’s about 7 or 8 years now. The house is already finished but I’m going to finish paying the mortgage in 2025.
The house is done, it has been done since. They don’t take time to build houses. The house was done quickly! After I first spoke to them, in less than 6 months the house was done. And that was the first house they built in Guinea.
What features or amenities do you believe Jobomax built homes and communities have that make them appealing to you?
The houses are strong! The designs are nice!
My house had three bedrooms and two full baths inside the house. Then the kitchen, living room, and dining room. It’s very nice. And they have another house outside where they have a bathroom outside, a kitchen outside, and a little place to stock stuff.
The only problem I had was that I realized they didn’t build closets in the rooms. So I talked to them and I said in America all the houses- in the rooms- they have closets and this house does not have that.
So they had to convert one bedroom to a closet for me. So that’s why now I have two bedrooms and two baths.
When will we see you in Guinea again in your lovely home?
Every two years, I am in Guinea. I was supposed to be there this year, but I couldn’t because I did not have a worker for my business. That’s why I’m still here. Anytime soon, I will go to Guinea.
I just bought the house for retirement so right now I have a tenant in the house but usually when I go to Guinea, I have my own place. My husband’s compound is in Conakry and I have my apartment there and all my sisters and brothers have housing there.
In Gomboyah, sometimes we go and spend the day there and we cook and invite people to come.
I was going in April but I couldn’t make it because in June, my niece was getting married. We did the African wedding, now she’s getting married here and we have to sign in August. But I don’t want to be there during the rainy season so I’m going to go there in October.
How would you describe the Jobomax Homes community?
The community is very nice. When I went there for the first time, we did a cookout and you know Africa, how we do it.
I invited the youth of the community, the Imams, the Sage of the community, all the neighbors and it was a big feast.
The family came along with others, and we cooked and everybody went away with food. We had food, a sacrifice, and we did a prayer and everything.
The Muslim service was done there and since I am Catholic, I invited the Priest too who came and blessed the house and blessed the food.
It’s a beautiful and friendly place.
What advice would you give individuals in the diaspora thinking about home ownership on the continent? And what would you have done differently?
With Jobomax Homes, you just have to be correct and trustful. Because being outside the country and sending money to our family there, they think that when you come to America, you don’t work to make money.
The work that we do here, we can’t do those work back home. It’s 24 hours work and you do all kinds of jobs, like assisted living, taking care of old people who can do nothing for themselves.
You do everything for them in the morning, clean them, feed them, and dress them. In the evening, you have to do the same thing before you put them to bed. And that money that you get, if you send that money to a friend or relative, they don’t do anything for you.
But Jobomax Homes is the best way to build in your country. It is the best way to realize your dream of owning a home in your country. Jobomax Homes gives you peace of mind. You just do your deposit, they don’t push you and they understand you.
When there is hardship, you can call them and talk to them. For example, you can tell them this month was a bit hard so you’re going to make payment next month. They understand you, as long as you don’t go overboard.
If you have hardship, call them, explain to them, they will support you, they will help you, they will wait for you.
So it’s the best opportunity for you to build your houses at home. You can be in America and your house will still be built. So, you don’t have to worry. At the end of the month, you just pay your monthly bill, by the end you, you’ll have your house.
Are you satisfied with your experience with Jobomax Homes? Is there anything you’d change about your experience?
I am very satisfied with them. They are so social, they are so human, they are so humble to me. Because for me, I am a little bit difficult. It is hard to satisfy me but with Jobomax Homes, it was not like that.
The only problem I had was with the closet space but then they solved it for me without any problems. We didn’t have any arguments.
What would you tell other individuals in the diaspora who are interested in building their homes in Africa but are unsure, especially because they have had negative experiences?
I encourage everybody to go with Jobomax Homes.
They are good. They are hardworking too and the houses are built well. Because if you plan on building yourself, you’ll send money and even hire people.
When they do building activities, they may even steal and other things.But with Jobomax Homes, you will not experience any of that. You have peace of mind with them.
