For many Sierra Leoneans living abroad, owning a home in their country is more than a financial investment. It represents a deep connection to their homeland.
The dream of returning home, whether to visit or build a future, often feels distant due to the perceived challenges of land acquisition and property development.
However, Jobomax Homes is making that dream a reality. Through their monthly property webinar, they help Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora, and other African diasporans, gain insights into owning property in their homeland.
With a focus on affordability, sustainable living, and empowering local talent, September’s webinar provided practical tips for navigating Sierra Leone’s real estate market.
Join us as we explore key takeaways from this enlightening discussion, aimed at helping diaspora members invest in their homeland with confidence and ease.
Top Tips for Finding Affordable Housing in Sierra Leone
1. You Need to Verify Land Ownership Before Purchasing
One of the biggest risks in real estate, especially in emerging markets like Sierra Leone, is land disputes and fraudulent titles. Diasporans trying to build in their homeland often fear purchasing land with fake titles. It is not a sound financial investment to buy a land without verifying the true owner and title. Bimbola Carrol, CEO of VSL Property advised diaspora buyers to do their homework and visit the Ministry of Lands to verify land ownership as well as trace succession.
Vickie Remoe, the webinar host, shared a tip: visit the land without the seller and verify ownership with neighbors. Carrol also suggested buying land from families known for owning land in Sierra Leone, which increases the chance of a valid title.
He said, “There are some families you can buy from that increase the chance it is a proper title and sometimes that’s why some people prefer buying property because then it validates the land that the building sits on.”
Jobomax Homes already has verified titles for all its land. This reduces the risk of disputes and provides buyers with peace of mind.
2. Explore Areas Outside Freetown for Your Property Development
According to Carrol, “Freetown is running out of space!”
As Sierra Leone’s major urban center, Freetown is becoming smaller and more expensive as more people move in. However, other areas in Sierra Leone are developing, offering new housing options in suburban regions.
With Freetown becoming crowded, many people are now building apartment-style structures, which are increasingly expensive.
Building outside Freetown has several advantages including significantly lower costs for both construction and renting. Some areas, like the Peninsula, are in high demand.
“If you own property on the Peninsula, now is the time to pay more attention to it. Because the road just opened up the area completely. It is highly desirable and it’s close to the touristy areas. There is some pace so it is in high demand,” Carrol said.
Jobomax Homes’ Newton Springs community is located just outside of Freetown.This cul-de-sac of 25 homes offers a peaceful retreat.
Surrounded by natural springs and mountain views, it provides a relaxing sanctuary away from the bustle of Freetown.
3. Navigate Your Finances
Financing is a major barrier for those seeking affordable homes. Especially in traditional lending options which often require high interest rates and or short repayment periods. This makes it difficult for many to afford monthly payments.
During the webinar, some solutions were offered, such as Jobomax Homes’ flexible financing options and extended payment plans that can cover up to 70% of the total cost. These can help mitigate these challenges and make homeownership in Sierra Leone more accessible.
Jobomax Homes offers a wide range of housing options starting as low as $21,000, making it possible for diaspora members with different budgets to invest in property. With a 30% deposit, Jobomax Homes can start constructing your dream home.
Robert Hornsby, the CEO of Jobomax Homes, stated that Jobomax Homes has made more than 5 million dollars of home purchase financing available to their homebuyers in Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Guinea.
“Those financing programmes are possible because we got involved in helping set up financing companies that go out and find investment from private investors and make money available to our home buyers to be able to buy these homes,” he said.
“We are proud to have found a variety of solutions to help our diaspora clients achieve their dream of homeownership and we are excited to be in Sierra Leone,” he added.
4. Choose Locations with Reliable Infrastructure
Building your property in an area with essential infrastructure is important. Access to reliable water, electricity, and roads impact the livability of these properties.
Carrol emphasized the importance of having workable infrastructure in communities to ensure a better quality of life.
“People prefer properties in areas that are well established in terms of water, power, and also other things. They don’t want to be the one to construct a road leading to the area that everyone will then use and all of that so proximity to those things matter,” he said.
Jobomax Homes addresses this by partnering with a company to provide solar-powered water.
“We have a partnership for water in Sierra Leone for a solar powered water treatment plant on site that serves our community with prepaid metered water that is treated to WHO standards,” Hornsby said.
Jobomax Home communities benefit from proximity to major roads, access to solar power, and connections to treated, pressurized water. These essential services make them an excellent choice for building your home.
