As growing urbanisation in Africa aids economic growth, as larger concentrations of people in cities create large customer bases, promote more efficient labour markets and reduce transport costs, increasing opportunities arise with regard to residential property development and ownership.
Opportunities for property investment in Africa range from large property developments in all segments of the market, from low cost housing through to exclusive villas, as well as on an individual property basis, depending on the particular buying needs.This is according to Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Properties (PGP) group, who says many of the largest cities in Africa are growing rapidly; Nairobi, Kinshasa and Dar es Salaam, for example, are expected to see population growth of over 70% by 2025.
Africa’s mega-cities, including Lagos, Cairo, Luanda and Johannesburg, are increasingly becoming the engines of its economic growth.
Dr Golding says with robust economic growth rates anticipated for the continent during the next decade, as well as healthy growth rates in individual wealth, Africa is expected to show the most rapid growth in new millionaires over the next decade, albeit from a low base.
The number of dollar millionaires in Nigeria, Kenya and Angola is expected to more than double by 2030, The number of millionaires in Nigeria alone is forecast to increase by 174% to 43 000, he says.
It is said that the number of Africans with $30 million in assets, the ultra HNWI (high net worth individual), is anticipated to rise with 53% to 2 858 by 2023, far outstripping the average pace of growth across the rest of the world, and by which time there are likely to be 38 billionaires on the continent.
“These individuals are currently growing their real estate portfolios quite aggressively, which accounts for the growth in the number of buyers of property in South Africa from other African countries.”
Dr Golding says Africa’s city dwellers generally earn more and spend more than their rural counterparts, and the urban middle class is growing across much of the continent, which is helping create dynamic consumer markets and attracting overseas investors.
He says African retail markets are rapidly developing, while the phenomenal growth of Africa’s technology sector, along with a mobile revolution, is creating demand for office space along with multinational companies from the banking sector and companies related to the oil and gas industry.
Dr Golding says future prospects for Africa offer significant growth potential for those with the foresight and ability to make the most of it.
Opportunities for property investment in Africa range from large property developments in all segments of the market, from low cost housing through to exclusive villas, as well as on an individual property basis, depending on the particular buying needs.
In Uganda, there is a new upmarket marina golf resort development on Lake Victoria, which comprises 148 villas and apartments, and with a championship golf course and hotel.
Situated halfway between Entebbe and Kampala, just 5km off the main highway, the secure development comprises 10 apartment blocks, each with eight units of 160sqm spread over four levels, plus a 320 square metre penthouse, all with scenic views over Lake Victoria. There are also 58 villas ranging from 650 to 900 square metres. The apartments are priced from US$325 000 to US$720 000, while the villas range from US$820 000 to approximately US$1 million.
The new development will be officially launched in April (2015), by which time one entire apartment block will be completed, as well as one of each of the four different sized villas.
The units are aimed at top business executives and an anticipated influx of people into the area as a result of the oil refinery commencing operation in the next two years.
Peet Strauss, Gauteng development manager, says with PGPs ties to the homecoming market and Homecoming Revolution, which seeks to recruit top African talent and bring them home. They are targeting Ugandan diaspora in particular.
He says their aim, apart from selling to local Ugandan buyers, is to sell a significant portion of units to Ugandans living abroad, and with assistance from the Ugandan Embassy, an initial communication has already resulted in 500 enquiries and responses from potential buyers currently living in New York alone.
“We will be training two Ugandan sales agents who are based in Uganda and will concentrate on the local market, we are focusing on the international market via our Gauteng operation.”
He says they are staging exhibitions showcasing the new development in Uganda in London in March (2015), followed by New York and Washington DC, with further support from the Ugandan High Commissioner in South Africa in arranging appointments via the Diaspora desk in Kampala.
In this way, he says they aim to reach Ugandans living and working in major cities in the world who are looking to acquire property back home. He says they are also marketing this development to affluent Kenyans seeking to buy holiday homes.
Key attractions on site include the marina and championship golf course, designed by Golf Plan USA, who also designed Pezula golf course on the Garden Route in South Africa, as well as numerous world class golf courses globally.
Managed for the past three years by the Serena Hotel Group, known for their success in the conference market, the 5-Star Serena Hotel offers homeowners access to all services and restaurants while the golf clubhouse is also managed by Serena, he says.
Furthermore, a new, greatly improved main road connecting Entebbe and Kampala is currently under construction, which will provide even easier access, he explains.
Strauss says while the development is aimed at Ugandan buyers who can acquire property outright, foreigners can transact on a leasehold basis ranging from 75 to 99 years and renewable automatically.
Considered a stable and rapidly developing country, Uganda is experiencing a huge housing shortage in general, with the demand for luxury residential property increasing in key nodes, particularly in the vicinity of Kampala.
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