Do you know you have the right to own a house anywhere in the world? Yes! as long as you have the money to pay for it.

There was a time in Nigeria when the government gave houses to civil servants and military officers – they still do actually, but with some conditions.

Little wonder, some of them lose the house when the owner/beneficiary dies, leaving the family he or she left behind in limbo. They are now made to live at the mercies of families and friends. It’s definitely not a sight to behold.

The situation we painted above would have been prevented if the beneficiary had taken a step further to build a house for his or her family. The truth is, the opportunity to own a house is so abundant that many don’t value it.

It’s as though they are blind to see how great the value multiplies if one is to take investment into perspective. Real estate is adjudged to be the most profitable business because land appreciates daily.

Why then do people still find it difficult to own houses despite the clarion calls from real estate companies for individuals and corporate bodies to own houses?

10 Common Excuses People Give For Not Owning Their Houses

In this article, we share common excuses people give for being a tenant.

1. My Salary Is Too Small

The truth is, if you cannot make something of your small salary, it will be more difficult to do so when you start earning a better salary.

Regardless of the amount you earn, if you are disciplined enough to spare N10,000 per month, in 3 years, you will definitely get land that fits your budget.

It’s a journey, and those little savings can give you the house you use to think was never possible to own.

2. I Have Too Many Commitments

The typical Nigerian will tell you they have a lot of people depending on their salary; some even say their salary has finished before payday.

Children/ward school fees, financial commitment in church/mosque, house rent, utility bills, the financial obligation to family and relations, as well as parties make our list of financial commitments as Nigerians.

The list of commitments are endless really, but if some of the listed are the reason why you are still stalling your journey to become a Landlord, read the next paragraph to see what you should do.

Learn to prioritise your expenses per month – it’s going to help you in planning your finance. Let’s face it here, you cannot satisfy everyone the same way; look at what works best for you.

Try not to live beyond your means, if you have to get a loan, make it one that you can afford to repay within the timeframe you were given.

3. I Am Owing Too Many People Money

It’s not a crime to be indebted to people; from time to time; the need for a short loan can come up. But you shouldn’t allow it to get to the point where your debt is higher than your credit, it’s just not economically reasonable!

The only way to avoid this to reduce your spending, buy just what you need, learn to sacrifice for the rainy day, even if it requires you to reduce the number of meat in your pot!

4. I Don’t Want To Be Duped

Humans are rational, so it is normal to always have a second thought when dealing with any transaction that involves money.

The excuse some people give is that they or someone they know was scammed when he or she tried purchasing land. So, for this reason, they won’t also buy land, they will rather use their money for something else.

One cannot rule out the fact that there are some bad elements disguised as real estate agents, but there is a way you can verify a real estate person.

What you should do if you are presented with an opportunity to own land: You can go the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website check if the company has been registered, you just need to get their ‘Registered Company number’.

At the point of payment, make sure you are paying into the company account, not to an individual’s account, it’s the most professional and safest way to pay.

It is strictly unprofessional for a real estate agent to harass you for payment. In fact, it’s a red flag except if you have reached an agreement on a mode of payment.

Make sure your agreements are written and signed by both parties in the presence of your lawyer, not word of mouth. With all these measures, you know you are in safe hands.

5. I Can’t Handle The Land Grabbers (Omo – Onile) ‘Wahala’

From time in memorial, the issue of land grabbers have reared its ugly head. And understandably some people get scared when confronted with the issue of Land grabbers. Mostly prevalent in Lagos and other developed areas.

But this should not be an excuse to remain a tenant. If you buy from the right owner, you will not have any issues with Omo-onile.

The high prevalence of omo-onile most especially in Lagos gave birth to the land property protection law. The law was enacted in the year 2016; it curbed the illegal activities of land grabbers.

What should you do? Buy from a verifiable source, preferably Oga LandLord. We source for our lands from direct owners with verifiable claims. Afterwards, get proper documentation of your land after purchase.

6. Is Too Far From My Workplace

The question of distance to the work place is important, but one must realise that change is a constant thing. One could lose a job anytime, and might not be able to afford the rent in the more developed area.

Anything could happen really, if this is your excuse for not buying a land, you need to realise that at some point in life you will retire (if you are a civil servant) someday. And maybe you have your own business; time will come when you won’t have the strength to do your job.

It is easier to pay your rent when you still have the strength to work, when all these are gone, it becomes a big struggle. Trust me; this is not an experience you want to have.

A good access road solves the issues of distance in a big way because most of the perceived traffic congestions are caused by bad roads. Which is majorly the responsibility of the government, your own is to pay tax.

7. The Land Are Too Expensive

A recent study shows that people jump at the prospect of owning land; they are always excited to hear about a land sale. But their excitement gets shut down when they are told the price.

Land is an investment; you shouldn’t be scared to pay for it if you have the opportunity to own it. It is one investment that increases with time.

There are flexible payment plans these days, contact us, we have landed properties in various locations across Lagos and Ogun state for you to consider. There is the weekly, monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual payment plans. Choose anyone that works for you, all we are concerned about is that you buy a land and build.

8. I Can’t Live in the bush!

You see this excuse, it is synonymous to procrastination. We forget easily that the place we live now was once a bush.

During land inspection, we have seen many land enthusiasts turn down the opportunity to own a land in a less populated area. Some few years later, they see the area all developed and the price of Land increased by 20 – 30%.

Always have it at the back of your mind that the beautiful estate you see today was once called a bush. The more land you own, the greater your investment.

9. My Parent Already Have A House I Don’t Need To Build Another

In Africa, building a house for your family is probably the kindest gesture. But we have seen people give this excuse; they believe since their parent already built a house they don’t need to.

The thing here is those parents willingly sacrificed their time and money to build a house because they wanted to provide a place for their children to live. If your parent can build a house, then you should do the same for your own children.

The crisis that comes with inheritance can also be avoided if everyone in the family tries to build their personal houses as its prevalent in many African homes.

10. I Don’t Have A Stable Job

Anyone can actually own a home, it doesn’t matter how inconsistent your job is. But many have underestimated themselves on this premise. They feel when they get a job that pays well, they will buy the land.

With as little as N10,000 one can start paying for a land, yes! Land is that easy to own these days, what you need is a trusted real estate brand like Oga Landlord™.

What Should You Do?

Now that you know the excuses people give for not owning their houses, what is your own excuse?

Whatever your excuse is, hope we have helped to change your thoughts about owning land? If not, use the comment below, we want to know what your excuse is.

Contact us today, let’s help you get started.