Where To Build A House

              Magnificent (credit:beaverealty.com)                                                   

The greatest obstacle to people building their own houses is the desire to build their houses in highbrow or choice areas of some states in Nigeria. For instance, a lot of people want to build their houses in Banana Island, Richmond Gate Estate, Lekki Phase one and Two, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Allen Avenue, Opebi, Magodo Phase one and two, Dolphin Estate, Yaba, Surulere, Oregun etc. They want their houses located in already development areas of the cities. They do not want their houses in the villages or remote areas of the states.

 But this is a misconception because a city today was once a forest, bush, hamlet or a village! The Banana Island, Richmond Gate Estate, Lekki Phase one and two, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Allen Avenue, Opebi, Magodo Phase one and two, Dolphin Estate, Yaba, Surulere, Oregun etc. of this world were all forests, Bushes, hamlets or villages! A city today was a village yesterday! This is just the truth of the matter.

The first factor you must consider when you want to build a house is availability of land. Is land available in the area you want to build your house? If land is available in the area you want to build your house then there is another question you must answer too. Can I afford the cost of land in this area? Affordability is key here. You must be able to afford the price of a piece of land in a particular area before you can acquire in that area. For instance, a plot of land measuring 120 x 60 sqm in Banana Island goes for as much as N1b! Can you afford a plot of land for N1b? In Richmond Gate Estate it sells for N800m.  In Lekki Phase one and two, it sells for as much as N500m; in Victoria Island it goes for N300m. In Ikoyi, Allen Avenue, Opebi, Magodo Phase one and two, Dolphin Estate, Yaba, Surulere, Oregun etc. the prices hover between N200m and N150m. But in some remote parts of Mowe, Ibafo, Oke Aro, Lisa, Robiyan, Ofada etc, you can get a plot of land for as low as between N150,000 to N500,000! Is this not affordable? Can’t you afford N150,000 to buy a plot of land upon which you will build your house that will house you and your family from rains and sun for the rest of your life? Think about it.

The second factor you also need to ruminate is why you want to build your house in that particular area of the state. Why do you want to build your house in Banana Island? You should have a reason for choosing Banana Island as the location for your house. This is because to every decision taken by man there must be a reason. Is Banana Island the only place you can build your house? These questions are germane.

The third factor you should also consider before you build a house is whether you are building for commercial purpose or for self-use. Are you building the house for commercial purpose or for self-use? Building a house for commercial purpose or for self-use will definitely influence your decision. You could build a house for commercial purpose in a particular area because expertrats or foreigners live there. On the other hand you could build a house in a certain area because the houses there are occupied by landlords and you may want to associate with other landlords.

Fourth, you must also consider the fact that in certain areas houses are built to specifications and patterns. Can you afford the pattern of houses built in that particular area you have chosen to build your house? This should influence your choice of area to build your house.

However, considering the vagary of the economy, my candid advice to anyone that cares is that you should build your house in any area where you can afford the land and also be able build your house. Build your house in the hamlet or village because development will definitely get there sometimes. Any time you have some money on you commence the building of your house because you never can tell when your landlord will give you a quit notice. Some people who had money in past vowed to buy houses in choice areas in the states they were living so they didn’t bother build their own houses but suddenly problems came and they couldn’t buy houses the choice areas they envisaged and remained tenants forever. Don’t remain a tenant forever build your own house now that you are making money! Good luck!