With globalisation in full swing, buyers now tend to come not only from the domestic property market, but there is growing demand from Expats working or living in other countries, and from international buyers looking to diversify their property portfolios.
International roadshows have become a powerful tool for attracting property buyers from other destinations. They offer a unique platform for real estate agents and property partners to showcase their properties and investment opportunities to a targeted audience.
These roadshows enable property professionals to take the market directly to their buyers by exposing them to information about the market that they represent as well as a showcase of suitable properties.
Seeff Zimbabwe achieves UK success with Expat Expo
Seeff Zimbabwe for example recently visited and showcased in the UK as part of the “Birmingham Property Exhibition Showcase” which was organised by Seeff Zimbabwe. It was held at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Birmingham and included 40 exhibitors ranging from estate agents and developers to conveyances, suppliers, and the CBZ Bank which brought its top leadership.
Patience Patongamwoyo, MD for Seeff Zimbabwe says it was a “big success”. About 1,500 Zimbabweans attended from as far afield as Europe. About 2 million Zimbabweans live in the UK. It is regarded as the largest Diaspora population after South Africa.
Zimbabwean Expats have become a big market for property purchases in Zimbabwe, she says. The showcase enabled Zimbabweans to get insight into the property market, the purchasing process, financial and banking requirements and so on. She says it was the most well-attended show of its kind by Zimbabweans in the UK, and so successful that it is now planned as an annual event. They will also be taking the show to Dallas in the USA in April next year.
Seeff Dubai extends its International Roadshows to Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria
Following successful roadshows in South Africa, Seeff recently held a week-long roadshow in Lagos and Abuja in Nigeria which included a gala dinner in the Delboro Hotel in Lagos.
With Dubai set to lift the Nigerian visa ban, it was opportune for Seeff to visit and showcase properties to buyers and investors from Nigeria, says Nombasa Mawela, licensee for Seeff Dubai. It was also a great opportunity to boost investor confidence once again, and the roadshow was received with much interest.
Off-plan properties are particularly suitable to the Nigerian market, and Seeff showcased a number of new developments with long term payment plans, which were big sellers. Apartments especially are popular for the rental income which can be earned when they are not needed for own-use, or purely as a rental investment. From the consultations in Lagos alone, Seeff made a massive ten sales on the spot.
Many of the Nigerian guests were also familiar with the Seeff brand which made us trusted partners to walk them through opportunities, adds Nombasa. Seeff received a lot of follow up enquiries from the gala dinner attendees including members of the royal council, businessmen and government officials.
South African investors are also flocking to the Dubai property market. She says that over the past six months alone, property sales to South African buyers stand at over R200 million collectively as there is increasing appetite to invest in the lucrative Dubai property market.
Off-plan developments are the most popular due to the attractive payment plans which offer payment periods of up to seven years, with some boasting a 40% or 60% post-handover payment plan. These give investors a flexible payment structure and enough time to arrange their funds.
The Dubai property market continues its booming trend and there has been an increase in high, upmarket purchases this year. The first quarter of 2024 experienced a remarkable surge in off-plan properties. Property prices continue to increase, and that alone should indicate the consistent growth in the market, and better placement for offshore property investors, concludes Nombasa.