Monday, November 25, 2013

SOURCES OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT FINANCE IN NIGERIA

 As a result of the huge capital outlay needed for real estate development, developers usually source for fund in order to complement their equity capital. Large developers will usually have multiple funding arrangements with a variety of financial agencies. Nevertheless, the field is becoming so complex and competitive that effective project management is increasingly concerned with the way in which control over a particular scheme will be influenced by the origin and nature of development finance. There are various sources through which the developer can get fund to finance real estate development.

1.       Equity Capital

This is the fund realized from personal savings and family savings. It is usually low because of low per capita income, unequal distribution of income and high population in each family unit resulting in excessive consumption, low savings and low investment in Nigeria. Since this equity capital is usually small, it is prudent for him to decide on a mixture of equity and debt capital which will not only guarantee the highest expected return but also not impair the viability of the development. A developer’s ability to borrow will be enhanced by the size of equity capital at his disposal.

2.       Direct Loans

These are the loans got directly from the various lenders such as banks and other financial institutions for a specific period. They are classified according to their duration, short, medium and long terms.

(a) Short Term Loans: The conventional method of raising funds for the acquisition of land and the subsequent development of potential investment property over a two to three year period is by way of short-term finance. The traditional sources of short-term finance are the commercial and merchant banks as well as finance houses. The terms on which these loans are provided are usually very stringent and the interests charged are usually on variable interest basis and 2 percent to 6 percent above basic rate.

In the past, joint stock or clearing banks have also been involved in this kind of loan.

One advantage of loans in commercial banks is that a substantial proportion tends to mature, within 1-5 years. Most times, the forms of collateral security demanded by the banks are not quite satisfactory and prospective borrowers are deterred by these rather inflexible demands.

Merchant banks too have the same maturity pattern as commercial banks but are even more concerned with liquidity.

In an effort to mobilize funds into residential housing sector, commercial and merchant banks were directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria to treat the residential sector as a preferred sector and allocate at least 7 percent of their loanable funds into the sector. The guidelines further stipulated that where the total housing loans granted by the banks in any given year is lower than the level prescribed by the central bank, the short fall will be taken from the banks and on lend through the Central Bank to the Federal Mortgage Bank. Loans for residential building construction were for a minimum period of 15 years. However, these guidelines have not been strictly complied with as the banks are structured to accommodate comfortably short term lending. Property companies also provide short-term loans to developers.

(b) Medium Term Loans: These are loans granted for periods not exceeding 10 years. They are normally obtained by direct loan or overdraft from the commercial banks. Such loans are frequently raised while arrangements are being made for long-term loans. The banks are free to lend to whom they choose. Loans are repaid in a lump sum or by arrangement, and are subject to recall by the bank at any time.

 (c) Long Term Financing: Long-term development finance as its name implies is finance that is redeemable within 20 to 30 years or even more and usually at a relatively lower rate of interest. The greater equity participation providers in Nigeria are the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, various states’ property Development Corporation and Insurance and Assurance Companies etc. Their lending activities are concentrated mainly in the residential housing sector. Long-term development finance has traditionally been raised either by mortgage or particularly in terms of credit squeeze by sale and leaseback. Another aspect of long term financing is the forward sale, which is normally provided by the insurance companies and pension funds. These companies tend to exercise extremely tight control over the entire project, including land acquisition, design, construction and sale or letting of the project.

Key points:

Sources of finance for real estate development

·         Internal funds

·         Funds from private investment

·         Commercial banks

·         Merchant banks

·         Mortgage banks

·         Insurance and pension funds

·         Government bonds

 
Problems encountered in securing development finance from the financial institutions

·         Excessive protocol and bureaucracy

·         Collateral security

·         Restriction of government policies

·         High interest rate

·         Loan ceiling and duration

 
Ranking the various requirements for loan in the various financial institutions

·         Certificate of occupancy

·         Approved building plan

·         Survey plan

·         Bill of quantities

·         Feasibility and viability report

·         Evidence of past performance

·         EIA

·         Tax clearance

·         Development levy receipt

 

REFERENCES

Atterberry, W.: Modern Real Estate Finance. Ohio Grid Publication (1980).

Balchin, Pn, Kieve, J.L. and Bull: Urban Land Economics. The Macmillan Press Ltd., London (1988).

Cooper, J.R.: Real Estate Investment Analysis. Lexington Books (1974).

Denman, D.R.: Land Use: An Introduction to Land Use Analysis. The Estate Gazette Ltd., London (1968).

Gerald, B.R.: Property Investment and the Capital Markets. E & F N Spon, London (1991).

Lewis, M.G.: When Real Estate Becomes Big Business: Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures. Cahners Publishing (1974).

Lichfield, N.: Economics of Planned Development. The Estates Gazette Ltd., London (1956).

McCarthy, J.F.: Highway Financing by the Toll System. Bureau of Public Administration, University of Califonia, Berkeley (1954).

 Megarry: Manual of the Law of Real Property 6th Ed. Stevens & Sons Ltd., London (1982).

 Oprenheim, P.: Property Financing Methods, The Estate Gazette Ltd., London (1973).

 Paish, F.W.: Business Finance. Report of Committee on Finance and Industry. Macmillan (1953).

 Ratcliff, R.U.: Real Estate Analysis. McGraw Hill, New York (1961).

 Ratcliffe, J.: An Introduction to Urban Land Administration. The Estate Gazette Ltd., London (1978).

 Rics: Finance in Property. Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (1977).

Ruddock, L.: Economics of Construction and Property. Edward Arnold, London (1992).

 

Contributed by
Nelson Ogbonda, CEO
+2347033577278
riverspropertyexchange@gmail.com

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