Brent Mortgage Bank Targets $21b Diaspora Cash With New Product

Brent Mortgage Bank Limited is targeting a large chunk of the estimated $21 billion annual remittances by Nigerians in the Diaspora with its newly developed product, Brent Home Ownership Diaspora Account (BHODA),, its Managing Director/CEO, Kola Abdul, has said.

Speaking during the product launch at the weekend in Lagos, Abdul said the product was created for Nigerians in the Diaspora who desire to own home, or invest in property in their homeland.

“We realised that although Nigerians in Diaspora are working hard and living in decent accommodations outside the country also deserve a decent place of abode in Nigeria. We also realise that many of them have not been able to achieve this dream of owing a home of their choice because of funds diversion, suppression, and conversion by friends and relations,” he said.

Abdul explained that the product would eliminate those challenges, and make home ownership easy for investors. He said the firm had identified some marketing agents in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland, who would assist the company in conducting due diligence its prospective customers.

“We simply require completion of our forms on-line with requisite documents attached. The prospective buyer at the onset will state the area where he or she wants the property, type of property, price range and other necessary details. Brent has opened domiciliary accounts with two commercial banks in Nigeria. Remittances would be made into any of these accounts in three different currencies namely, Dollar, Pounds Sterling and Euro,” he said.

He explained that when the local value of the remittances are close to 30 per cent of the value of property of interest, the customer would choose from identified properties and partake in price negotiation with our support. “Brent would conduct legal, physical and general investigations on the approved property before full payment is made and customer takes possession. Mortgage would thereafter be created on agreed rate and tenor while customer repays quarterly. Legal title would be transferred to customer immediately mortgage obligations are fully settled by customer,” he said.

He continued: “We have opted to play in this segment of the market with a view to deepening the mortgage market and managing our business risks more effectively. This is where we have strength and skills. Our franchise covers Lagos State that has about 17 million population, which is about 12 per cent of the country’s population and about 2.4 million housing deficit. It is pertinent to state that the franchise does not preclude us from financing mortgages outside Lagos State.”

He said the mortgage bank has also introduced two other products, Brent Rent to Own (BRENTO) and Brent Retirement Home Plan (BREHOP). For BRENTO, Abdul said customers are expected to meet the firm’s affordability and eligibility requirements, and with the payment of little equity contribution, such customer moves into any of the financed properties. The company will, thereafter, collect yearly payment of lump sum which covers mortgage repayment and interest elements for an agreed period of time ranging from five to 10 years. “When the property amount and interests are fully settled, the customer/occupant becomes the legal owner for life. Interest payable is 10 per cent per annum, which is very competitive,” he said.

According to him, BREHOP customers and prospective ones with regular stream of income, especially salary earners, can take advantage of this product to become home owners before retirement. “An account needs to be opened with us giving details of employment.

There would be 30 per cent equity build up at the earliest convenience of the customer/prospect. The two parties would identify the property the customer has the capacity to repay without pressure on his take-home pay. Interest rate is negotiable and competitive,” he said.