You bought property in Lagos expecting it to “blow” in value, but months or years later, appreciation is moving like a slow network. Meanwhile, other locations are doubling in price and trending on real estate Twitter. If you’ve ever wondered why your property isn’t appreciating as fast as others, you’re not alone.
Here are the top five reasons some Lagos properties move slowly while others skyrocket in value.
1. Your location lacks major infrastructure projects
In Lagos, appreciation follows infrastructure, full stop. Areas with new bridges, expressways, rail lines, airports, ports, or tech hubs appreciate faster because demand rises automatically. If your property is in a location with no ongoing government or private infrastructure development, prices will grow, but sluggishly. Real estate doesn’t just follow land; it follows roads.
2. Poor access roads and drainage are scaring buyers
Nobody wants to buy a property they can only visit with a jeep and prayer. Bad roads, flooding, and poor drainage reduce desirability and instantly slow appreciation. Even if the title is legit and the price is fair, buyers will hesitate. Lagos floods have become a major risk factor, and the market is now punishing flood-prone locations.
3. The estate or community lacks strong development control
Areas with random building patterns, no planning, no security, and zero estate regulations tend to appreciate slowly. Buyers today prefer organized estates with uniform planning, security gates, and management companies. If your area looks like “anything goes,” investors will avoid it , and appreciation will move at snail speed.
4. Your title documentation isn’t strong enough
Let’s be honest, titles drive value in Lagos. Properties with C of O, Governor’s Consent, or Registered Survey appreciate faster than lands with “excision in process” or “family receipt only.” Buyers pay a premium for peace of mind. If your documentation isn’t clear or bank-friendly, appreciation will lag because serious investors won’t touch it.
5. There’s too much supply and not enough demand
Some Lagos corridors experience oversupply of similar estates and repetitive product types , same 300sqm plots, same marketing promises, same generic gatehouse. When supply outpaces demand, prices stagnate because everyone is selling the same thing. Meanwhile, scarce properties in strategic areas quietly keep rising.
Final Thought
Your property may not be “bad”; it may simply lack the right mix of location, infrastructure, title strength, demand, and planning. Real estate appreciation is intentional, not accidental before buying the next property, research beyond hype. Follow infrastructure, follow roads, follow development control, that’s where the real appreciation hides.
Photo by Batto Creative
