How we closed fantastic deals despite pandemic, by Popoola
Olawale Popoola is the managing director and chief executive officer of Highbridge Homes Limited, one of the players in Nigeria’s real estate industry. He explains how good track record helped his firm blossom despite pandemic pains and more, in this inte
Could you introduce yourself and your organisation?
My name is O lawa le Po p o o l a ; I am the MD/ CEO of High Bridgehomes Limited. I am also an executive member of Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN). Our corporate headquarters is located at Royal Plaza, Bogije on the Ibeju-lekki axis of Lagos. We are into real estate; our operations cover the major spectrum in real estate. Highbridge has carved a niche for itself as a big player in booming real estate sector. We are actually reputed for having one of the largest land bank all over the country. We sell affordable lands to all categories of Nigerians; the low, middle and high income strata of society.
Primarily, we are in the business of helping people own their own houses, and we do that by acquiring large expanse of lands that is free from all encumbrances, and sell plots to prospective property owners with approved title documents from relevant government department. We also assist people buy both luxurious, middle level and low cost houses.
How did you get into property business?
I studied Civil Engineering at Kwara State Polytechnic, then read Economics and acquired my BSC in Economics from the University of Ilorin. I have other professional certifications. Armed with my engineering, economics background and all of that, I decided to explore the burgeoning real estate sector; and I am so glad I did. Business has been exciting.
Are you saying that Covid-19 has not taken toll on the operations of Highbridge Homes particularly when all sectors reeling under the negative impacts of the pandemic?
Covid- 19 pandemic affected real estate players in different measures. Players, who have good track record of performance and the capacity to dangle enticing and innovative schemes to consumers of real estate products still closed fantastic deals despite the economic limitations that the pandemic had on people. For us at Highbridge Homes, Covid-19 pandemic was a blessing because we made so much sales than we did before the pandemic. At the moment, we have sold out two schemes already namely Highbridge Cottage which is located in Sangotedo area of Lekki; and Highbridge Oakland, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Lagos. Currently, Highbridge Park Estates is the fastest estate within the Lagos Free Trade Zone, with a high appreciable value. A prospective property buyer can get a patch of land in Ibeju-lekki at an affordable rate. I can assure you that in two weeks, all the plots in the estate will be sold out because we give our customers prime properties at affordable rates. They l ove us because our properties are safe. That’s our hallmark.
What would you say has endeared Highbridge Homes to property buyers?
Our selling point is; we deliver intact and promptly too. Highbridge is known for adding value to our estate even before we start selling out the plots. We construct gate houses, paved roads within the estate; provide power generating plants, perimeter fencing and general amenities for the benefit of our esteemed residents. We don’t wait until we sell a large volume before we start development. But as soon as we have taken possession we commence development; and that gives our clients confidence because they can interact with us; they see our presence on site and they believe us which helps our business. Yes; we deliver and give back value to our clients. And they are left with no choice than to patronise us. Our clients don’t need to deal with the natives (omo onile) we shield them from every omo-onile challenge. They are safe and comfortable with us. We basically bring investors closer to affordable lands and houses without stress.
Could you tell us a little bit about future prospects of High Bridgehomes?
High Bridgehomes is spreading across the nation; currently we are running a pre-launch offer on our Benin City Estate; we are also working on the launch of three new estates; two in Lagos and one in Abuja very soon. We are coming up with a unique build and sell Estate in one of the prime property zones of Lekki Peninsular, Lagos. The estate is very unique in the sense that a prospective buyer can acquire a plot and be able to express his creativity by building to his or her taste. We also have a section that will feature Highbridge prototype kind of apartments to cater for all categories of income earners. For instance, there will be selfcontained or studio and one bedroom apartments for beginners and young families, two bedrooms and three bedroom terrace apartments for the middle income class and semidetached four and more luxury flat for the upper class.
The Benin project is currently going for N1.6million for a full plot and N850,000 for half plot. A plot in Benin is 900 square meters which is bigger than that of Lagos by 100 ft. The pre-lunch offer is about to close, by the time we lunch it fully the price will go over two million; this is the right time to get a pre-lunch offer at a cheap rate.