INTRODUCTION
Most investors overlook Yaba—until they see the numbers.
Nestled in the heart of the Lagos mainland, an area that was once known as a hub for students and its hustle and bustle culture has quietly become one of Lagos’s most strategic property goldmines. For a savvy investor who had the right guidance and market insights from Flinx, choosing Yaba did more than simply diversify their portfolio; it completely changed it.
We recently interviewed Mr. Agbaje Promise, a 42-year-old Engineer, already a seasoned real estate investor with properties in various locations on Lagos Island. From Epe, his hometown, to Ajah, down to Lekki, he had tested all the waters of the island but on the mainland? Never. Until recently…
Mr. Agbaje’s Interview
‘Developers on the island used their hands to push me to invest on the mainland, if I’m being honest, from failed offplans to unsupervised projects to water-logged buildings. I already had my fill of their nonsense.’
We realised that he really does have a lot of assets in his portfolio, but are they yielding the right or anticipated return of investment? The answer to that is NO. ‘My first property was an off-plan one in Epe; it was even being handled by a friend at the time so I trusted that it would do well with time, but at the end we didn’t see anything: foundation oo, block oo, roof oo, aa ri nkankan.’ The rest of his portfolio consisted of a 3-bedroom bungalow located at Abraham Adesanya in Ajah, two units of studio apartments at Osapa London and a block of about five one-bedroom apartments inside Ikoyi.
‘Of all of my investments, the one that brings and still brings me the most returns is the two units I have in Osapa, because it is well managed. The 3-bedroom apartment in Ajah is almost covered in grass; agents keep doing their own; no tenant retention. The one at Ikoyi that’s supposed to be my major moneymaker. I use it for short lets now and how many times does it even get occupied?
WHY YABA?
Yaba is Lagos’s most strategically positioned district for property investment, with its position as a thriving tech hub (Yabacon Valley), its location’s proximity to the Central Business District, and a young, well-educated population. It is centred around prime institutions like UNILAG and YABATECH, and this creates ongoing rental demand from students and young professionals on a year-round basis. Values of Yaba properties are always increasing at 10–20% per annum and have an 8–15% average rental yield, especially in co-living and short-let formats. Its upgrading infrastructure, connectivity to main roads, and clustering of startups and innovation hubs make it attractive for occupiers and investors. With its thriving lifestyle market, Yaba’s unique combination of education, technology, and city convenience renders the area a high-demand, high-growth target for property and rental income investment.
The Investment Decision
‘It took a lot to bring me out of my investing retirement. I remember the sales consultant taking me on inspections; I made her sweat. The amount of questions I asked this lady was enough for her to say, ‘we are not even selling again; please be going,’ but she handled it all so well’.
‘The ROI Flinx Realty promised to deliver had me second guessing but once an investor, always an investor, so I keyed into the Bradford apartment last year. Already convinced after I went for an inspection but I had my lawyer go through the offer letter and he gave me a go-ahead. ‘Last year I bought three units of studio apartments from Flinx Realty and the only reason I’m doing this interview is because I’ve seen my alert. I plan on securing some slots in an off-plan property they have going on now, because there’s already some level of trust.
‘My major concern was that the new people I’ve been introduced to are scams, ki wo n ma lo rip mii, ko ni je first time. So I made sure I saw their page on social media, instagram, facebook, everything. I saw that these were real people selling real properties’. ‘They referred me to a salesperson after a lengthy conversation and afterwards I made sure to step foot on said property before buying, mo fi oju ara mi ri kin to ra.’
Lessons Learned by Mr. Agbaje
‘I would recommend that everybody that wants to get into investing, be it real estate or anything else, should do their research, serious extensive research and ask the right questions.’ ‘People usually talk down on investments on the mainland because of the locations where some developers build their properties, but developers on the mainland are the most strategic.
“From the first showing to the closing day, the process was smooth and professional. Flinx Realty made buying my first investment property stress-free and even exciting!” -Mr. Agbaje Promise.
The Flinx Advantage
Flinx makes it easy to enter the Yaba market and profitable to do so. Through real-time insight into markets, investors are able to catch promising opportunities at the optimal time—especially in this fast-paced, technologically driven neighbourhood. What actually sets Flinx apart is its hands-off property management, where everything from sourcing tenants to repair work lies in the background while giving investors passive rental income streams without any hassle. In an area like Yaba where demand is strong and returns are attractive, Flinx introduces the tools, expertise, and assistance required to invest with minimal issues.
Conclusion
With its emerging tech scene, young population, and easy access to key locations in Lagos, Yaba is a magnet for intelligent property investors. Flinx Realty makes it easy to cash in on the opportunity, with expert advice, flexible investment options, and convenient property management.
Ready to transform your own portfolio? Explore Yaba properties with Flinx today.
