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With more than two decades in the property and financial industry, Principal Property Practitioner at Jireh Real Estate Namibia, Florencia Kavendjii has seen homeownership challenges from every angle. Working daily with buyers, sellers, financial institutions and developers has given her a clear view of the realities facing ordinary Namibians.
Florencia, you feel all stakeholders together need to empower first-time buyers who are struggling to obtain home loans.
Yes! The future of Namibia’s housing market depends on our collective ability to make homeownership more inclusive, affordable and sustainable. If banks, government, developers and practitioners each take practical steps now, we can bridge the gap between aspiration and reality – and ensure that more Namibians have a place they can proudly call home.
What should financial institutions be doing?
Banks should expand access to affordable housing finance by developing more flexible first-time buyer products and strengthening pre-approval processes. They should also offer practical financial literacy support so clients understand affordability before they apply.
Explain the role of government, developers and estate agents?
Government should unlock more serviced land and streamline housing processes by speeding up approvals and reducing administrative delays. They should implement subsidy or guarantee schemes for the “missing middle”, those civil servants and young professionals who are often excluded from both public assistance and conventional lending.
Developers should prioritise cost-efficient and affordable housing models by building smaller, well-designed units in mixed-income developments. They should be working with financiers to create housing options that better match the incomes of ordinary Namibians.
Estate agents should guide buyers earlier in the process by promoting realistic pricing and encouraging pre-approval before house hunting. Buyers should not enter the market without understanding how banks assess affordability, repayment capacity and creditworthiness. Pre-approval is an essential first step. Buyers also need to understand budgeting, credit management, savings, deposits, transfer costs as well as the long-term commitment that comes with property ownership. Informed buyers make better decisions, face fewer setbacks and are more likely to achieve sustainable homeownership.
Why do you feel strongly about collaboration between all parties?
Because Namibia’s housing affordability gap is widening. For many working families, homeownership is drifting further out of reach as property prices climb faster than incomes, while lending requirements remain strict. As a result, the dream of owning a home is becoming increasingly disconnected from what ordinary buyers can actually afford.
Do you foresee a future where all of this comes together?
Yes. We have no choice. Bridging the gap between home-ownership dreams and economic reality is vital. Three gene-rations are already sharing one home and we cannot allow that to become four. Sustainable housing solutions must start now.
The Jireh Real Estate Team, from left to right: Tambuka Feblonia Yana, Florence Maponga, Esperanca Lupeli and Lovisa Tuhafeni Shilongo
