Buying Property During a Short Visit: Is It Possible? A Diaspora Buyer’s Guide

Zikan Realtors
Dec 5, 2025
3 min read

For many Nigerians in the diaspora, December is the only time they can physically visit home. Between family events, Detty December outings, and weddings every weekend, the idea of buying a property within that short window feels almost impossible.

But here’s the truth:

YES — you can buy property during a short visit… if you prepare properly.

This guide breaks down exactly how.

Three people smiling; one holds keys, discussing property. Urban street, modern buildings, palm trees. Caption: "Buying Property During a Short Visit: Is It Possible?"

1. Start Your Research Before You Land

2. Lock In a Trusted Realtor Early

3. Schedule Property Tours Before Your Arrival

4. Go With a Lawyer From Day One

5. Focus Your Search

6. Use Technology to Speed Things Up

7. Make Payments Securely

8. Plan for What Happens After You Leave

9. Use a Power of Attorney

10. Final Tip: Don’t Rush — Prepare

Contact a licensed realtor

1. Start Your Research Before You Land

Most diaspora buyers waste their first week in Nigeria “figuring things out.”You can avoid that.

Do this before boarding your flight:

Shortlist trusted realtors/agencies
Review locations based on budget
Ask for virtual tours in advance
Request sample documents (C of O, layout plan, title summaries)
Pre-screen properties online to cut physical visits by 70%

By the time you arrive, you should already know the top 3–5 properties worth seeing.

2. Lock In a Trusted Realtor Early

A short visit means you don’t have the luxury of trial and error.

What you need is a:

Reputable firm with verified past clients
Team experienced with diaspora transactions
System for fast documentation
Ability to coordinate with lawyers, surveyors, and developers

Your realtor becomes your project manager during your brief stay.

3. Schedule Property Tours Before Your Arrival

Don’t wait till you land.

Ask your realtor to:

Arrange site visits
Confirm developer availability
Prepare transportation
Pre-check route traffic (very important in Lagos)

Your entire property tour plan for the trip should be fixed before Day 1.

4. Go With a Lawyer From Day One

When time is short, a real estate lawyer becomes your biggest advantage.

They help you:

Verify titles quickly
Confirm authenticity of documents
Ensure contracts are clean
Speed up validation and due diligence

A lawyer can help you avoid the “Come back next week” delays that slow diaspora buyers.

5. Focus Your Search

Trying to “see everything” leads to confusion and wasted time.

Instead, focus on:

Your budget
Your investment goal (rental income, land banking, home building)
Your preferred city
2–3 top locations only

The narrower the focus, the faster your decision-making.

6. Use Technology to Speed Things Up

A short visit doesn’t mean rushing blindly.

Leverage:

Virtual due diligence meetings
Instant document sharing
Drones for site views
Live video calls with developers
Digital signatures (where allowed)

This reduces what normally takes weeks into a few days.

7. Make Payments Securely

Payment delays can kill a deal.

Diaspora buyers should use:

Transferwise / Wise
Paystack merchant invoice (for developers that offer it)
Bank transfer to corporate accounts only
Escrow where available

Never pay cash.Never pay into a personal account.

8. Plan for What Happens After You Leave

Buying is just the beginning.

Before leaving:

Assign a trusted representative (attorney or realtor)
Agree on documentation follow-up timelines
Set up a digital folder for your documents
Confirm monitoring and construction updates (if off-plan)

This ensures your investment continues smoothly in your absence.

9. Use a Power of Attorney

If your timing is extremely tight, a Power of Attorney (POA) allows your lawyer to complete any remaining steps — signing, submitting documents, receiving files — on your behalf.

It’s the smartest diaspora hack.