How Developers Quietly Adjust Prices in December — and How Buyers Can Exploit It
- Zikan Realtors
- Dec 15, 2025
- 3 min read
In Lagos real estate, December pricing is rarely what it appears to be.
To the untrained eye, December looks like discount season: “₦5m off if you pay before Christmas,” “No documentation fees till year-end,” “Free allocation in 14 days.” But behind these offers lies a sophisticated pricing choreography developers have refined over years.
Developers don’t slash prices in December.They reposition value.
At Zikan Prop Solutions, we’ve audited hundreds of December transactions across Lekki Phase 1, Ikate, Ajah, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Epe axis, and strategic mainland corridors. What we’ve discovered is consistent: buyers who understand December price mechanics gain leverage; those who don’t subsidize developers’ year-end targets.
This article exposes how developers quietly adjust prices in December—and exactly how informed buyers can exploit these adjustments without overpaying.
The December Pricing Objective Developers Won’t Admit
December is about financial optics, not generosity.
Developers are focused on:
Closing strong year-end revenue reports
Improving cash flow before January operational costs
Hitting internal unit-sales benchmarks for investor confidence
Price reductions are the last resort. Instead, developers manipulate pricing structure.
Tactic 1: Base Price Inflation Before “Discounts”
This is the most common—and least detected—strategy.
How It Works:
Between September and October, base prices quietly increase by 5–15%
December “discounts” simply roll prices back to Q3 levels
Buyers feel they’re saving money while paying standard market rates
Why It Works:
Most buyers don’t track historical price movements. Developers rely on recency bias.
Zikan Exploit Strategy: Always request price sheets from 90–120 days earlier. Real discounts only exist when December prices fall below Q3 medians.
Tactic 2: Fee Rebundling to Mask True Cost
Instead of lowering prices, developers restructure cost visibility.
Common December Moves:
Removing “documentation fees” but increasing land cost
Including infrastructure levy in the base price
Offering “all-inclusive” pricing that hides margins
The After-January Reality:
When resale time comes, market comparables ignore bundled fees—your asset appears overpriced.
Buyer Advantage: Unbundle every cost and benchmark against raw land value in the area.
Tactic 3: Flexible Payment Plans That Inflate Total Price
December payment plans are rarely neutral.
Example:
₦50m outright price
₦65m over 12–18 months
Marketed as “flexibility” but priced with heavy interest loading
Why Developers Push This in December:
Locks buyers into 2025 payment schedules
Improves cash flow predictability
Shifts inflation risk to the buyer
Zikan Negotiation Play:Use cash or short-term payments to negotiate below-advertised outright prices—not just bonuses.
Tactic 4: Fast-Tracked Allocation as Psychological Leverage
“Allocation before Christmas” is not a gift—it’s a closing tool.
What It Signals:
Unsold inventory nearing year-end
Desire to reduce carrying costs
Pressure to recognize revenue in current fiscal year
Smart Buyers Do This: Use allocation urgency to demand price protection clauses or post-January upgrade options.
Tactic 5: Silent Unit Repricing
Not all units are priced equally in December.
Developers often:
Discount less desirable plots (poor orientation, access, or shape)
Maintain premiums on high-demand units
Push discounted inventory aggressively during festivities
Zikan Rule:If a deal feels “too easy” in December, scrutinize why that unit is available.
How Sophisticated Buyers Exploit December Pricing
Here’s what our most successful clients do:
1. Negotiate Based on Developer Cash Needs
December cash is more valuable than January promises.
2. Target Unsold Inventory
Late-stage units have higher negotiation margins.
3. Lock January Price Floors
Secure written assurances against post-purchase repricing.
4. Benchmark Against Exit Value
We buy December only if Q2 resale comps justify the price.
Why Zikan Clients Win in December
Zikan Prop Solutions doesn’t rely on brochures—we rely on transaction intelligence.
We:
Track real deal closures, not asking prices
Understand developer balance-sheet pressures
Negotiate beyond advertised incentives
Structure purchases for 2025 leverage, not 2024 excitement
Final Insight
December isn’t a buyer’s market. It’s a strategist’s market.
Developers adjust prices quietly. Smart buyers adjust their thinking accordingly.
If you want to exploit December pricing—not be exploited by it—Zikan Prop Solutions is your unfair advantage.
🏢 Zikan Prop Solutions
🥇 Certified Real Estate Consultant | Multi Award-Winning Realtor
Helping you make the best real estate purchase & investment decisions.
📱 +234 703 000 3514
📲 IG: @zikanpropsolutions
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