Risk Disclosures

Buy Land In Africa ("BLIA") operates the blia.africa website (the "Site") as a transaction coordination platform and is not a broker-dealer, investment advisor, or real estate brokerage. BLIA connects international buyers with verified real estate agents and provides escrow and transaction infrastructure. All property transactions are facilitated by verified real estate professionals in the respective African countries where properties are located. You can review our Terms of Service for complete details.

You should speak with your financial advisor, accountant, and/or attorney when evaluating any property investment. Neither BLIA nor the agents on our platform make any recommendations or provide advice about investments, and no communication through this website or in any other medium should be construed as a recommendation for any property. The Site may make forward-looking statements. You should not rely on these statements but should carefully evaluate the property information and transaction documentation in assessing any investment opportunity, including the complete set of risk factors that are provided as part of the transaction documentation for your consideration.

BLIA provides a platform for international buyers to submit property requests and connect with verified agents across African markets including Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and South Africa. Each transaction involves unique legal, regulatory, and market risks specific to the country where the property is located. Risks include, but are not limited to: foreign ownership restrictions, currency fluctuations, political and economic instability, lack of standardized property data, disputes over land tenure and title, infrastructure challenges, illiquidity of real estate markets, and limited recourse in dispute resolution. Buyers must conduct thorough due diligence and comply with all local laws, regulations, and property ownership requirements, which vary significantly by country.

Investment overviews contained herein contain summaries of transaction terms and local market conditions. Such summaries are intended for informational purposes only and do not purport to be complete, and each is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full transaction documentation, local legal requirements, and property-specific due diligence materials.

BLIA provides escrow services through blockchain-based smart contracts to facilitate milestone-based payments. While these systems are designed to provide transparency and security, they do not eliminate all transaction risks. Buyers remain responsible for verifying property documentation, conducting inspections, ensuring clear title, and complying with all legal requirements. BLIA's escrow service is a coordination tool and does not constitute a guarantee of property quality, title validity, or transaction completion.

None of the properties facilitated through BLIA offer refunds after funds are released from escrow. Payment releases are tied to verified milestones and transaction completion. Please review the escrow terms and milestone requirements carefully before committing funds. Once escrow funds are released according to the agreed milestones, they cannot be recovered through BLIA's platform.

An active secondary market for property resale may not develop or be sustained in many African markets. If a secondary market does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult or impossible for you to resell your property at any price. Even if an active market develops, the market price could decline below the amount you paid for your property. There is no assurance that BLIA or any third party will provide assistance with property resale. Many African real estate markets remain primarily informal, with limited listing infrastructure and high transaction costs. Property sales may require significant time, local market knowledge, and professional assistance. Market values can fluctuate significantly due to local economic conditions, political events, currency depreciation, regulatory changes, and other factors outside of buyers' control.

Real estate investments in African markets present additional risks beyond those in more established markets:

CURRENCY RISK

Property prices may be denominated in local currencies while your funds originate in USD, EUR, GBP, or other foreign currencies. Exchange rate fluctuations can significantly impact the effective cost of your investment and any future proceeds. Many African currencies have experienced substantial depreciation against major international currencies. BLIA facilitates cross-border payments but does not hedge currency risk on behalf of users.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY RISK

Property laws, land tenure systems, and foreign ownership regulations vary dramatically across African countries. Many countries restrict foreign ownership to leasehold interests or require special approvals. Land registration systems may be incomplete, slow, or expensive. Customary land tenure, communal ownership, and overlapping claims are common in some jurisdictions. Buyers must understand and comply with country-specific requirements including governor's consent (Nigeria), Land Control Board approvals (Kenya), lease restrictions (Ghana), constitutional prohibitions on foreign ownership (Liberia), and other legal frameworks. Regulatory changes, political transitions, or policy shifts could materially impact property rights or transaction requirements.

TITLE AND DOCUMENTATION RISK

Title documentation standards vary significantly across African markets. Fraudulent titles, forged documents, and overlapping ownership claims are material risks in many jurisdictions. Verification processes can be slow, expensive, and may not eliminate all risks. Properties may have unclear boundaries, incomplete survey records, or disputes with neighboring landowners or traditional authorities. BLIA provides access to verification services and licensed professionals, but buyers bear ultimate responsibility for due diligence and risk assessment.

MARKET TRANSPARENCY RISK

Most African real estate markets lack standardized pricing data, public transaction records, or reliable comparable sales information. Property valuations may be subjective or based on limited information. The informal nature of many markets (estimated 80%+ of transactions occur off-market) means historical performance data is scarce or unreliable. BLIA's transaction data improves transparency but cannot eliminate market opacity entirely.

POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RISK

Many African countries experience political instability, economic volatility, regulatory uncertainty, or governance challenges that can materially impact real estate values and investment returns. Risks include: changes in government, policy reversals, civil unrest, terrorism, expropriation (with or without compensation), capital controls, currency restrictions, and deterioration in rule of law. Economic factors like high inflation, unemployment, limited access to mortgage financing, and low income levels constrain property demand in many markets.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT RISK

Many African properties, particularly off-plan developments, face infrastructure challenges including unreliable electricity, limited water supply, poor road access, and inadequate sewage systems. Promised infrastructure development may be delayed, abandoned, or never materialize. Construction timelines are often extended due to financing issues, regulatory delays, material shortages, or contractor performance. Buyers of off-plan properties face risks that projects may not complete as designed, may take significantly longer than projected, or may not be completed at all.

LIQUIDITY RISK

African real estate markets generally have very low liquidity. Properties may take months or years to sell. Transaction costs (taxes, legal fees, agent commissions) are often high (5-15% of property value). Mortgage financing is scarce or prohibitively expensive in most African markets (interest rates often 15-25%, with limited availability). This limits the pool of potential buyers and can make it extremely difficult to exit investments, particularly during market downturns or political uncertainty.

ESCROW AND PAYMENT RISK

While BLIA's blockchain-based escrow system provides transparency through milestone-based releases, it operates within the constraints of local payment systems, banking infrastructure, and legal frameworks. Payment delays, banking system failures, currency restrictions, or technical issues could impact fund transfers. Dispute resolution may be time-consuming and outcomes uncertain. Escrow does not eliminate counterparty risk, fraud risk, or performance risk in property transactions.

AGENT AND PROFESSIONAL RISK

BLIA verifies agents through licensing, credential checks, and performance monitoring, but cannot guarantee agent performance, competence, or honesty. Buyers should conduct independent verification of agent credentials, references, and track record. Real estate professionals in African markets vary widely in expertise, ethics, and capabilities. Legal, surveying, and other professional services may not meet international standards. Buyers should seek independent legal counsel familiar with local property law.

FORCE MAJEURE AND CATASTROPHIC RISK

Properties may be subject to natural disasters (flooding, earthquakes, droughts), disease outbreaks, war, terrorism, or other events beyond parties' control. Insurance coverage may be limited, expensive, or unavailable. Climate change impacts (sea level rise, extreme weather, water scarcity) pose increasing risks to coastal and vulnerable properties across Africa.

TAX AND REPORTING RISK

Tax obligations vary by country and may include property taxes, capital gains taxes, rental income taxes, stamp duties, and other levies. Tax enforcement is increasing in many African jurisdictions. Buyers are responsible for understanding and complying with tax obligations in both the property country and their country of residence/citizenship. Tax treaties, reporting requirements, and potential double taxation must be considered. BLIA does not provide tax advice.

REMITTANCE AND REPATRIATION RISK

Moving funds into and out of African countries may face regulatory restrictions, approval requirements, delays, or prohibitions. Some countries impose capital controls, limit foreign currency availability, or restrict profit repatriation. Buyers should understand remittance procedures and restrictions before investing. Future changes in currency regulations could impact your ability to exit investments or repatriate proceeds.