
Earn Your Leisure Africa’s Real Estate Boom Is Just Getting Started | How to Invest Safely
Dec 26, 2025
Mark Saint‑Julien, a real estate investor in West Africa, shares insights on the booming African real estate market. He discusses why cash transactions prevail due to banking distrust and how to avoid common scams. Mark highlights rising property prices in Dakar and essential land contracts for investors. He reveals the expanding middle class and affordable living conditions, emphasizing the need for reliable information. Mark also identifies promising investment destinations like Benin and Ivory Coast, encouraging diaspora collaboration for mutual growth.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Choosing Dakar For Faster Impact
- Mark Saint‑Julien moved from running a hotel in the South of France to Dakar because he wanted impact and faster growth opportunities.
- He contrasted big-city anonymity with rapid influence and investor potential in Dakar.
Use Notaries And Escrow For Purchases
- Do insist on formal processes and use notaries and escrow to secure payments when buying property in Africa.
- Avoid hand-to-hand deals and always verify paperwork to prevent losing deposits.
Cash Dominates Due To Bank Distrust
- Cash remains dominant because many Africans distrust banks and prefer untraceable transactions.
- High rental yields (e.g., ~23%) can justify borrowing even at elevated interest rates in some markets.
