Homeownership is becoming out of reach for most Nigerians due to the high cost of housing; however, with options like mortgages and flexible payment plans, Homeownership is fast becoming a reality. Captain Timothy Ayoola, a commercial airline pilot, is a testament to this when he purchased a 4-bedroom terrace duplex at Rose Garden, Magboro, Ogun State. Through Thinkmint Nigeria’s mortgage-assisted and flexible payment plan.
In this interview, he shares how the flexible payment structure and mortgage partnership helped him secure his property without a lump-sum payment and why he says Thinkmint made a typically stressful process simple.
What first attracted you to Thinkmint Nigeria?
Captain Timothy: How did I get to meet Thinkmint? Okay, I was trying to get a property, and I stumbled across a Thinkmint page on the internet. While browsing, I saw a property advertisement that mentioned I could purchase the property through a mortgage.
I thought, “Okay, let me give it a shot.” So, I followed the link, filled in my details, and discovered that the process was so easy. I also found out that I qualified.
What was your initial experience like working with the Thinkmint team?
Captain Timothy: Well, you guys are good. I think when I filled out the form, I’m not sure whether it was Ruth or Victoria who contacted me. The process was actually very smooth.
After filling out the form, I came to the office, and I think Victoria and Ruth took me to the site. When I saw the property, I thought, “This is good.”
Many people believe buying property is stressful. What was different about your experience?
Captain Timothy: Believe me, yes, most people think it’s stressful. But from my experience with you guys, it was actually very straightforward.
All I needed to do was identify the property I was interested in and fill out the form. The form gave me a clear picture of what I needed to do, which was basically to provide my bank statements, proof of employment, and other required documents.
Everything was very straightforward—exactly what I expected.
Alright, sir. How did the flexible payment structure help you?
Captain Timothy: The flexible payment plan was very easy. You don’t necessarily have to stick strictly to the payment plan if you’re able to pay more. You can simply make additional payments and secure your property faster.
Combined with the support from Thinkmint and the affiliated mortgage bank, the entire process was made very easy for me. That’s really it—it was simple.
Speaking about mortgages, how important was the mortgage option in helping you secure your home?
Captain Timothy: It helped me a lot because I didn’t have the bulk amount needed to purchase the property outright. Also, around that period, I had just changed jobs, so I didn’t have enough funds available to finance the purchase on my own.
But with the mortgage option, it became very easy for me. I was able to access the amount I needed to buy the property, and that made all the difference.
How important was the no-agency-fee benefit in your decision-making?
Captain Timothy: Believe me, it was important. There were no excessive agency fees. Unlike what you usually find out there, where agents keep adding different charges, the process here was much clearer.
The mortgage-related charges and commissions were different from the regular agency fees people typically pay. Everything was explained to me clearly. I remember they broke down the various costs, including legal and facility-related charges, so I understood exactly what I was paying for.
Thank you. As someone with a demanding profession, how valuable was it to have a smooth and organized process?
Captain Timothy: With the nature of my job, which is stressful and requires me to use my brain every second, I need somebody to think for me sometimes. Thanks to Thinkmint for thinking for me. That’s all I can say.
Like Captain Timothy, you don’t need a lump sum to own property in Lagos. Explore mortgage-assisted listings with flexible payment plans and zero agency fees → https://www.thinkmint.ng/buyrealestate/
Watch the YouTube video here: https://youtu.be/1EhSDU2TA9w
