In 2022 Bank Windhoek financed 350 properties to the value of N$ 518 million, averaging a value of N$ 1.8 million per unit in the central region. These figures were shared by Bank Windhoek’s Head of Specialist Finance, Saara Shivute, when she delivered her keynote address at the Bank Windhoek Annual Central Estate Agents Awards ceremony hosted on Thursday, 20 April 2023, in Windhoek. “This comprises a good mix of upper and lower ends of the market,” she said.
For the Central Region, Shivute said that in 2022, the Bank focused on financing existing properties, indicating a buyer’s market, whilst developments such as Osona Village are ongoing, primarily due to readily available serviced land and a massive demand for housing in the lower to middle-income bracket.
During the awards ceremony, the Bank announced Rightmove Properties Windhoek, Aqua Real Estate Trust, and Just Property Group as the top three estate agencies. Hermanus Van Aardt Dreyer from Aqua Real Estate Trust, Gretha Dos Santos from Just Property Group and Anita Dames from Rightmove Properties Windhoek were announced as the top three achievers of the year estate agents.
Immaculant Real Estate’s Horatius Abrahams and Okomita Development’s Jacko Koen shared the joint award for silver as the estate agent with the highest volume of transactions. On Show Properties’ Linda Visagie won the third position respectively.
Customer service wins
Owners of Right Move Properties, Lourette Liebenberg, Marion Wolf and Anita Dames, said they would continue to build on the excellent relationships they have established with their customers. As with the interest rates challenges, they said they would continue looking for ways to grow their business even when it gets tricky. “As a team, we can read the signs and stay ahead of the developments,” said Liebenberg. Wolf and Dames added that their relationship with all stakeholders in the property industry is critical for business continuity.
Van Aardt Dreyer, who retires this year after 21 years in the business, said that his company is committed to providing exemplary customer service to customers. “We have also learned that if you continue to provide good services, all your customers will keep coming back,” he said. “Bank Windhoek understands this, so we keep referring our customers to the Bank.”
Koen also said that his company will continue changing customers' lives with the Bank’s assistance. Asked how 2022 was, Koen noted that the year was good, especially in the affordable market, despite the interest rate challenges. Abrahams said 2022 boiled down to having a lot of guts. "It was post Covid. As a result, many customers had financial challenges," said Abrahams. "But we persevered, helped by Bank Windhoek’s immaculate services."
The award recipients noted that the uncertainty with the interest rate hikes is worrying. However, they would remain focused on making it through. "Seeing our customers move into a new home after living in a shack is always fulfilling. Their appreciation makes us happy,” said Abrahams.
Shivute concluded by thanking the estate agents for choosing Bank Windhoek as their preferred financial services provider. She said as a relationship driven bank, Bank Windhoek prides itself in the connections built over the years.
Bank Windhoek’s Annual Estate Agent Awards recognises residential and commercial estate agents, agencies and developers from the northern, central and coastal regions for their commitment, loyalty and support to Bank Windhoek and its customers. The northern edition will take place on Thursday, 27 April, in Oshakati.
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