Real estate leaders from across Africa are urging governments to overhaul regulatory systems and strengthen institutions to make property projects more attractive to investors.

At a Pan‑African industry forum, experts said many of the continent’s real estate markets face similar barriers: weak planning enforcement, complex land registration processes, high compliance costs and limited access to affordable housing finance. Together, they argue, these challenges make it harder for projects to secure bank funding.

The event, hosted by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Nigeria Group and the International Real Estate Federation Nigeria chapter, focused on turning well‑written policies into financeable, investment‑ready developments.

“Africa doesn’t have a shortage of policies,” said Akin Opatola, president of FIABCI‑Nigeria. “The real issue is execution. Investors need clarity and predictability.”

Speakers said projects are more likely to attract funding when land titles are secure, regulations are clear and cash flows are predictable. Without those fundamentals, lenders and institutional investors remain cautious.

Kola Akinsomi of the University of the Witwatersrand said targeted incentives, including tax relief, infrastructure support and land grants, could reduce development risks and unlock capital. He also stressed aligning feasibility standards with global benchmarks such as those of the International Finance Corporation.

Despite reforms underway in several countries, financing gaps persist. As urban populations grow rapidly across Africa, industry leaders warn that the continent must move beyond policy drafting and focus on implementation, or risk missing out on both domestic and international investment.

With urbanization accelerating, the stakes are high: turning regulation into results could determine whether Africa’s real estate sector becomes a powerful growth engine or continues to struggle with underinvestment.