Real estate investment conference set for August

AFFORDABLE finance, sustainability and diversification will be among the key issues to be discussed at Zimbabwe’s premium real estate and property investment conference slated for this month in Harare.

The ZimReal 2024 investment conference set for August 28 will bring together local and regional property developers, investors, public sector officials and asset managers.

Leading real estate company, WestProp, is the event’s lead sponsor.

The company’s chief marketing and sales officer, Marilyn Mosha, said ZimReal has proven to be a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to build consensus on critical issues.

“It helps us to shape ideas and lobby as a unit. There are several issues we want to be addressed as an industry and when we bring them to the fore, under one roof, we are better heard,” Mosha said in a statement recently.

ZimReal is expected to explore opportunities to diversify the mix by highlighting potential in other segments, such as commercial, retail and hospitality.

“There has been a surge in the construction of office buildings and shopping malls which are responding to the growing demand for reasonably priced space by the informal sector. We have seen greater emphasis on sustainability, with eco-friendly features being incorporated into building designs,” Mosha said.

She cited the expansion of the real estate Investment trust market as a boon saying, “there is potential for massive uptake of this asset class which can enhance liquidity in real estate markets by attracting institutional capital and stimulating investment flows. More liquidity will help avail affordable finance, whose absence has been a hindrance.”

This year’s ZimReal conference will be followed by an investor conference in Cape Town, the API Summit, on September 18 to 20, which will showcase opportunities, matching investors and developers.-newsday