LAND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT APPLICATION TO PROPERTY SALES IN PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES IN AKURE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The way and manner through which people acquire land for use vary from one country to another. In Nigeria, before 1978 each region of the country operated different forms of land tenure. The study examined Land Information Management Application to property sales in Private Residential Communities in Akure, Nigeria. The study considered two private residential communities in FUTA area of Akure, Nigeria. The communities include FUTA Satellite Estate and Alaba Layout. The total population as reported by the records of landlord association attendance of each community was 133 members. 133 questionnaires were distributed and 121 questionnaires were retrieved back. The study examined the socio-economic characteristics of property owners in private residential community, the features of properties and the characteristics of private residential community and database software was developed for the management of Land information in the study areas. The study revealed that private residential community is a type of settlement that accommodate people with different social status (high income earners, medium income earners, low income earners), educational background, age bracket, marital status and employment status. Development in the communities is not controlled by Government because the original layout is not followed and Government does not have adequate means of keeping land records. Investment decisions made on properties in private residential communities are based on inadequate information such as word of mouth, family receipt, unapproved survey plan and so on. An internet based database system was therefore developed to management land information in private residential communities for adequate and efficient information to be made available for proper decision making. The database software developed will serve as guide for professionals and stakeholders to take proper decision on property investment and purchase in the Real Estate Market in Akure. The study recommend strongly that the Government and Property Market stakeholders should adopt the Land Information Management database system to curb major challenges such as frauds, corruption, double sales and allocation of Land, activities of Land Owners (Omo-onile) and inadequacy of Information in the property market and built environment at large.