Tema general area is currently the fastest growing metropolis in Ghana. Residents of Tema and its general areas do not have any difficulty in getting water and electricity to their homes unlike their counterparts in Accra. Most of the new industries that were opened in Ghana for the past 10 years were mostly sited in Tema Free Zone and many more are still being set up. This provides easy access to employments and other social services. Most places in Tema are also better planned than the new sites Accra and other cities in Ghana. As most of the building materials in Ghana are manufactured in Tema, the cost of building is also cheaper in Tema than in any urban centres in Ghana due to the cost of transportation. Tema is therefore the best place to live and do business   in Ghana.

How do I buy land or house from H.E.I. Limited without making any intial payment?

You must be permanently employed and be a salaried worker. Your employer will need to issue a letter of introduction to H.E.I. Limited as proof.  For each payment method selected, your age plus the total payment period must not exceed 60 years.  Deductions for monthly payments required must not exceed 40% of your net monthly disposable income. Payslips and/or bank statements will be required as proof. You will be required to issue post dated cheques to Limited for 24 months at a time. Payments are to be made in advance. 
A signing on fee of GHC 60.00 will be required and will be employed in processing applications.   

Do we dig deep and buy a dream home or settle for a starter home?

Choosing between a smaller house in an affluent neighborhood, an older, bigger house in a more working-class community or a brand-new home is not easy. If you're in this situation, start by examining your priorities and asking the following questions:
* Is the surrounding neighborhood or the home itself the most important consideration?
* Is each of the neighborhoods safe?
* Is quality of the schools an issue?
* Do any of the areas seem to attract more families with children or adult residents? And where do you fit in?
As for the return on your investment, home-price appreciation is hard to predict. In the late 1980s, and again 10 years later, the more expensive move-up housing appreciated wildly. But during the recession that followed, smaller homes tended to hold their value better than more expensive ones.

How do you choose between buying and renting?

Home ownership offers tax benefits as well as the freedom to make decisions about your home. An advantage of renting is not worrying about maintenance and other financial obligations associated with owning property. There also are a number of economic considerations. Unlike renters, home owners who secure a fixed-rate loan can lock in their monthly housing costs and make prudent investment plans knowing these expenses will not increase substantially.  Home ownership is a highly leveraged investment that can yield substantial profit on a nominal front-end investment. However, such returns depend on home-price appreciation.  A home is an investment. When you rent, you write your monthly check and that money is gone forever. But when you own your home, you can deduct the cost of your mortgage loan interest from your federal income taxes, and usually from your state taxes. This will save you a lot each year, because the interest you pay will make up most of your monthly payment for most of the years of your mortgage. You can also deduct the property taxes you pay as a homeowner. In addition, the value of your home may go up over the years. Finally, you'll enjoy having something that's all yours - a home where your own personal style will tell the world who you are.

Should I use a real estate broker? How do I find one?

Using a real estate broker is a very good idea. All the details involved in home buying, particularly the financial ones, can be mind-boggling. A good real estate professional can guide you through the entire process and make the experience much easier. The real estate brokers of H.E.I. Limited are well-acquainted with all the important things you'll want to know about a neighborhood you may be considering...the quality of schools, the number of children in the area, the safety of the neighborhood, traffic volume, and more. He or she will help you.  With immediate access to homes as soon as they're put on the market, the broker can save you hours of wasted driving-around time. When it's time to make an offer on a home, the broker can point out ways to structure your deal to save you money. He or she will explain the advantages and disadvantages of different types of mortgages, guide you through the paperwork, and be there to hold your hand and answer last-minute questions when you sign the final papers at closing.