Red Flag 1: No Verifiable Title Document

If a seller cannot produce a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or Governor's Consent — both verifiable directly with Lagos State Land Registry — walk away. "Family land," "community allocation," or informal receipts from previous owners are not title. They are the foundation of most Lagos property disputes.

Always verify the document number with the Land Bureau directly, not just by inspecting a paper copy.

Red Flag 2: Pressure to Pay Before Legal Review

Legitimate sellers and developers welcome legal review. If you are told "another buyer is ready," "the price goes up tomorrow," or "don't worry about the lawyer" — treat each statement as a direct warning. A credible purchase process always includes a solicitor review window of at minimum 5–7 business days before any deposit is collected.

Red Flag 3: Developer With No Completed Project History

Any developer asking for deposits who cannot show you physically completed estates with identifiable residents is an unacceptable risk. Request: a site visit to a completed project, references from previous buyers, and escrow payment terms — never full payment direct to developer account before completion.

Red Flag 4: No Physical Survey or Site Visit Evidence

Remote buyers are particularly vulnerable here. A property listing with only marketing renders and no survey plan, GPS coordinates, or live video documentation may not be what it appears to be. Insist on: an independent survey, a live video site visit with a trusted agent or solicitor present, and a written site condition report.

Red Flag 5: Unusually Below-Market Pricing

Lagos pricing is not perfectly uniform, but extreme outliers are almost always explained by one of three things: a title problem, a physical defect, or fraud. If a property is priced 30%+ below comparable verified listings in the same corridor, the burden of explanation is on the seller.

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