Affordability challenges, income pressures and unemployment remain key barriers to broader homeownership in Namibia, despite signs of gradual improvement in the country’s property market.
Bank Windhoek Chief Financial Officer and Acting Executive Officer of Specialist Finance, Zenaune Kamberipa, said the housing market has shown measured growth over the past year, supported by rising house prices and sustained rental demand. However, he cautioned that many Namibians still struggle to access property financing due to underlying economic pressures.
“Namibia’s property market has recorded measured growth, with increasing house prices and firm rental demand. However, affordability challenges, income constraints and unemployment continue to limit broader access to home ownership,” Kamberipa said.
He made the remarks while delivering the keynote address at the Bank Windhoek Central Estate Agent Awards held in Windhoek, where the bank recognised estate agents and property agencies for strong performance in mortgage-linked transactions and property sales across the central region.
Kamberipa said Bank Windhoek recorded its strongest growth in property market share over the past financial year, attributing the performance to strong collaboration between the bank and estate agents.
He added that structural challenges in the property market, including limited land delivery and shortages of well-located serviced land, require coordinated action across the property ecosystem.
“These issues require collective action across the sector. Bank Windhoek remains committed to supporting solutions that expand access to housing while maintaining long-term financial stability,” he said.
Representatives from law firm Dr Weder, Kruger & Haikali Inc., including managing director Tshuka Luvindao and managing member Andre Swanepoel, also addressed the event, highlighting the importance of collaboration among financial institutions, legal professionals and property practitioners in facilitating sustainable property ownership.
During the ceremony, Bank Windhoek recognised several estate agents and agencies for their contribution to property financing and transaction volumes.
Maans Dreyer of Aqua Real Estate Trust received the gold award in the Achiever of the Year category for Farm Bonds, while Petrus Kotze of The Property Corporation received the bronze award.
In the category for estate agencies with the highest volume of transactions, defined as twenty or more transactions, Okomita Property Development received a silver award, while Yellowsquare Properties Trust and Rightmove Properties Windhoek received bronze awards.
Jacko Koen of Okomita Property Development received the gold award in the Achiever of the Year category for estate agents in the Windhoek area achieving loan business of N$20 million or more. Pieter Senekal of Spes Bona Property Brokers and Marion Wolf of Rightmove Properties Windhoek received silver awards, while Cathy Kruger of Kruger CM trading as Fine & Country Windhoek received a bronze award.
Rightmove Properties Windhoek secured the gold award in the category recognising estate agencies in the Windhoek area with loan business of N$40 million or more, while Spes Bona Property Brokers and Okomita Property Development received silver awards.
Koen also received the gold award in the special category for estate agents with the highest volume of transactions, defined as ten or more deals. Bronze awards were presented to Mabel Mouton of Olive Palm Real Estate, Cathy Kruger of Kruger CM trading as Fine & Country Windhoek and Marion Wolf of Rightmove Properties Windhoek.
Additional recognition was given to Gretha Dos Santos of Just Property Group, Glenda Bosch of Green Door Properties and Anita Dames of Rightmove Properties Windhoek for achieving loan business volumes between N$15 million and N$20 million.
Bank Windhoek said the awards form part of its broader initiative to strengthen partnerships within the property sector and support sustainable growth in Namibia’s housing market.
The bank’s annual Estate Agent Awards recognise residential and commercial estate agents, agencies and developers from the central, coastal and northern regions for their contribution to the property finance market and their collaboration with the bank.
