A Tale of Two Continents: Why I'm Betting on Bricks in Burkina Faso

[Matthew Honzik]

Hey BiggerPockets community,

I’m excited to share a bit of my story and hopefully connect with some like-minded investors. I’m a dual citizen of the USA and Burkina Faso, and my real estate journey so far has spanned both continents. Here in the States, I own two houses. In Burkina Faso, I have a vacation home that I built that my family and I love, and more recently, I acquired a piece of land with a dream of building another house from the ground up.

Once the new house is built, I’m looking to dive into the world of rental properties Burkina. While I’m grateful for my investments in the U.S., I have to admit, the prospect of building and investing in Burkina Faso has a unique appeal.

From my experience, the speed at which you can get things done in Burkina-Faso with cash is a breath of fresh air. There's a different energy and a lot less of the red tape that can sometimes make projects in the U.S. drag on. The ability to see a project go from a plot of land to a finished home in a fraction of the time is incredibly satisfying.

This has led me to a pivotal point in my investment journey. I’m seriously considering focusing my rental property business in Burkina-Faso. The potential for growth and the hands-on nature of building there truly excite me.

However, I’m also keenly aware that I have a lot to learn about the intricacies of the Burkinabé rental market. That’s why I’m reaching out to this amazing community. I’m hoping to connect with an experienced real estate investor in Burkina Faso. I would be incredibly grateful for the opportunity to pick your brain, learn from your experiences, and understand the nuances of the local market – from tenant-landlord laws to the best strategies for long-term success.

If you are that investor or know someone who is, I would love to connect. I’m eager to learn and ready to build my next chapter.

Thanks for reading!