The trust model

Trust comes from layers, not from a single stamp.

Most platforms either pretend to certify things they can't, or offer no structure at all. We do neither. Here's exactly what each layer of evidence means — and where our responsibility ends.

Start here

What each trust tier means for you

A tier is a quick read on how much paperwork a developer has actually put on file — nothing more. It never means "safe to buy." Here's how to treat each one.

A

Strong documentation

State qualification certificate, licence, permit and urban land lease on file, and construction at 80%+. The fullest paper trail on the platform.

Your moveStill hire your own lawyer to verify the title at the registry before you pay anything.
B

Partial documentation

State qualification certificate and company identity are in, but some items — a permit or the lease — are still pending or partial.

Your moveAsk the developer directly what's missing and when it will be filed. Verify everything independently.
C

Early stage

Minimal proof so far — a new developer, or a just-listed project with little on file yet.

Your moveTreat claims with extra caution. Confirm the identity, permits and lease even exist before engaging.
What goes into a tier

The four things we check

01

Identity confirmed

The company is registered and holds a developer certificate of competence per Proc. 1357/2024.

✓ company + competence
02

Documents submitted

Licence, permit, lease and brochures on file and viewable. Submission isn't legal validity.

✓ permit + lease
03

External review

Optional — an independent lawyer checked document consistency and left a note. Not a certification.

✓ lawyer note
04

Construction status

Completion % against the 80% transfer threshold, plus pre-sale deposit handling.

✓ 80% rule
The legal backbone

What Ethiopian law actually requires

Our disclosure checklist maps directly onto Proclamation No. 1357/2024 (passed Dec 2024, gazetted 31 March 2025) and the constitutional land rule. We track these; we don't enforce or certify them.

1357/2024 is in force, but several implementing directives are still being issued. That's exactly why source-labelled evidence and your own lawyer matter more here — not less.

Land is public; buildings are private

FDRE Constitution art. 40(3): land is owned by the state and the people. What transfers is the building on a state lease — never the land itself.

Certificate of competence

Developers must hold a qualification licence before operating. We record its status per company.

The 80% completion rule

Units may not be transferred below 80% completion unless the buyer expressly consents. We show the reported completion %.

Permit before pre-sale

Developers cannot register customers or take advance payments before securing land and a building permit.

Blocked / joint deposit accounts

Advance payments should sit in blocked accounts released only with authority approval. We record how deposits are handled.

Diaspora & foreign buyers

Ethiopian-origin ID holders are treated close to citizens. The 2025 foreign-ownership framework adds an investment threshold, a property cap, and Ministry approval for other foreign nationals.

Where our job ends

Who does what

The clearest way to use Real Estate Ethiopia: let us organize the evidence, then do your own verification before any money moves. We never sit in the middle of the deal.

Real Estate Ethiopia handles

  • Collect and organize what developers submit
  • Map it to the Proc. 1357/2024 disclosure checklist
  • Assign a trust tier, reviewed by a human admin
  • Show every piece of evidence and where it came from
  • Pass your inquiry to the developer

You & your lawyer handle

  • Verify the land title at the registry
  • Confirm permits and competence are current
  • Check pre-sale funds go to a blocked account
  • Visit the site in person, or send someone you trust
  • Negotiate, sign and pay — all off Real Estate Ethiopia
How we make money

Always before the transaction, never inside it

ETB 25K–100K

Developer listing fee

Per project, paid once to publish a structured listing. This is our revenue — not your data.

Standard / Premium

Featured placement

Pins a listing to the top of search — 30 days on Standard, 90 on Premium. Paid visibility, clearly labelled — never a trust signal.

Free

Buyer inquiries

Buyers contact developers directly at no charge. We never sell leads or ranking.

Premium

Coordinated lawyer review

An independent lawyer checks document consistency and leaves a note — never an ownership certification.

The honest version

Real Estate Ethiopia doesn't create trust. It creates enough structured evidence for you to safely investigate further.

That's the whole product. Everything past this point — the lawyer, the land registry, the signature — is yours to handle, on purpose.

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