Commercial property financing company TUHF has announced an ambitious expansion strategy aimed at addressing the evolving demands for affordable housing across South Africa, as it marks its 20-year milestone, and plans to expand into the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

While TUHF began as an inner-city financier in Johannesburg, it has progressively broadened its geographical footprint to align with the shifting demands for affordable housing, says TUHF CEO Paul Jackson.

“The essence of well-located housing goes beyond shelter. It is an engine of economic growth and social wellbeing for the communities in those precincts. Our approach has always been about nurturing micro-economies within city blocks and neighbourhoods, thereby creating a ripple effect of inclusivity and wealth mobility.

“This high-touch approach, which distinguishes TUHF as an in-city financier, has been instrumental in stimulating business and employment opportunities, fostering mixed-use economies and promoting mixed-income communities,” he says.

As TUHF embarks on its next chapter, the focus is to consolidate its brand, enhance market reach and continue being a catalyst for urban transformation, he adds.

TUHF started with urban regeneration within the Johannesburg inner-city, focused on affordable housing and black economic empowerment. Its strategy evolved with the landscape, leading it to extend its services beyond traditional inner-city areas to include in-city areas, Jackson notes.

“The expansion follows a well-defined in-city strategy. These areas, adjacent to the inner-city and near key urban nodes, align with our market expansion strategy. For example, in Johannesburg it would be to move with the market to areas like Linden, Randburg, Buccleuch and Kew, among others.”

Its expansion led to it establishing a presence in 11 of South Africa’s metros, with a vision to extend its reach into the SADC in the next two years.

The strategic growth is backed by an extensive branch network, and ensuring a local presence to better understand and meet the market demands, he highlights.

“There is enormous demand in South Africa for people to live in well-located townships and we have found significant interest from property entrepreneurs looking to develop in these communities,” Jackson says.

Further, as a specialised commercial property financier, TUHF has found that there is a large market niche in townships where it is difficult to get commercial property finance at the scale, up to R5-million, in those communities.

“We are not a long-distance financier. Our branches across the nation not only symbolise our growing footprint but also underline our commitment to being hands-on with our clients, ensuring the success of each project we finance,” he emphasises.

Additionally, TUHF actively nurtures a collaborative and supportive ecosystem for budding property entrepreneurs.

“We encourage interested parties to immerse themselves in the neighbourhood they wish to invest in, to walk the streets, absorb the atmosphere, and identify potential investment buildings. Before developing a business plan, we invite entrepreneurs to engage with us, to share their thoughts and price points, and to benefit from our intimate knowledge of the areas and the lessons we have learnt over the years,” Jackson explains.

“Our approval process is thorough and can be completed within 21 days or less once all information is received. We walk with our clients throughout the entire process, ensuring a robust, sustainable, and commercially viable solution that forms a solid foundation for future growth,” Jackson adds.

“TUHF’s continued growth reflects the size of the prospering rental accommodation market and the opportunities this market represents in our perfect niche.

“With a track record spanning 20 years of financing over 50 000 units and investing over R8.3-billion into urban housing, we are keen on extending our impact further across South Africa and beyond the country’s borders by partnering with property entrepreneurs,” he says.

The legacy of TUHF over the past two decades sets a solid foundation for its ambitious journey ahead, reaffirming its commitment to shaping vibrant urban communities in every city and town it invests in, he adds.