REAL estate technology company Link 2Lenders is making quick progress to enhance the real estate experience starting with the recent integration of
Gizmo, a payment platform to facilitate real estate transactions into its real estate hub website.

Gizmo is a collaborative effort between Link2Lenders, Amber, and Lasco Financial Services. As gateway providers, they supply the payment infrastructure, enabling Link2Lenders to facilitate transactions for Jamaican consumers. Notably,
Gizmo predates the Real Estate Hub platform, having originated approximately three years ago to serve internal clients’ payment needs.

“There was always a challenge in terms of doing transfers and managing cash flow — worse if you live abroad. That’s another issue: You have to do a wire transfer to send money to Jamaica, but I realised that the rest of the world was facilitating real estate payments and transactions — using platforms like Gizmo Payments — to help move the money around faster and to give rewards and benefits,” managing director of Link 2Lenders, Jason Dear told the Jamaica Observer in an interview.

Link2Lenders, beyond its real estate technology division, serves a distinct purpose. It seamlessly connects Jamaican consumers worldwide to Jamaica’s financial landscape, bridging geographical gaps and ensuring equal access to financial opportunities. Dear explained that when living abroad, timely mortgage payments can be a challenge, especially for those who want to pay a mortgage or rent from overseas.

“For instance, if you receive your pay cheque on the 30th of the month and your mortgage is due on the 1st or 30th, traditional wire transfers to Jamaica can take at least 4 days, potentially leading to late fees,” he explained to the Business Observer.

Thus, unlike traditional wire transfers which can be delayed, Link2Lenders’ platform offers instant payment processing, guaranteeing rapid transfers to designated accounts within 24 hours. Users can simply use their debit or credit card and enter their information, and the system facilitates a secure payment transfer via ACH (automated clearing house) from one bank account to another. This convenient service benefits both parties, with recipients incurring no fees and senders paying a minimal fee. Link2Lenders also simplifies mortgage applications, providing a one-stop online solution. After submitting a single application, users receive multiple offers from various Jamaican banks and private lenders. This enables them to effortlessly compare rates and find the best mortgage option to suit their financial goals. The payment platform also enables landlords to set up automatic rent collection, allowing them to gauge a tenant’s payment consistency and potential for delinquency.

RealEstateHubJA is solidifying its position as a comprehensive real estate platform by harnessing AI technology to aggregate property listings from across the Internet. This innovative feature allows users to access a vast array of properties from multiple sources in one convenient location, eliminating the need to navigate numerous websites.

“Keep in mind our site does not say that it is our listing — we are just a platform that shows properties for sale. You will be able to click on ‘View property’ and it will then take you to the source of the listing, because we are not realtors,” he made clear.

Link2Lenders is also working on an AI-driven property valuation estimator. At the Build Wealth Conference held at AC Hotel Kingston a demo sparked discussions about the potential implications of AI technology replacing traditional valuation methods.

“It is a tool that enables people to understand or have ideas of a range as to what property is valued before making an offer or before selling your property,” he said.

While realtors maintain they aid in valuation, their informal assessments — or ‘air quotes’ as Dear described them — may not be precise and are typically not provided in a detailed report, unlike formal appraisals.

“Using AI technology, we are able to gather data from different sources in Jamaica to be able to give you a range for what properties in your area have been sold for — and that’s basically what we’re enabling people to do,” he said.

Dear emphasised that AI valuators cannot replace traditional valuations as Jamaican law requires a licensed valuator to provide a detailed report for property purchases. The AI platform, a valuation estimator, generates a report offering a value range based on comparative sales, property attributes, and image analysis. While providing a comprehensive overview it’s essential to note that this report complements, but doesn’t substitute, the formal valuation report required by law for property transactions in Jamaica.

The AI evaluator is slated for launch and integration within the RealEstateHubJA website; however, it is currently undergoing training and is expected to be launched in the next few months.

“We’re not realtors; we’re not valuators; we’re not wherever you want to go; we’re not the bank. What we are is holistic — let’s use the term one-stop-shop solution. Our goal is to enable these business partners to generate more business and to make life simpler for the consumer,” Dear emphasised.