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Advice on buying, renting and selling property in Kenya, plus neighbourhood guides, decor ideas and market news.
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587 articles · page 1 of 49
Finding Your Dream Home: What to Look for Before You Buy or Rent
Finding your dream home sounds simple until you actually start looking. Suddenly, there are dozens of neighbourhoods to consider, hundreds of listings to scroll through and a long list of things you didn't realise you cared about. Is the apartment big enough? Is the neighbourhood convenient? Can you afford it comfortably? And what about parking, security, water and internet? It is easy to get carried away by a beautiful living room or a great view. But before you fall in love with a property, there are a few things worth considering. READ ALSO : The Perfect Match: How to Find Your Dream Home Start With What You Actually Need Before you start searching, make a list of your must-haves. How many bedrooms do y
Is Kenya’s Property Market Becoming a Buyer’s Market?
Are Kenyan buyers gaining more negotiating power? When buyers have more options to choose from, sellers may have to compete harder for their attention. As of July 2026, the average commercial bank lending rate stood at 14.39%, down from 17.2% in November 2024. For anyone looking to buy or sell property in 2026, understanding that shift may be just as important as understanding the property itself. I came across a story recently about how the US property market is slowly shifting in favour of buyers. For years, sellers had the upper hand, but new data shows that sellers now outnumber buyers by 58%, the widest gap recorded since Redfin began tracking the data in 2013. Homes are also staying on the market for longer, with almost five months of inventory available. What caught my attention, however, was not just what is happening in the US.
Real Estate Trends in Kenya in 2026: What Buyers, Renters and Investors Need to Know
While residential property prices have continued to rise, the pace has been relatively moderate. Road access, schools, hospitals, shopping centres, workplaces and other amenities can make an area more attractive over time. Current market data shows a significant gap between rental prices across different locations, with Nairobi continuing to record some of the country's highest rents. Real estate in Kenya is changing, but not necessarily in the dramatic way headlines sometimes suggest. In 2026, the market is being shaped by a mix of affordability, changing buyer preferences, financing conditions, infrastructure, technology and the continued demand for housing. For anyone looking to buy, rent, develop or invest in property, understanding
Small Space, Big Style: Interior Design Ideas for Apartments
Before buying furniture or decorating, look at how you actually use each room. Furniture with built-in storage can also help reduce clutter, particularly in bedrooms and living areas. A neutral base can make a room feel bright and provide flexibility, but you can introduce colour through cushions, artwork, curtains, rugs or even an accent wall. Living in an apartment often means making the most of the space you have. You may have a beautiful living room, but it also needs to accommodate your sofa, dining area, television, storage and perhaps even a small workspace. Your bedroom has to fit your bed, clothes and everything else you need without feeling crowded. The good news is that a smaller space does not mean you have to compromise on
How Much Rent Can You Afford in Nairobi in 2026?
It is very easy to find a house you love, only to realise that it does not fit your budget. Rental prices vary significantly depending on where you look and the type of property you want. If your rental budget is between KSh20,000 and KSh40,000, you have quite a few neighbourhoods to consider, particularly outside Nairobi's most expensive areas. Before you start viewing houses, work out what you can comfortably spend each month, including your other regular expenses. Then look at the neighbourhoods and property types that fit that budget. Looking for a house to rent should always start with one major question: How much can I afford? Most people, however, start with t
How Much House Can You Afford in Nairobi in 2026?
If you are thinking about buying a home in Nairobi, one of the first questions you will probably ask is: How much can I actually afford? It is an important question because the answer is not simply about finding a house you like and checking whether the price fits your salary. Your deposit, monthly income, existing loans, interest rate, loan term and other household expenses all affect what you can realistically spend. And with property prices varying widely across Nairobi, your budget can also determine where you look and the type of home you can consider. So, before you start saving listings, here is what to look at when working out how much house you can afford in Nairobi in 2026. Start with what you can comfortably pay each month The price of a home is only one part of the calculation. If you are buying through a mortgage, the
Why You Should Visit an Off-Plan Property Before You Buy
The apartment or house might look perfect in the render, but what is the neighbourhood actually like? If the project is already underway, seeing the site gives you a better idea of where things stand. That doesn't mean every off-plan project is risky. It simply means that the developer matters just as much as the property you're buying. Before signing anything, understand what happens if the project doesn't finish when promised. If you are in the season of looking for a home, I am sure you know what off-plan means. You see an ad for a beautiful apartment. The price looks good
Why Your Property Isn’t Selling: 6 Things to Check
According to the Kenya Property Centre’s Q3 2026 report, the median time to sell among 209 completed sales recorded on its platform was 579 days . Your asking price may have made sense when you bought the property or first put it on the market. Beyond the number of bedrooms, give them the information they need to make a decision. Before making a major change, step back and look at the listing as a buyer would. You listed your property expecting enquiries to come in. Maybe they did at first. But months later, it is still on the market. So, what is going wrong? It may not be the property itself. Sometimes, the problem is how it is priced, presented or positioned against the other properties buyers
Boma Yangu Clarifies When Monthly Housing Payments Begin
The State Department for Housing and Urban Development has clarified that monthly payments begin after a unit has been allocated and the homeowner takes occupation. Applicants who are still waiting for their units to be allocated can continue saving towards their homes if they are financially able to do so. For social housing units, the deposit is 5% of the unit's value, while affordable housing units require a 10% deposit. Kenyans who have received offer letters for homes under the Boma Yangu affordable housing programme do not need to immediately start making their monthly housing payments if they are still waiting for allocation and occupation. The State Department for Housing and Urban Development has clarified that monthly p
Homebuyers Are Willing to Pay More for Peace, Privacy and Green Space
For years, the answer was fairly straightforward: a good location, more space, better finishes and easy access to the city. A house can have a beautiful kitchen, spacious bedrooms and great finishes, but the experience of living there doesn't stop at the front door. As more land is developed and neighbourhoods become denser, open spaces become harder to find. Ultimately, the property market is responding to a simple idea: People don't just want somewhere to live. They want somewhere they can actually enjoy living. What makes a home worth paying more for? For years, the answer was fairly straightforward: a good location, more space, better finishes and easy access to the city. But increasi
A Fresh New Experience for Your Next Move: The New BuyRentKenya Is Here
Remember that one time you were looking for a property and almost gave up? You searched online, clicked through listing after listing, but couldn’t quite find something that matched what you actually needed. Maybe the location was wrong. Maybe the price didn’t work. Maybe the property looked great, just not for you. And after a while, you thought, I’ll come back to this later. We get it. Finding property can be a lot. That’s why we’ve been working on something better. The newly revamped BuyRentKenya is here We’ve refreshed BuyRentKenya to give you a simpler, smoother and more rewarding property search experience. Not just a fresh coat of paint. A better way to search, browse and discover properties across Kenya, with tools designed to help you find what’s more relevant to you. Sear
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: WHEN FRAUD MONEY BUYS PROPERTY
U.S. authorities have traced proceeds from the fraud to Kenyan real estate. Multiple defendants involved in Minnesota's massive $250 million Feeding Our Future pandemic fraud scandal have pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit properties bought with fraudulently obtained federal funds. The law is concerned with recovering property connected to crime, not necessarily destroying perfectly usable buildings. As we spend time unpacking what real estate really is; how to invest, what to look out for, what to avoid; I think it is only fair that we also talk about the elephants in the room when they exist. And there is a rather significant one. The Minnesota fraud scandal. What beg