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377 articles in Property Guides · page 3 of 32
The True Cost of Borrowing: Why a KSh5 Million Home Can Cost You Much More
You have some savings, but not enough to buy it outright, so you decide to take a mortgage. Interest isn’t the only thing you need to budget for. Buying a home can come with other costs such as valuation, legal fees, insurance, stamp duty and applicable bank charges. A mortgage can make buying a home possible without having the full purchase price sitting in your bank account. It is also a long-term financial commitment. When you’re buying a home, don’t just ask: “Can I afford the house?”, ask, “Can I afford the cost of borrowing the money to buy it?” You find a house you like. It costs KSh5 million. You have some savings, but not enough to buy it outright, so you decide to take a mortgage. The question then becomes: <
Why Investors Are Moving From Office Buildings to Warehouses in Kenya
While office buildings remain an important part of the commercial property market, warehouses are increasingly becoming one of the most attractive real estate investments. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated hybrid working, meaning many companies no longer needed as much office space. As e-commerce grows, businesses need modern facilities that can store and move goods quickly and efficiently. Today, warehouses are quietly taking centre stage. Ten years ago, if you wanted to impress investors, you built an office tower. Today, you might get their attention faster by building a warehouse. It sounds surprising, but it’s exactly what is happening in parts of Kenya as investors shift their focus towards logistics parks and industrial de
Why More Kenyans Are Choosing Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado Over Nairobi
More Kenyans are looking beyond Nairobi for places that offer a little more space, a quieter environment, and better value for money. Whether you’re buying your first home or looking for an investment with long-term growth potential, Machakos is increasingly becoming a county worth paying attention to. People aren’t just looking for cheaper land anymore. They’re looking for neighbourhoods where they can enjoy more space, raise families, work remotely when possible, and still access Nairobi without spending hours on the road every day. If you’re looking for a balance between affordability, accessibility, and future growth, Machakos makes a compelling case. If you’ve driven out of Nairobi on a weekend, you probably know the feeling. The traffic eases, the air feels a little fresher
The Next El Niño Might Be Coming. Is Your Property Ready?
With weather experts forecasting the return of El Niño conditions, one question is worth asking. When heavy rains hit, it’s easy to blame the weather. But the reality is more complex. If possible, visit the area after a storm or speak to residents who have lived there for several years. Whether you’re buying your first home, managing rental properties or developing the next apartment block, taking action now could save you significant costs later. Early this year, many of us watched video after video of the devastation left behind by the rains. Apartment compounds were submerged. Standalone homes were flooded. Cars disappeared beneath murky water. Roads became impassable, businesses shut their doors and, tragically, lives were
The Finance Act 2026 Explained: What It Means for Kenya’s Property Market
The Finance Act 2026 is now in force. Real estate is one of the many sectors that will feel the effects. Removing Capital Gains Tax on qualifying transfers lowers one of those barriers. The Finance Act 2026 isn’t a housing policy, but it is a reminder that tax policy and real estate are closely linked. The Finance Act 2026 is now in force, and while most people associate it with taxes, its impact goes much further than that. Real estate is one of the many sectors that will feel the effects. Whether you’re building, buying, selling, investing or simply looking for your next home, some of the changes introduced this year are worth paying attention to. So, what has actually changed, and what does it mean for Kenya’s prop
The Westlands Apartment Boom: Opportunity or Oversupply?
Drive through Westlands today and you’ll notice one thing almost immediately. Crane after crane. On one street, a new apartment block is just about complete. A few metres away, another one is rising. Around the corner, a billboard promises “Luxury Living Coming Soon.” Then another. And another. It’s hard not to wonder: Who is buying all these apartments? And perhaps the bigger question: What happens if they don’t? It’s a conversation many Nairobians are already having. Some believe we’re heading for a housing bubble. Others worry that investors could be left with empty apartments, while developers continue building even more units. They’re fair questions. B
What Nairobi’s New Building Approval Rules Mean for Property Buyers, Developers and Investors
Nairobi has been growing at an incredible pace. While launching the Development Control Policy 2026, Sakaja described the framework as “a bold step toward restoring order, sustainability and dignity in Nairobi’s built environment. Instead of developments springing up wherever land is available, the new framework sets clearer guidelines on what can be built, where it can be built and how those developments should fit within existing infrastructure. Nairobi’s Development Control Policy 2026 is an attempt to guide the city’s growth rather than simply react to it. Nairobi has been growing at an incredible pace. New apartment blocks are rising where bungalows once stood, mixed-use developments are becoming the norm and once quiet neighbourhoods are seeing more people move in t
The Bigger Picture Behind Kenya’s New KDF Mortgage Scheme
Homeownership could become much more achievable thanks to lower borrowing costs and flexible financing . For many Kenyans, the biggest obstacle isn’t finding a home. It’s accessing a mortgage with interest rates and repayment terms that fit their income. A mortgage with a lower interest rate can make a significant difference over the life of a loan. Improving infrastructure, lowering construction costs, making land more accessible and creating sustainable financing options all have an important role to play. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has officially joined the Civil Servants Housing Mortgage Scheme, giving military personnel access to affordable home loans at a fixed interest rate of 4%. Under the scheme, eligible officers will be able to buy a home, build o
What Aliko Dangote’s Planned Oil Refinery in Lamu Could Mean for Lamu’s Real Estate Market
When news broke that Aliko Dangote is planning to build an oil refinery in Lamu, most people immediately thought about jobs, fuel and what it could mean for Kenya’s energy sector. Fair enough. But there is another conversation worth having. What happens to a town’s property market when an investment of this size comes knocking? Real estate has a funny way of following opportunity. We’ve seen it happen around new roads, bypasses and even airports. Once businesses move in and people begin relocating for work, demand for property isn’t usually far behind. So, if the refinery becomes a reality, could Lamu be next? READ ALSO : The Infrastructure Projects Quietly Reshaping Nairobi’s Property Market
Buying Land or Taking a Mortgage: Which Path to Homeownership Makes More Sense Today?
A few years ago, buying land and building over time seemed like the obvious choice for many people. But buying land doesn’t automatically make the journey to homeownership easier. On the other hand, a mortgage comes with interest, meaning you’ll likely pay more than the property’s purchase price over the life of the loan. For some people, buying land and building gradually will always be the dream. For others, a mortgage offers a practical way to own a home without waiting years for construction to be completed. If you ask ten Kenyans how to become a homeowner, chances are you’ll get two very different answers. The first group will tell you to buy land. Build when you can, avoid bank loans and, before you know it, you’ll have a home t
Does a New Road Really Increase Property Value?
Over the years, major infrastructure projects such as the Thika Superhighway, the Nairobi Expressway and Nairobi’s bypasses have transformed how people live, work and commute. As more people move in, businesses follow. Developers respond by building homes, retail centres and other amenities to meet the growing demand. Market reports from BuyRentKenya have also consistently identified infrastructure as one of the key factors influencing land performance. When buying land, we often hear the same advice: “Buy this land now. Just wait until they develop this area.” For many property buyers, especially those investing in satellite towns and emerging urban centres, that promise is enough to influence a purchase. The thinking is simpl
Why Most Kenyans Fear Mortgages (And Whether They Should)
For many Kenyans, mortgages have become synonymous with financial risk. Many aspiring homeowners simply assume a mortgage is out of reach before they have even explored their options. Financial institutions typically have structured processes that include reminders, discussions with borrowers and, where possible, loan restructuring before taking legal action. Homeownership should provide stability, not become a constant source of financial stress. Mention the word mortgage in a conversation, and chances are you’ll get one of two reactions: “I’d rather build slowly than owe a bank for 20 years,” or “Banks are just waiting to auction your house.” For many Kenyans, mortgages have become synonymous with financial risk. The idea