Investments
Investing in Nairobi property.
An apartment in Westlands, Riverside or Kilimani can earn rent and grow in value, when the location, the building and the numbers are right. We help you test all three before you commit. We will not promise you a return.
Four ways in
Choose how you want the money to work.
Each one trades price against waiting time and effort. The right one depends on your budget, when you need income, and how much risk and management you are happy to take on.
Off-plan
The launch price and a payment plan spread over construction. The longest wait for income, and the risk that completion slips.
Off-plan developmentsOngoing
Building under way, so you can judge the progress for yourself. A shorter wait for rent, usually at a price above launch.
Ongoing projectsReady
Rent from the month the sale completes, with nothing left to build. You pay the finished price, and you pay it sooner.
Ready homesAirbnbs
Short-stay income where business travel and tourism are strong, with furnishing and day-to-day management to plan for.
Airbnbs
Market insights
What makes an investment hold up.
Nairobi’s property market rewards location, tenant demand, good roads, a credible developer, sensible pricing and long-term resale value. These are the questions we work through with you on any building.
- 01
Location and tenant demand
Homes near offices, shopping centres, schools, hospitals and main roads let faster. Compare the likely tenant, the expected rent, the service charge and the competition nearby.
- 02
Long-term value
Scarce land, maturing infrastructure, quality finishes, sound management and steady demand are what protect a home’s value over time.
- 03
The developer
Their record of finishing buildings on time and as specified, the approvals in place and where your deposit is held.
- 04
The price and the running costs
A lower entry price only helps if the finished home is one people want. Look at the service charge and fees as closely as the price.
- 05
Your way out
Who would buy it from you later, and whether the sale agreement lets you sell or transfer before completion, and at what cost.
Test the numbers
Start from the rent, not the brochure.
Take a realistic rent for comparable finished apartments nearby. What is left after every cost, divided by everything you paid including fees, is your real return.
The full guide to investing off-planTake away from the rent
- The service charge and any sinking fund
- The months it may stand empty
- Letting or management fees
- Maintenance, and furnishings if let furnished
- Rental income tax, filed with KRA
- Capital gains tax on the gain, when you sell
Questions
What investors ask us.
Do you guarantee rental income or a return?
No, and nobody can honestly. We show you comparable rents and every cost, so you can judge the numbers for yourself before you commit.
Can I invest from abroad?
Yes. Non-residents can own apartments on leasehold title. Appoint your own advocate, verify the documents, keep a record of every payment and ask for progress updates. We run viewings by video and work with your advocate remotely.
Can I sell an off-plan unit before it is finished?
Sometimes. It depends on the sale agreement, which may restrict transfers or charge a fee for one. Ask before you reserve, not when you want to sell.
Which area is best to invest in?
It depends on the tenant you want. Westlands draws executives, expatriates and short-stay guests; Riverside suits diplomatic and corporate tenants; Kilimani is busiest with young professionals and first-time buyers. Compare the areas.
Talk to us
Tell us what you want the investment to do.
Your budget and your goal are enough to start. We come back with the buildings that fit, and the numbers behind them.
Thank you, .
We have your brief and will come back with buildings that fit, and the numbers behind them.
Can’t wait? WhatsApp us