Kenya Real Estate – To buy or build a house?

The real estate opportunities in Kenya are vast.

Buy a house: Some people choose this option because they consider it hassle-free. This means you won’t stress about identifying a piece of land or finding professional builders, architects or surveyors. All you have to do is identify the area you want to live in, find a home, and buy it.

The advantage of buying a house is that you can afford to live in a good neighborhood for less. Better yet, some of these houses may be in an apartment complex that has facilities such as a heated pool, sauna, and good security.

The other side of the coin of buying a house is that you have no guarantee of its real quality. Some houses have been known to suddenly collapse due to faulty foundations.

Building a house: This option offers you flexibility. You can decide where you want to live and how the house will look both inside and out.

Ideally, you would first need to identify suitable land and purchase it.

Great care and caution must be taken at this stage to avoid scams. Always participate to find out if the title to the property and the seller are genuine.

Once you have the land, you need to identify a good architect and plan the type of house you want. This is where the beauty of building your home comes in. You can choose the number of rooms in the house, its exact location, the size of the garden and much more.

Usually, building a house tends to cost much less. This is because you can obtain the construction materials and services yourself.

The other side of the coin of building your own home is location. Land in prime areas tends to be very expensive, but security is often better.

The decision to buy or build a home must be considered carefully. Whichever option you choose, it’s always best to make sure you get as involved in the process as you can and don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions before committing your money.