Brick by Brick: How to Start Your Real Estate Journey in Kenya

If you’ve ever looked at a plot in Joska and felt personally offended that it’s not yours, welcome to the club.

In Kenya, land ownership is practically a love language. But before you start dreaming of rental income and retirement in Nanyuki, it’s good to know that real estate investing isn’t just about buying land and waiting for it to “appreciate.”

It’s about strategy, timing, and avoiding deals that sound like they were cooked in a kibanda.

Step one? Know your options and your budget—because not all plots are created equal, and some are just cleverly disguised cow paths.

Tenants, Titles, and Tarmac: Choose Your Drama

Real estate comes in flavours: rentals, commercial spaces, land banking, or flipping houses.

Rentals can be sweet—until your tenant starts ghosting you like a bad situationship.

Land banking is for the patient investor who doesn’t mind waiting five years for a bypass to be built.

Flipping houses? That’s for the bold, or those with a fundi who actually shows up. And always, always verify the title deed. If the seller says “the papers are with my uncle in Kajiado,” just know you’re about to enter a Netflix-level thriller.

Location, Location… and a Bit of Logic

A plot in Kamulu might be cheaper than one in Lavington, but ask yourself: are you investing for vibes or value?

Infrastructure, security, and demand matter more than proximity to your auntie’s place. And don’t go it alone—get a lawyer, a surveyor, and an agent who doesn’t vanish after M-Pesa clears.

Real estate can be your ticket to financial freedom, but only if you treat it like a business, not a side hustle. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a “prime plot” that floods every time it drizzles in Machakos.