Month: June 2010

http://kenyamoja.com/safaricomsevens/

By: Samuel Njihia

The construction boom at Riat Hills in Kisumu, Kenya, is transforming the property market in the lakeside city.
Residential property developers are rapidly changing the face of the little known Riat Hills into a palatial estate. Situated along the Kisumu-Kakamega Road, Riat Hills has acquired the much needed facelift; with modern maisonettes and bungalows dotting the hilltop.

The ambience of the estate and the aerial view it gives of the lakeside city, and of Lake Victoria, explain why investors are rushing to acquire property in the area. An afternoon walk around the estate shows dozens of modern architectural designs of maisonettes and bungalows – in expansive compounds – standing behind well trimmed edges that are the main attractions on the hill.

Riat Hills, reminiscent of Kitsuru and Karen in Nairobi, now joins the league of other Kisumu upper class estates such as Milimani, Tom Mboya, Mountain View and Kenya Re. Consequently, as more people opt to settle at the hill, demand for property in Milimani and Tom Mboya estates has reduced. This has tremendously changed the market price for Riat Hills property.

According to real estate agents, an acre of land at Riat Hills in 1992 fetched less than Sh200,000. Today the same is selling at Sh2 million or even Sh2.5 million. Ounga Commercial Agencies Director, Mr. Eric Ounga, was recently quoted by The Standard newspaper saying that the value of property at Riat Hills would appreciate further if the infrastructure was improved.

“The potential of Riat Hills as a residential and commercial estate is enormous, but the Council needs to do more to encourage investors,” said Mr. Ounga.

Most developers atop Riat Hills attribute the estate’s rapid development to lower construction costs as a result of the availability of rocks. This means they spend less money digging foundations because there are rocks. On the other hand, homeowners say they are attracted by the ambience of the area as well as the aerial view of Kisumu.

“It is cool up here compared to the high temperatures around the city centre,” says Janice Atieno who owns a bungalow in the estate.

If you are looking for property in Kisumu, visit ConstructionKenya.com . We can hook you up with a real estate agent who will help you to find the property that best suits you.

About the Author

Maina Njihia is an architect and editor for Construction Business Review magazine. he enjoys writing about construction and keeping up with the current trends in the industry.

(ArticlesBase SC #1016982)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Flourishing real estate investment opportunity in Kisumu

Everyone has heard of the Rwandan Mountain Gorillas and they remain the country’s prime attraction, however Rwanda has amazing natural scenic beauty plus unique flora and fauna in her three National Parks.

Classic African savanna is the main attraction of the Akagera National Park situated in the east of Rwanda. As well as free roaming Impala, Giraffes, Zebra, Elephants, buffalo and the statuesque Cape Eland (the world’s largest antelope), the area is also a paradise for birds. With four unique endemic species plus 525 types of birds not including the many migrants, Akagera is becoming a year round mecca for international birdwatchers.

Smaller but with an equally diverse habitat, Nyungwe Forest National Park situated in the South East of Rwanda, is a pre-historic forest containing 13 different types of primates including human-kinds closest living relative the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome Lhoests monkey plus hundred strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angola Colobus. As you would expect the forest is a maze of different shades of green, moss covered barks, interspersed with numerous streams and waterfalls. An extensive network of well maintained walking trails leads to various viewing points, some of which allow one to look directly onto the rainforest canopy.

Finally there is the world famous Volcanoes National Park with its population of silver back gorillas. On the border with Uganda, this National Park has become a monument to work of Dian Fossey, who lived with the gorillas for eighteen years before being buried here. The lush rainforest slopes of the Virunga peaks create a dramatic natural setting for what is arguably the most poignant and memorable wild life experience in the world.

For non-nature lovers, Rwanda has cultural, historical and community activities covering traditional music, dancing, crafts and folklore. An essential part of a visit to the vibrant capital city, Kigali, is a stop at the modern and thought provoking, but undeniably world class,Genocide museum.

For fun and sun lovers, Lake Kivu provides water sports and the resort town of Gisenyi. Sitting within the 6000 kilometre long Great Rift, valley, Lake Kivu is a volcanic lake surrounded by spectacular peaks and with safe sandy beaches.

International flights to Rwanda arrive at Kigali International Airport which is 10 km from the city centre. The national carrier is the expanding Rwandair which operates international services to DR Congo(Goma), Kenya (Nairobi), Burundi (Bujumburra), Tanzania (Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro), Uganda (Entebbe) and Johannesburg (South Africa).Domestic flights operate to Cyangugu and Gisenyi. There are direct flights to Kigali from Brussels with Brussels airlines plus international flights by Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa and Kenya Airways from Nairobi.

Harvey McEwan writes about African countries and tourism

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harvey_McEwan

Everyone has heard of the Rwandan Mountain Gorillas and they remain the country’s prime attraction, however Rwanda has amazing natural scenic beauty plus unique flora and fauna in her three National Parks.

Classic African savanna is the main attraction of the Akagera National Park situated in the east of Rwanda. As well as free roaming Impala, Giraffes, Zebra, Elephants, buffalo and the statuesque Cape Eland (the world’s largest antelope), the area is also a paradise for birds. With four unique endemic species plus 525 types of birds not including the many migrants, Akagera is becoming a year round mecca for international birdwatchers.

Smaller but with an equally diverse habitat, Nyungwe Forest National Park situated in the South East of Rwanda, is a pre-historic forest containing 13 different types of primates including human-kinds closest living relative the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome Lhoests monkey plus hundred strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angola Colobus. As you would expect the forest is a maze of different shades of green, moss covered barks, interspersed with numerous streams and waterfalls. An extensive network of well maintained walking trails leads to various viewing points, some of which allow one to look directly onto the rainforest canopy.

Finally there is the world famous Volcanoes National Park with its population of silver back gorillas. On the border with Uganda, this National Park has become a monument to work of Dian Fossey, who lived with the gorillas for eighteen years before being buried here. The lush rainforest slopes of the Virunga peaks create a dramatic natural setting for what is arguably the most poignant and memorable wild life experience in the world.

For non-nature lovers, Rwanda has cultural, historical and community activities covering traditional music, dancing, crafts and folklore. An essential part of a visit to the vibrant capital city, Kigali, is a stop at the modern and thought provoking, but undeniably world class,Genocide museum.

For fun and sun lovers, Lake Kivu provides water sports and the resort town of Gisenyi. Sitting within the 6000 kilometre long Great Rift, valley, Lake Kivu is a volcanic lake surrounded by spectacular peaks and with safe sandy beaches.

International flights to Rwanda arrive at Kigali International Airport which is 10 km from the city centre. The national carrier is the expanding Rwandair which operates international services to DR Congo(Goma), Kenya (Nairobi), Burundi (Bujumburra), Tanzania (Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro), Uganda (Entebbe) and Johannesburg (South Africa).Domestic flights operate to Cyangugu and Gisenyi. There are direct flights to Kigali from Brussels with Brussels airlines plus international flights by Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa and Kenya Airways from Nairobi.

Harvey McEwan writes about African countries and tourism

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harvey_McEwan

Kenya real estate opportunities are enormous.

Buying a Home: Some people choose this option as they consider it to be hassle free. This means that you will not stress out on identifying a plot of land or finding professional builders, architects or surveyors. All you have to do is to identify the area that you wish to live in, find a house and buy it.

The advantage of buying a home is that you can afford to live in a nice neighbourhood for less. Better still, some of these homes may be in an apartment complex that has facilities such as a heated pool, sauna as well as good security.

The flip side of buying a home is that you have no guarantee as to its actual quality. Some houses have been known to collapse suddenly due to faulty foundations.

Building a Home: This option offers you flexibility. You can chose where you want to live plus how the house will look both inside and outside.

Ideally you would need to first identify a suitable piece of land and purchase it.

Great care and caution need to be exercised at this stage to avoid scams. Always participate in finding out whether the land title and the seller are genuine.

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

Usually building a home tends to cost much less. This is because you can source for the building materials and services yourself.

The flip side building your own home is the location. Land in prime areas tends to be so expensive yet security is usually better.

The decision as to whether to buy or to build a house is one that needs to be considered carefully. Whichever option you choose it is always best to ensure that you get involved in the process as much as you can and do not be afraid to ask many questions before you commit your money.

For more information visit http://www.my-kenya-guide.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maggie_Nguyo

Kenya real estate investments need not be complicated. Follow the rules and you will not fall into traps that others have. This is what you need to avoid.

Do not buy a house before you see it:
Sometimes, your sales agent will hype up the features of the house. It is best to arrange to see the property yourself. This way, you can make a good judgment on the property. For instance, how far is the property from local amenities? Is there a supermarket nearby? Just how close are the schools? children commute to school each day? Is the area likely to appreciate thus attracting good resale value or rental income? You can only verify such issues by viewing the property. In the event that you live abroad and can not view the property, find a relative or friend to take digital pictures for you and email them to you as an attachment.

Do not buy a house without a Lawyer:
This is a common trap that buyers often fall into. Always remember, lawyers are an investment, not an indulgence! Only a good lawyer can advice you on whether the seller has the right to sell, whether the property has debts attached to it and so on. Also, you may need to decide who should hold the title of the property. Ownership attracts various tax questions which your lawyer will help you to address.

Check your estate agent’s credentials:
In most cases, you will find that Kenya real estate developers contract estate agents as sole selling agents. The agent will then require a twenty percent deposit to be made to secure the property. Don’t give out your money before you verify whether the agent is trustworthy.

Do not be overly concerned with price:
Every one loves a good bargain. But when thinking of Kenya real estate investments, dispense with the idea that ‘cheap is a bargain’. You may end up with a house that is not structurally sound or one that has other related defects.
The best thing to do is to use a surveyor who can advice you about the house, its soundness, location and its re-sale price. This is essential as you may want to sell the house later.

Do not ignore ongoing costs:
Suppose your estate agent tells you the house costs USD 100,000, would that be the true cost of the house? What usually happens is that there are on going costs that often get ignored in any Kenya real estate investment. These include insurance, legal, mortgage and survey fees, taxes, maintenance and management fees. For instance, legal fees tend to be one percent of the value of the property.

You need to factor in all these costs before you decide to go ahead and make the purchase.

Don’t buy a house until you read more valuable tips here – http://www.my-kenya-guide.com/kenya-real-estate.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maggie_Nguyo

Nairobi Kenya Landmarks & Attractions – Top Landmarks Nairobi

Nairobi Southern Outskirts
The suburbs to the south of Nairobi, while still technically within the city limits, bear little resemblance to the urban sprawl of the capital. Inhabited mainly by white settlers and expats, these leafy environs conceal extensive ranks of houses and villas designed to recall provincial England, all discreetly set in their own colonial grounds. The genteel atmosphere and a relative wealth of attractions make Karen, Langata and Ngong appealing destinations for a quick and easy escape from city life.

Karen & Langata

Information

Langata Link (Langata South Rd.) Aimed mainly at residents, the travel desk here has plenty of information about hotels and restaurants in Langata and Karen as well as further a field.

Bomas of Kenya

The Bomas of Kenya; (Langata Rd; non-resident adult/child Kshs 600/300, resident Kshs 100/25 performances 2.30pm, mon-fri, 3.30pm sat & Sun) is a cultural centre at Langata, near the main gate to Nairobi National Park. The talented resident artistes perform traditional dances and songs taken from the country’s 16 various tribal groups, including Arab-influenced taarab music, Kalenjin warrior dances, Embu drumming and Kikuyu circumcision ceremonies.

Its touristy, of course, but its still a spectacular afternoon out, and the centre itself has such high profile that the first meeting of the National Constitution Conference was held here in 2003, producing the so-called Bomas Draft of the new constitution.

Bus or matatu No 125 or 126 runs here from Nairobi train station (Kshs 30,30minutes).Get off at Magadi Rd, from where its about a 1km walk, clearly signposted on the right side of the road. Note that if you bring a video camera there’s an extra Kshs 500 charge.

Nairobi National Park

This somewhat underrated park adult US$ 40, smart card required) is the most accessible of all Kenya’s wildlife parks, being located only 7 km from the city centre. Its possible to visit the park as part of a tour or even by public transport, as the park runs its own wildlife bus (Sunday only)
Founded in 1946, the park’s incongruous suburban location makes it virtually unique in Africa and adds an intriguing twist to the usual safari experience, pitting the plentiful wildlife against a backdrop of looming sky scrapers, speeding matatu and jets coming into land at Jomo Kenyatta airport.

As the animals seem utterly unperturbed by all the activity around them, you stand a good chance of seeing the gazelles, warthogs, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs and leopards. The landscape is a mixture of savannah and swamp land and is home to the highest concentration of black rhinos in the world (over50). The wetland areas sustain over 550 recorded species of bird, more than in the whole UK!

Nairobi national Park is not fenced and wildlife is still able (for the time being) to migrate along a narrow wildlife corridor to the rift valley. The concentrations of wildlife are higher in the dry season as animals migrate into the park where water is almost always available. Keeping the migration pathway open is one of the principal aims of the Friends of Nairobi National Park (Fonnap 500622; Kenya Wildlife Service Headquarters, Langata Rd, P.O. Box 42076) campaign.

By the main gate you will find the site where the former president Moi famously burned 10 tons of Ivory in 1989 in protest at the international trade in ivory. Nearby is the Nairobi Safari Walk (non-resident adult/child US$8/5, resident Kshs 500/100 ;), a sort of a zoo-meets-nature board walk with lots of birds as well as other wildlife, including a pigmy hippo and a white rhino. The nearby Animal orphanage charges the same rates, but its basically a rather poor zoo and not a patch on the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

The headquarters of the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS 600800, http://www.kws.org ) are at the park entrance. There’s an office right by the gate that sells and recharges smartcards, plus a small education centre.

Nairobi Park services have a fine campsite on the edge of the park.

Getting there & away

The cheapest way to see the park is with the ‘parks shuttle’ a big KWS bus that leaves the main gate at 3 pm Sunday for a 2 ½ hr tour of the park. The cost is US$20/5 per adult/child and you’ll need to book in person at the main gate by 2.30pm. Matatu Nos 125 and 126 pass the parks entrance (Kshs 40, 45 minutes)

Alternatively, most Kenya safari companies offer various tours of the park. The half day packages usually depart twice a day at 9.30am and 2pm and cost US$60-85. Combined trips with the Bomas of Kenya and lunch at the carnivore restaurant are also popular, costing US$85-130

The roads in the park are OK for 2WDs, but traveling in a 4WD is never a bad idea. The main entrance to the park is on Langata Rd, but there are also public gates on Magadi Rd. The Athi River gate at the far end of the park is handy if you’re planning to continue on to Mombasa, Amboseli or Tanzanian border.

Robert is a travel expert in east Africa Kenya. Degreed in Tourism management, he has planned extensive tours in the region. For free information Nairobi Kenya Landmark tours, safaris and trips see here. http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/daytours.php/?refferer=ezinearticles

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Muhoho

Kenya Real Estate – Top 6 Things to Consider Before You Buy a Piece of Land

Kenya real estate investment offers you numerous options. Buying land is one of the, Here are some factors that you need to look into before you buy Land in Kenya.

Developmental Outlook:
Are you buying land for residential or commercial purposes? Do you want to build your home, flats to rent or shops to let? Your answer to these questions may determine the location of the land you should buy. For instance, if you want to build flats to let, consider areas with close local facilities such as supermarkets, schools and health care facilities. Many families prefer to live only a couple of miles from their children’s school. This will therefore affect where they rent a house.

Location:
You have heard it before – location, location, location. It affects price considerable. Half an acre of land may cost 10 times more in Runda compared to Embakasi area. However, Embakasi is closer to the airport compared to Runda. The location of the land you wish to purchase should indeed conform to your Kenya real estate development objectives.

Distance from the Main Road:
The further out you go from the main road, the cheaper the parcel of land. However, security may also be compromised. If you are buying land with the objective of building rental property, you may have to contend with lesser amount of rental income if you build far out from the main road. I was looking for a house to rent recently and I settled for a smaller property that was closer to the main road rather than a bigger one further out.

Access to Water, Electricity and Telephone Lines:
Some Kenya real estate areas such as Kitengela are not very developed and may lack electricity and telephone lines as well as piped water. Lack of these facilities makes the land cheaper though, but at what cost. My mum bought a couple of acres in Kitengela and had to sink her own borehole and pump water into the house. She also had to apply for electricity from Kenya Power and Lighting Company. Luckily for her, it turned out to be a hassle free process. It is cheaper to buy land in such areas but you must be prepared to bear the extra costs and delays. Sometimes, like in my mum’s case, it proved worthwhile.

Soil Texture:
Well, believe it or not, soil texture does affect Kenya real estate value. Areas with black cotton soil tend to be cheaper as compared to red soil regions. For instance, parts of Mombasa road have black cotton soil and can not be compared to red soil areas such as Karen, Muthaiga or Runda. Soil texture also affects building costs.

Sewer Location:
Some areas have sewer restrictions and thus not suitable for certain types of Kenya real estate development. Developments along the famous Ngong Road have been restricted dues to the overloaded sewer. If you intend to build an apartment complex for sale or to let, you have to check the sewer restrictions as well as other planning restrictions issued by the local council.

With this factors are all put in consideration, purchasing land in Kenya should be smooth sailing.

Margaret Nguyo is the web editor for My Kenya Guide. She has written invaluable tips on investing in Kenya real estate. Get them here – http://www.my-kenya-guide.com/kenya-real-estate.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maggie_Nguyo

By: zameensapna

Zuri Group Global, which is present in the high-end hotel, real estate and floricul- ture sectors, has announced plans to invest Rs 700 crore in hospitality and real estate ventures.

Zuri will invest Rs 400 crore in setting up two five star lux- ury hotels in Bangalore and Nairobi in Kenya, and Rs 300 crore in its 250-acre premium villa-cum-apartment project in Goa.

“Both the hotels would com- plete within 20 months. The new 160-room hotel at Bangalore is near the airport and it would be a mix use proj- ect on six acres,” said Bobby Kamani, managing director, Zuri Group Global.

“We have started work on the 150-room hotel in Nairobi and we are waiting for final clear- ances for the villa project in Goa to begin work,” he said.

The group is backed by a con- sortium of investors from the Middle East and so far has invested over Rs 900 crore in India. It has properties in India, Kenya and UK, including four hotels in India which are run under the brand name of Zuri.

Apart from organic growth, Zuri now plans to grow aggres- sively through management contracts. “Though (we are) very young, hotel owners are coming to us to run their proj- ects. Two hotels in Sikkim and Kolkata have been finalised while one in Hyderabad is at an advanced stage,” said Kamani. “We are very keen to have a presence in Delhi and Mumbai and are looking for hotels either through management contracts or outright lease,” he said.

Kamani said Zuri hotels, which started only last year after taking back properties from foreign hotel chains, is fast catching up among upwardly mobile corporate executives and visitors, who seek value for money luxury service.

The group, which has 250 hectares of land in Kenya pro- ducing 150 million roses a year for the export markets of UK and Dubai, is also expanding its wind energy business in India and geo-thermal energy busi- ness in Kenya.

The group employs over 2,100 people globally including 1,200 in India and wants to meet its capital investment through a mix of debt and equity.

“We see tremendous busi- ness opportunity here; that is why my cousin Abhishek and I shifted to India five years back to grow the group’s business.
We have seen growth even dur- ing recession and we will invest heavily as we are impatient to grow,” said Kamani, who was born and brought up in Kenya.

Courtesy:- HT Business  dt:- 06-April-2010

For more information about real estate, real estate india, Indian real estate, property, property in india, Indian property, property for rent, rented property, apartment for rent, rented apartment, flats for rent, rented flats in delhi, property for sale in delhi, apartments for sale in delhi, flats for sale in delhi  homes for sale in noida, flats for sale in noida, real estate in noida, investment option in noida, real estate consultant in noida, realty firm houses in noida, residence in noida, residence in delhi, residence in gurgaon, flats for rent in gurgaon Log in to http://www.zameen-zaidad.com/

And http://www.propertycafeteria.com

About the Author

hi i am sapna. i am working in bhardwaj buildtech ovt.ltd company.

(ArticlesBase SC #2117112)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Zuri Group Plans Rs 700Cr Investment In Hotels, Realty

By: aaron

If you are a Real Estate investor in Kenya, it pays to keep your eyes on what’s happening in your local area. Just take Nairobi for example, prices of land in Karen or Riverside often out way the house on the plot. The wise investor watches for changes in businesses and amenities that can affect the future equity of Real Estate in the area. There is definitely an opportunity to buy investment Real Estate with either an eye to selling in the future or renting.

Is it now officially a Buyer’s Market? …….who knows the answer to that question.

Nairobi is currently experiencing some of the best Real Estate situations in Kenya, with developers and investors making favourable profits, normally through large apartments or spacious office complexes. But with most cycles a down turn is never far away. However always remember that investors play the long game and usually never commit totally in one project. When the climate changes to a buyer’s market most investors decide to rent property that keeps on putting money in your pocket. Alternatively go for a quick sale and settle for a more modest profit than hoped for.

Monitor local improvements in Nairobi, Kenya

There are many developments and expansions you should be monitoring, shopping centres, popular restaurants, coffee shops, medical facilities, schools and recreation facilities. Keep your eyes opened for deals and be ready to take advantage of them before local improvements drive property prices up. Many pundits say the crash is coming soon to Kenya but honestly the tell tell signs are not there in great enough numbers yet. Most Kenyans are playing a waiting game and that means opportunity in the Market as some sellers will play there cards first.

About the Author

(ArticlesBase SC #1162062)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Investors know what’s happening in Nairobi, Kenya