One thing that is becoming clear to many Kenyans is just how difficult house hunting can get. Unfortunately, people only notice this when the time to get a new house or change places comes. Moreover, finding something that matches your taste, budget, location and moving time adds more complexity to an already complex problem. As a result, most Kenyans are left to settle for whatever options are in the market which can be quite unsatisfying for many.
Over time, I have discovered that house hunting can be easy when you know where to look, who to talk to and rents in a place beforehand. What was initially comparable to finding a needle in a haystack now becomes fairly easy as you have the tools to help you look. In this guide, I will be giving you tips on how to find houses within your price range and taste without exhausting yourself.
how to locate affordable houses in Nairobi
1. Rent where your colleagues are renting
The first basic tip I can give you is to rent where your colleagues at work are renting. The logic is pretty simple, your incomes are about the same and so you could pretty much afford what they can in most cases. Moreover, if you work for a big company, living right next to your colleagues makes carpooling or organized company transportation much easier. Another positive about this is that your workmates are already familiar with the area and can give you some good recommendations.
2. Ask friends for recommendations
Another overlooked tip that can make house hunting feel easy is to ask friends and family for recommendations. Chances are that you have friends and family members living in different parts of the city. To make house hunting simple for you, inquire about rents, security and the overall vibe of a place before you decide to walk physically to the area. By knowing the rent prices earlier on, you can be able to shortlist areas that are in your range and save so much time in the process.
For example, if you have a budget of say KES 8,000/Mo knowing that places like Ngong road are above your price range can save you the hustle of travelling there.
3. Compare rents on listing websites
You can also use property listing websites to compare the rent prices of various areas and narrow down the ones that are in your price bracket. Websites like kejafinder, buyrentkenya will help you in connecting with agents and getting the rent prices of your intended place. Some of these websites also have what we call ‘neighborhood guides’ which breakdown the areas in a place, rents charged as well as who the place is suited for.
4. Work with local agents
While agents have often been accused of exploiting house-hunters with exorbitant house-hunting fees, they are a necessary evil in the rental market. Many of them have knowledge about the area, and know which houses are vacant. If you want to save yourself the headache, working with a local agent might help you save time and get a unit quickly. However, I recommend going with agents who only charge you when you get a unit and not the ones that will bill you KES 2,000 for viewing 2 properties.
5. Walk around looking for "To Let" signs
The old school method of house hunting can sometimes be the best if you have the time and resources to do so. For this, I recommend narrowing down areas that you would want to move into before committing to walking the place. It is tedious but if you prefer doing on your own, it can work for you. An additional tip is that you can pay a boda boda rider to take you around houses with ‘To Let’ signs which can help you save time.
6. Talk to security guards
The last method requires you to be good in communication as you will be talking a lot. People who know more about the apartment or place than you are security guard and caretakers. So when you are looking for an affordable place, NEVER ignore these people. I also encourage taking their contacts and asking them to alert you when a vacancy arises.
