Author: Peris Gachago

Building your home is very exciting. For many people, the idea of living in your own home represents a dream come true. Its achievement of a long-cherished life goal or a reward for many years of hard work.

As you may not afford land in urban areas, then satellite towns remain an option. Some satellite towns to consider include Ngong, Ruai, Kitengela, Rongai and Athi River. Along thika road, areas like Ruiru and  Juja have become favorite areas for those willing to leave the comforts of the city.

We already covered the top 5 advantages of living in Nairobi’s Satellite towns. Look at that blog if you are still undecided on the advantages.

Before deciding on a location to build your home, there are several considerations to make. This will help you figure out which option is going to suit your individual preferences, tastes and needs.

Here are some items you need to consider.

1.Less time for children and family

If you buy land in Nairobi’s satellite towns and build, you will find yourself living far away from work. People who live far from work usually have less time to spend with their families. This is because they leave early for work to beat traffic. They also come back late because of traffic jam.

Most parents find their children in bed and see them briefly during the morning rush to beat the traffic. This has led to children spending more time with the house help than their parents.

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As you consider living far from your usual place of work, have this in mind.

2.Insecurity of person and property

In most satellite towns in Nairobi, there is more theft and vandalism. While you may have security measures in place, this may not be enough. With no immediate neighbours, thieves will find it easy to climb over the fence and steal. In worse situations, they will harm you. To protect yourself, you may have to hire armed guards which is an added cost.

 I know of a couple whose home was raided and lost their ï»¿car and other valuable items. Following the break-in, they decided to leave their home. They and are now renting on Ngong Road until further notice.

 â€œOther thieves will not even wait for you to enter your house. They track you from work and wait to ambush you on the way home. The Boda Bodas that pick us are sometimes part of the gang. These Boda Bodas know all our movements,” says Mutua, a resident of Kitengela.

 3.Transport costs

One of the big wins from moving to satellite towns is a lower amount of rent payable. I have seen 5-bedroom rental houses in places like Kitengela going for under Ksh 30,000. The same house would go for upwards of Ksh 70,000 in upmarket neighbourhoods.

 At first glance, it looks like costs go down. When you add up all costs incurred when commuting to and from work, you may have spent more than you had estimated.

 When Kamau, found a plot in Juja at KShs2.5m, he felt as if he had hit a jackpot. He set about building the home of his dreams and within a year he was ready to move in. everything was good in the first few days.

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 â€œThe horror started when schools opened. We had to commute from Juja to Nairobi every morning. This meant braving the evening traffic jam every day,” Kamau narrates.

 Soon he realized they were spending a lot of fuel using two cars and decided to use one car. This too, caused inconvenience as him or the wife was often late for work.

 The poorly maintained feeder roads led to rapid wear and tear of the car. This forced Kamau to visit the garage more often than usual, to keep the car in good shape.

 If you like your car neat, you must pay for its washing daily because of the dusty roads you use.

4.Inaccessibility to vital services

Urban living provides you with all the amenities and services needed. Most satellite towns may not provide the same services. Such services include piped water and electricity. There are hardly any health services, shopping centres or good schools. To access any of these, one must move long distances.

 Closeness to good schools is also a challenge in most satellite towns in Nairobi. Some parents solve the school problem by putting their children in boarding schools. This is because they cannot find a good school in the neighbourhood.

 Urban areas have access to fast internet that may not be available out of town. Some satellite towns lack shopping variety. the same is available for people living in urban areas.

 Cities also tend to offer better access to medical, dental and police services. Help is always right around the corner should you need it.

 5.Its more expensive to move around

The robust infrastructure of towns and cities makes it much easier to get from A to B. In satellite towns, there is limited public transport routes. Once you buy land in satellite towns, you may have to drive long distances to get anywhere.

 Many urban dwellers can skip the cost related to buying and keeping a car. This is because they can rely on public transport. They can also walk a few minutes to get to where they need to be. Taxis are cheaper in urban areas than in satellite towns.

 6.The opportunity to find your niche

Towns and cities are home to so many people. This makes it easier to find social scenes and communities to belong to.  Urban areas have a bigger selection of social spots. This makes it easier to find local groups and meeting places with like-minded people.

 7. A chance to be where things are happening

Town and city life is most likely to attract those who want to be where the action is. By moving to an urban centre, you’ll gain access to events and different experiences. the same may not be available in satellite towns. To prepare living in Nairobi’s satellite towns, have some or all the following in place for your security:

·       Security cameras installed in and around your house.

·       An askari to guard your house. You can team up with neighbours to make this cost affordable.

·       Enough security lights at night. Solar lights can help you reduce electricity costs.

·       Join an estate WhatsApp group for security coordination.

·       Create a good rapport with your neighbours. This helps as they act as lookouts especially when you are not around.

·       Have a perimeter wall to keep invaders at bay.

·       While going back home, especially at night and evenings, try to use different routes to your home. If you must use a boda boda, use those that you already know.

·       Choose your maids carefully and pay them well to deter them from conniving with thieves. Once you are doubtful of the behaviour of your house help, immediately get rid of them.

Conclusion

Deciding to live in a satellite town in Nairobi is not easy. Family considerations may end up being most important. This is particularly so if you have school-going children or a working spouse.

Before deciding, it’s always worth paying a visit to any area you’re considering moving. This helps you get a much better feel for what living there might be like.

To move into your dream satellite town, you need to start by buying land. These are the top seven real estate advertising websites that you can use.

Once you find a suitable plot or house that has been listed for sale, here is a guide to the process of buying land or buying a house.

Urban housing remains expensive. Affordable housing is beyond the reach of many Kenyans. To live comfortably, many are resorting to move away from big towns. This begs the question:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in satellite towns in Nairobi over living in an urban area?

Here, we break down 5 reasons that should convince you to make that shift to satellite towns like Ruaka, Kikuyu or Athi River.

Moving to satellite towns in Nairobi has its advantages. Here are some.

1. Lower upfront costs for a more luxurious home

You can buy land or a house in Nairobi’s satellite towns for a lower cost than a similar-sized urban property. Properties in Nairobi have become very expensive. Half an acre in estates like Runda or garden estate cost above 30 million shillings. A similar size of property in an estate like Kitengela will go for around 5 million shillings.

2. Reduced cost of living

If you move to satellite towns, you will find that you can do more with your money. This is because the prices of goods are lower. Costs of groceries, schools and eateries will cost you less. Even supermarkets charge different prices depending on the location of their store.

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3. Space to live and enhance wellbeing

Being more connected to the countryside can have a very positive impact on wellbeing. Connecting to nature helps improve your quality of life. Satellite towns in Nairobi will usually be spacious. People living in Nairobi’s satellite towns are likely to have their own gardens. This makes them perfect places to raise children in.

Wondering what else you need to consider? Here are 7 items to be wary of before moving to Nairobi’s satellite towns.

4. A stronger sense of local community

Fewer people live in satellite towns as compared to urban areas. If you buy a home in satellite towns, you become part of a closer community. If you buy a property in a satellite town, you will find it is normal to nod, smile and say hello to people you pass on the street. This is regard for others and politeness that you’d be hard-pressed to find in the CBD.

A greater sense of community and being more connected to the people around you, is good for mental health too!

5. A more relaxed pace of life

Living in Nairobi’s satellite towns offers a sense of peace, refuge and comfort. The same that cannot be provided by an urban house. You will find satellite towns offer soothing natural landscapes all around. A mere glance out of the window and onto open fields or other green spaces can help lower stress levels.

Satellite towns in Nairobi are quieter and more picturesque. When done right, gated estates within the satellite towns can be safer, with less crime, pollution and litter.

This makes them ideal for older people, parents raising young families. Satellite towns are perfect for people who want to live a more health-conscious life, away from the hustle and bustle of the urban centers.

Rent-to-own schemes are agreements that afford you the right to buy a home at the end of a pre-determined rental period, at a price agreed before signing the agreement.  In this scheme, you pay rent for a set period, with the option to purchase the property at the end. 

You will then be paying a higher monthly rent than usual with the additional contribution going towards buying the house. For instance, if the usual rent is Ksh 50,000, a tenant with a rent-to-own scheme may pay Ksh 80,000 with the additional Ksh 30,000 going towards the payment of the house.

Rent-to-Own Schemes in Kenya have been around for a while.  However, these schemes have historically been the preserve of Government Agencies such as Housing Finance Group, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) & the National Housing Corporation (NHC). The models used by these institutions tend to favor civil servants.

Are you wondering if there are any Rent-to-Own Schemes in Kenya and if they are worth it? 

If yes, let’s dive into the details.

1)First, are rent-to-own schemes the right option for you?

The scheme will work if you already know where you want to live. If you are already settled, then this is fine. 

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Consider if you have a reliable income stream as you will need to commit to paying a monthly amount for a long time. If your income is irregular, you might want to save a few months’ worth of rent before you sign a rent-to-own agreement.

2)Why are Rent to Own Schemes so Risky? 

Rent-to-own schemes are not always beneficial, so you should be careful when you are considering this option.

The major downside of taking rent-to-own schemes is that you do not own any part of the home until you have made the final payment. As you do not have a title, if you’re unable to complete all payments, you can lose your hard-earned money already paid.

With rent-to-own schemes, the costs and risks are very high with very little legal recourse available if something does go wrong. Not only will you be paying an additional 25%-50% on your rent, but you might lose everything saved towards your deposit if something goes wrong.

 Additionally, even if you pay the rent plus option-to-buy fees diligently, you shall need to secure a mortgage at the end of the rental term. If you’re not approved, you might not get any payments back.

3)If you can lose your money, why choose a Rent-To-Own scheme in the first place?

There are several advantages of owning a home using the rent-to-own scheme

Benefits of Rent-to-Own Schemes

a)         If you agree on the future purchase price when signing the agreement, you benefit as the house may be worth more than the agreed purchase price. This is because the purchase price remains the same even if the house appreciates. 

b)         Rent-to-own schemes allow you to live in a home and neighborhood before committing to buying. This allows you to learn about any potential issues before it’s too late. 

c)         If you are unable to get a bank-approved mortgage, it’s easier to still get your dream house due to easier requirements to join.

Disadvantages of Rent-to-Own Schemes

a)         You may lose out on money if you choose not to buy the house. 

b)         If you are unable to obtain a mortgage, then you may not be able to buy the house. You also lose your right to buy the property if you can’t get a loan. 

c)         As you do not own the house yet, you have little control over any modifications to the house.

d)         If the landlord/seller of the property has their assets seized, you may not be able to get any of the money already paid.

e)         If your plans or circumstances change during the Rent to Buy period, you may be unable to move or risk losing money. This is because Rent to own comes with a long-term commitment.

f)          Rent to Buy isn’t available on every property on the market.

g)         If you buy a property as a rent to buy it may not always be easy to sell compared to a property that you buy outright.

h)         You will have no legal claim on the property until you have successfully purchased it in full. 

4)Thinking that rent to buy is a good option for you? These are some of the ongoing rent-to-own apartments in Kenya.

a)       The Crystal Rivers Development by Safaricom Pension Fund rent-to-own financing allows potential homeowners to live in their houses as they pay over 15 to 20 years without taking up a mortgage.

b)      The Green Zone is a residential complex with 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom exclusive units in the serene area of Thindigua, Kiambu road. Approximately 5KM from UN Avenue.

c)       Kenpipe Gardens, Kitengela, developed by The Kenya Pipeline Company Limited Retirement Benefits Scheme (KPCRBS) with a maximum of 20 years repayment period as you occupy your preferred house.

d)      Nalani homes have Rent-To-Own 2 bedroom Apartments with an ensuite master in Ruaka

e)      Rama homes provide you with a Rent-to-own Ksh.75,000 per month with a 6-year payment plan at 0% interest.  Deirah Heights 1st Parklands is currently at the 1st-floor level. Book a unit in our newest project Gateway Park in Syokimau.

5)         How to start the rent-to-own process

Rent-to-own schemes come with lots of risks. If after careful consideration, you are convinced they’re the right option for you, bear in mind that you will sign one of two types of legal agreements.

a)         Right to Buy Agreement

Right to Buy Agreement require you to pay the homeowner an initial fee and then continue to pay rent every month. These fees are paid throughout your lease and go toward your down payment (if you decide to buy the home).  The fees give you the right to buy the house.

With this agreement, you do not have to buy the house. However, you will lose the money that you paid over and above the rent.

b)         Lease-Purchase Agreement

A lease-purchase agreement works in almost the same way as a right-to-buy agreement. You still lease the home for a few years and put a certain percentage of your rent toward a down payment to buy the home.

However, when you enter a lease-purchase agreement, you must buy the home at the end of the lease.

When it’s time for you to purchase your home, you’ll apply for a mortgage just like any other home buyer. 

       I.         Find a property

Start by finding houses that have been offered for sale using this option. Given there are several things that can go wrong for both renter and seller, the supply of rent-to-buy properties is fairly limited. This is why finding a suitable scheme may take longer than a traditional house hunt.

     II.         Conduct Due Diligence

This step is important because entering into a rent-to-own agreement effectively ties your future living arrangements to your seller’s financial circumstances. If they default on their mortgage, the bank could repossess the home, leaving you out of pocket and without a place to live.

Do detailed research on the seller or developer and find out everything you need to know about the development before you commit to signing the contract.

    III.         Sign an Agreement

Before entering into a rent-to-own agreement, make sure you seek independent legal and financial advice. Ask a legal expert to draft or review your contract so that the right terms are included.

A lawyer will help you understand your rights and obligations. You need to negotiate on some points before signing or avoid the deal if it’s not favorable enough.

    IV.         Keep up with your rental payments

Once you’ve signed on the dotted line, the onus is on you to keep the deal alive. Draw up a budget and stick to it, as missing a payment could see you and your family turfed out on the street.

     V.         Secure a Mortgage

After the end of the rental period, you’ll need to take out a mortgage so that you have enough money to pay for the home. Once you have paid all the costs, congratulations on becoming a homeowner.

Bottom Line

Rent-to-own schemes can be a good avenue for home ownership. However, there are several risks and disadvantages to this approach. You need to have a good plan and make proper planning before you sign a rent-to-own lease. If you don’t do this you might lose money. If you are not sure where you intend to live in the next 10 years or settle down, you might want to avoid rent-to-own leases.

A title is a very important and legal document that proofs ownership of a home and of land. It should be the first thing to ask for when buying a property.

Title Deeds in Kenya are issued by Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development at the Ministry’ regional registries offices. See the four types of tittle deeds in Kenya

1.Certificate of Lease

Certificate of lease is the ownership document for leasehold property This Title deed is also known as Leasehold Titles. Leasehold land is one where ownership of the land is subjected to a definite period (maximum being 99 years). The lessee (occupant) holds rights to land for a specific period subject to conditions imposed on land rights by the lessor (landowner). The period can be 33, 50, 66, or 99 years for all urban plots. All plots in Nairobi County fall under this Lease Hold Titles. See general points relating to Lease Certificate

2.Absolute title deed

This type of Title deed is also known as Freehold Title. A Freehold title is where the landowner has the maximum rights to the land without any time period or any other restrictions. Once you have this type of Title Deed, the land is yours and has no conditions on ownership.

3.Sectional Tittle deed 

A sectional Title deed is issued to prove ownership for a unit within a building for example when you buy a house in an apartment or a flat.

4.Certificate of tittle

A title issued due to subdivision without change of user, it is under Registered Lands Act Cap 21.

Step by step on how to acquire a title deed

Step 1: Obtain Official land search

This stage is very important as it shows if someone else owns the land or if the land has been registered before.

Apply In-Person:

This is done at the ministry of lands and physical planning headquarters or in any of their Land Offices in local district/ Sub County. One is required to pay a fee of Ksh 500 for the search; submit a duly filled search application (form RL 26) and attach the copy title document. The land search at Lands office takes an average of 3 days.

After the search one is issued with a stamped Certificate of Official search (form RL 27) showing the status of the land.

Required documents

         i.            Duly filled Application for Official search (Form RL 26) Form RL 26

       ii.            Proof of land ownership

      iii.            PIN certificate (copy)

     iv.            Identity card (copy) for the applicant if Kenyan.

       v.            Foreign national registration certificate- alien card (copy) For foreigners who are residents in Kenya

     vi.            Passport (copy) for the applicant if a non-citizen.

Apply On-line

         i.            How to apply for a tittle deed online.

       ii.            Log onto the e-citizen portal E-Citizen and sign up

      iii.            Click on Ministry of Land, Housing & Urban Development link and choose the land search option

     iv.            Enter the title number and fill the online land search form Kenya and submit

       v.            Confirm the details and proceed to pay using the available payment method which can be a debit card, credit card, M-Pesa, or bank transfers. One is required to pay a fee of Ksh 500 for the search

     vi.            Once the payment is confirmed, the applicant can proceed to print the results, and if you choose not to, the information will always be available on the portal anytime you log in.

Step 2. Obtain land transfer documents

This step involves contacting a lawyer to facilitate obtaining and not arising the land transfer documents. The steps are as follows

i.                     Apply, pay and obtain rates clearance certificate from the County Government- This is done by the seller’s lawyer through consulting the local county government lands office. The whole process can take five days at the cost of Ksh. 10,000. This certificate proves that there are no outstanding fees to be paid at the City County’s office. Lawyer’s fees are calculated according to the value of the land. Upon payment of all outstanding Land Rates at the Local County Governments and upon an application and payment of the prescribed fees. The respective County Governments shall issue a Land Rates clearance certificate.

ii.                   Apply and Obtain Land Rent Clearance Certificate from the Commissioner of Lands – Upon payment of outstanding Land rent and on application, the commissioner of lands issues a Land rent clearance certificate. This certificate is proof that there are no outstanding fees to be paid to the County Government

iii.                  Apply and Obtain Consent to transfer from commissioner of Lands- The consent to transfer leasehold land held by the government under the repealed Act is required to be obtained from the National Land Commission. Upon payment and issuance of Both Land rent certificate and Land rate certificate, an application is made in writing by the lawyer to the commissioner of lands and the prescribed form executed for consent to transfer the desired property. Upon payment of the prescribed amount, consent to transfer is issued. This process takes nine days at the cost of Ksh. 1,000.

iii.

iv.                 File the transfer instrument at the Lands Office for assessment of stamp duty payable on the transfer- The draft transfer is done by the buyer’s lawyer and the transfer instrument has to be approved by the seller’s counterpart before it’s filled at the land’s office to be assessed for Stamp Duty. After the lawyer’s approval the instrument is submitted for assessment of stamp duty at the Lands registry. The stamp duty is 4% of property value for urban lands and 2% for rural lands. The stamp duty amount to be paid is indicated when the application is filed, but it takes approximately 7 days to obtain the receipt of payment (obligated to pay with a banker’s check) from the bank. The payment is made directly at the Lands Office.

Step 3. Obtain valuation for stamp duty

i.                     Receive inspection by land officer- Once the draft transfer has been filed at the land office, an inspector visits the site to verify the development and state of the property. Due to lack of transport, in practice, the inspector often has to be picked up in-person and driven to the site. There are no prior appointments made and the actual inspection may happen within one day or, in the worst case, one month. However, note that this time is not limited and, in some cases, entrepreneurs may wait months for a valuation. Once the evaluator has inspected the property, a report is compiled which the value is endorsed on the transfer.

ii.                   Obtain valuation of the property by Government evaluator- The inspector visits the site to evaluate and verify the indicated purchase price of the property in order to ensure accurate tax payment. If the assessed value differs from the one indicated by the parties, an additional payment is requested.

Step 4. Stamp duty payment

i.                     Endorsement of value for Stamp Duty and assessment of Stamp Duty- Complete the Stamp Duty from including the purchase price. The stamp duty assessment officer will then assess the stamp duty payable and indicate the amount on the forms. This takes three days.

ii.                   Payment of Stamp Duty- It is mandatory to pay the stamp duty with a banker’s check. The payment is made through commercial banks and the approved banks include the Kenya Commercial Bank and The National Bank of Kenya. Payment is made to the Commissioner of Domestic Taxes on behalf of the Commissioner of Lands. It takes four days for the Kenya Revenue Authority to confirm receipt of payment. This Stamp Duty is payable online via the KRA Itax portal

iii.                  Submission of the documents for franking/ obtaining franked documents- After payment of stamp duty, the transfer documents are submitted for franking to confirm that any charges or taxes, such as the stamp duty on those documents have been paid.

Step 5. Land Registration

i.                     Pay registration fees- A payment of Ksh 500 charged and one issued with a booking form to fill.

ii.                   Lodge the completion documents with Lands Office for registration of the transfer- The franked transfer documents are lodged for registration at the Lands Office. The seller’s lawyer obtains these documents which include; original certificate of Title, Rates Clearance Certificate, Land Rent Clearance Certificate and the consent transfer. This process takes 12 days.

i.         Duly filled booking form

ii.       Consent to transfer land (copy)

iii.      Official land search (original)

iv.     Land rates clearance receipt (copy)

v.       Land rent certificate (copy)

vi.     Transfer instrument (3 original + copy)

vii.    Identity card (copy)

viii.  PIN certificate (copy)

This process takes two weeks and Ksh. 5,000 is charged to obtain process a new title deed certificate.

After a successful registration you will receive the following document

i.         An original title deed with the name of the buyer

ii.       Registered transfer forms

iii.      The pay in slip of stamp duty

iii.                  Post purchase activity

After a week or two, you as the buyer should do another search with the ministry of Lands to confirm that the land is now under your name.

Required Documents

i.         Duly filled Application for Official search Form RL 26

ii.       Proof of land ownership

iii.      PIN certificate (copy)

iv.     Identity card (copy) for the applicant if Kenyan.

v.       Foreign national registration certificate- alien card (copy) For foreigners who are residents in Kenya

vi.     Passport (copy) for the applicant if a non-citizen.

vii.    Duly filled booking form

viii.  Consent to transfer land (copy)

ix.     Official land search (original)

x.       Land rates clearance receipt (copy)

xi.     Land rent certificate (copy)

xii.    Transfer instrument (3 original + copy)

Summary

For more details visit the ministry of lands and physical planning, ardhi house 1ST Ngong Avenue, Nairobi or vvisit their website : https://lands.go.ke/

When buying a home, most people only go for the one with a low price. Only for them to later in life make many regrets about the decision they made. Below is a list of six benefits of buying a home in a good neighbourhood that you should keep in mind before settling on where to buy.

 1.High capital growth of your home.

 Even though buying a home in a good neighbourhood is not so pocket friendly, it comes with many advantages. For example, the value of your home will appreciate in value steadily and consistently over time. This is not normally the case with bad neighbourhoods. Most of them actually drop in value.

2.Better security.

With a good neighbourhood comes a low crime rate or even none. Your safety and that of your family and your property should come first always. No one would love to come home to an empty house or get attacked at their place.

Before buying a home it’s good to do thorough research about the security of the area. You can get information regarding security issues from statistics that are compiled and kept by locals, you can also visit the police or check their posts on social media platforms since most will regard security in the surrounding.

 3.Quality schools.

One thing for sure you can get in a good neighbourhood is good schools. It doesn’t matter if you have school going kids, one day you could get yours or those of relatives. You may also one day wish to sell your home, if there are good schools around then the likelihood of you selling the property sooner is high as schools affect the buying decision of almost all prospective homeowners.

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Before buying a home, it is also important you visit the schools around to get first-hand information on their performances. You shouldn’t just rely on what you are told since whoever is selling you the property may tell you biased information for them to make a sale.

 4.Easy access to amenities and facilities.

 In a good neighbourhood, good shops, roads, churches, cafes, playgrounds, will always be in close proximity which is not the case with other not so good neighbourhoods. These facilities and amenities will see a locations value increase. This is good also for the future as one day you may wish to resell the property. These have been and will remain the variables against which people measure a good neighbourhood.

 5.Increased privacy.

Overcrowded neighbourhoods have so much commotion, noise pollution and very little privacy. There are normally so many shared amenities and facilities including bathrooms and toilets. In a good neighbourhood, you get a chance to own almost everything privately for example gardens, parking lots, hanging lines and many other.

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6.Good Community companionship and ties.

In most communities, there is how things are run there. In planning on how to run things then it means people have to come together and discuss or draw the rules. When they come together, they tend to bond because they have so much in common.

Their children are not also left behind. The togetherness of children with their age mates as they are growing up is very vital. Most of the things teachers or parents don’t teach their children, they learn from their friends. In a good neighbourhood, the kind of things children learn from one another are majorly positive. 

Summary.

When buying a home, you should know that you are making a lifetime decision.  The decision you make is likely to affect either positively or negatively, you and those you love. I hope that after reading the above, you are going to make a decision with zero future regrets.

Alot of people ask how they can become the best top-selling real estate agents.

Most of them want to know how they can sell tens or hundreds of homes and make millions.

Well, this article will show how to do that in 5 easy steps.

You can be a real estate agent working on your own or a real estate agent employed by a company to sell their products. In case you are interested in getting a job as a real estate agent, then just go to the company and drop your CV/resume.

Then after several years working as a real estate agent with a broker you could go it alone. Because you are known in the industry. And you have saved up some working capital.

This article will concentrate on what to do in case you want to start your real estate agency.

So, let’s dive in on the steps to take to start off in real estate. There are no special skills or any amount of money needed to start. Just your willingness to help other people.

Step 1:  Find the best real estate agent in your area for mentorship.  

Yes, you heard me right. Work for free. I know you have bills to pay, so you can start off on a part-time basis. A side hustle or a side gig if you wish.

And what exactly will you be doing as you work for free?

You will do a lot of jobs for them including ensuring there is tea in the office, the daily newspaper is delivered, the office is cleaned, and the boss is generally happy.

If you are lucky, you get to participate in more serious stuff like handling customer inquiries, taking customers to site visits and growing the list of the number of people you know.

This step helps you to gain knowledge in the industry, get recommendations and start growing your network.

To register with the Kenyan Estate Agents registration board, you will need a letter of recommendation and this is how you get one. 

Step 2: Network and Build your sphere of influence.

As you continue to work for free, you get to gain a lot of knowledge in the real estate industry. From how to handle sales, property prices, market trends and how to handle customers.

 You will accompany your mentor for meetings. Here, you get to meet other real estate agents who will become part of your network.

 Your network is your net worth, and this is where you start growing that.

During this time, join any online groups you find. There are numerous groups on Facebook and WhatsApp that I have personally found quite useful.

Attend any available real estate webinars and meetings. This helps you expand your knowledge and become a force to reckon with.

 Step 3: Get a real estate license

Depending on the country or area that you operate in, certain restrictions apply to the real estate industry. Please do a quick google search on registration and licensing requirements.

In Kenya, all real estate agents should be registered with the real estate agent’s registration board. It takes around 6 months to get registered from the time you apply to when you get your license. This is because EARB processes registration in batches.

 In case more people apply, registration can be quicker.

If you are wondering how much a real estate license costs in Kenya, the amount is KSH 10,500. This covers an annual license and a practicing certificate.

Before you get your license, you can sell using the license of the agent you have from steps 1.

 Step 4: Sell like Crazy.

Once you have your own license, you need to start selling like crazy.

To do this, reach out to anyone within your network who could benefit from your services. Start with yourself. Can you buy the real estate you are selling? If yes, then go ahead. You have just sold your first property to yourself.

Start also by reaching out to your friends and family. This could be your best friend at work who has been coming to you for help. Make this they payback time.

Reach out to friends from school, church and your neighbors. If you say you will call, remember to call and follow up.

Call up your baby mamma, call your ex, call your sponsor. And if any of these have a sponsor, call them too!

Go out into the streets, talk to people, open social media accounts, google ads, blood sweat and tears.

 List your properties with listing websites available in your country. In Kenya, we have identified the top five real estate listing websites for you.

Make sure everybody buys from you. Follow them up. Constantly.

Stalk them in case you need to. Call them from a different number. Email them. SMS then. WhatsApp them.

And don’t stop until they buy………. or die of old age😊.

 If they die, attend the burial, and get contacts for the next of kin and sell to them. Not really, but you get my drift.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-3j9A-w8s4

Step 5: Maintain contact with the clients you sell to.

Once you sold a property, this becomes the beginning process of the next real estate item you want to sell to them.

Resell to them your newest property. If they can’t afford it, ask them to refer you to their friends. And don’t relent until they do. And then do not let their friends go until they buy from you.

Or until their children buy from you.

Or their children buy from your children who are now managing your business.

Remember, it is far easier to sell products and services to existing customers than it is to sell to new customers. This is because there is at least a 60-70% chance of repeat customers buying from you.

 Bonus tip?

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