The highrise apartments in Ngara are certainly interesting. My worry though is that in a few years the environment might turn into something similar to the 'projects' of the states - you know, gangs, broken glass everywhere, people pissing on the stairs/elevators, etc. I've listened to enough rap music to know that its not fun.

Any thoughts on this?

Ms Mkenya,
Do not be fooled ati you can get something decent in Kileleshwa for under 5m. Have you seen those "studio apartments" you will just start laughing once you step in them. Some are the size of a decent toilet in a decent 250 sqm Maisonette in DC

Siste listen and listen carefully. Do not waste your time chasing hopeless apartments in Nairobi for that amount of money. Your best bet is think long term. Buy a plot in DC (1/4 acre) for between 2.5-4m and then build pole pole over the long term. Instant gratification is what is killing Kenyans. They do not want to put the effort and time to earn something decent. Trust me in 20 years time when your DC neighbourhood has reached maturity you will be thanking me heartily.

Have you ever owned an apartment in the leafier sections of Nairobi. I have and still do. It is a bonafide NIGHTMARE my sista.

1. The value of the communal land will remain locked forever. You will never see a coin of it kapsa kapsa kapsa.
2. You know how Kenyans are. Service charge disputes prawwwwwwwwwwww for years and years. People do not want to pay and there is nothing you can do about it except try to prevent them from selling when that time comes. You think they care? Nope!
3. Cramped living conditions no matter how plush the apartment is. Have you ever tried living in a decent sized apartment in Kile or Lavi. At first it is fun. You enjoy the company of mingi mingi people. Then it starts to grate at you. Mara oo someone is throwing a bash downstairs and the noise is irritating. Kids riding bikes and screaming all the time. People are peeing in the pool and spitting dani yaghe. The sauna has broken down and residents refuse to changa to fix despite endless pleas. Hopeless whatsapp group "forwards" baaaaaauuu until you get sick of it. Walevi neighbours scratch or bang your car while you are asleep and deny all culpability once you wake up. The list is endless.
4. Do not be fooled ati renting is a cake walk and occupancy is guaranteed (especially for ati a matchbox studio apartment in Kile ). Think carefully. Who would you rent to? A middle class Nairobian with money would never want to live there. A broke university student with hypergamy would definitely want to live there but no way they will pay you more than 10k because they simply cannot afford it. If the deal seems too good to be true.....

Now compare with the buy and build in DC model. You buy and build say for 10m over three years (if you can afford to have 3-5.5m in the short term certainly over three years you can hit your 10 m target.After 3 years you have a spacious maisonette with a huge piece of land that you own ALONE with no crazy communal living issues that is growing in value at a crazy rate yearly.

As I repeated so many times on the DC is the future thread....ALL the cap gains including the land is YOURS for the unlocking and 10 years later when you want to sell (to those clueless investors who want to hepa their studio apartments and become adults living in a decent house) you sell bila story mingi and smile all the way to the bank. Take these other fellows advice at your own peril!

Shalom

The "Bedsitter" in valley arcade will bring in more rent than the 4 bedroom house in a Kite gated community.This is a cliche but don't judge a book by its cover, my friend. She said she is looking for rental income so it's a viable option. The tenants will most likely be foreigners who will pay rent per quarter and will take good care of the place. FYI, studios rake in over $3k per month in New York, this is the direction Nairobi is heading.

Are there any apartments available for sale in Nairobi for the 3.5 - 5.5M budget and are not con jobs?
Mainly for rental income.