by Afrimac 
The Kenyan real estate market witnessed a remarkable resurgence in the final quarter of 2023, defying economic headwinds and demonstrating resilience in the face of challenging conditions. According to the Hass Consult Quarterly Report, property sale prices experienced a notable increase, accompanied by a recovery in rental prices. We delves into the factors driving this surge in property prices, examine key trends in various segments of the market, and explore the implications for stakeholders.
Despite facing high inflation and a weakened shilling, the Kenyan property market rebounded strongly in the fourth quarter of 2023. The average property prices surged by 4.1 percent after a period of price corrections, signaling renewed investor confidence and demand. Notably, both suburban and satellite areas recorded substantial growth in sale prices, with Ridgeways, Spring Valley, and Langata leading among suburbs, and Juja, Kitengela, and Athi River leading among satellite towns.
Analysis of Property Segments:
Detached Houses, Semi-Detached Houses, and Apartments:
All property types experienced price increases, with detached houses, semi-detached houses, and apartments recording growth rates of 4.1%, 4.6%, and 3.6%, respectively. This broad-based uptick reflects a widespread demand for housing across various segments of the market.
Rental prices also saw a recovery, rising by 2.5% in the quarter, despite the challenges posed by elevated inflation. Semi-detached houses led the rental category with a growth rate of 4.6%, followed by apartments at 3.9%.
Suburbs such as Ridgeways, Spring Valley, and Langata witnessed strong quarterly growth in prices, indicating sustained demand from homebuyers seeking desirable residential locations.
Among satellite towns, Juja, Kitengela, and Athi River emerged as frontrunners in price appreciation, underscoring the attractiveness of these areas for property investment.
Apartments in Parklands, Kileleshwa, and Langata recorded significant price increases ranging from 2.3% to 4.3%, reflecting the desirability of these neighborhoods.
Parklands experienced a 5% rise in rental prices, with Upperhill leading the rental market with a growth rate of 5.5%. However, Langata saw a decrease in rental prices by -2.4%.
Satellite Towns:
Satellite towns, including Athi River, Kitengela, Mlolongo, Ngong, Ongata Rongai, Ruaka, Syokimau, and Thika, witnessed varying degrees of price appreciation, with increases ranging from 0.3% to 5.6%. Kiambu, however, recorded a slight decrease of 0.3% in apartment prices.
This robust performance of the Kenyan property market in the last quarter of 2023 underscores its resilience and attractiveness to investors, both domestic and foreign. Despite economic challenges and high interest rates, the market offered a total return of 8.3%, highlighting its potential for capital gains and rental yield. The weaker currency, while posing challenges for developers in terms of input costs, also makes the market more appealing to foreign investors, driving up asking prices.
The surge in property sale prices in the last quarter of 2023 reflects the underlying strength and resilience of the Kenyan real estate market. Factors such as economic stability, supply-demand dynamics, and investor sentiment have contributed to this upward trend.
Source: HassConsult
