The Best Time To Invest in Land is Now – Reuben Kimani

To most Kenyans land is an ‘emotive issue’ that often pops up every election cycle causing tension and anxiety in most parts of the country. But to others, the land is an investment whose value never disappoints.

Everybody in Kenya dreams of owning a piece of land, but with the ever-rising prices, the majority have ended up being content with just their ‘dreams.’

With an average population growth of 1,000,000 people annually and with 500,000 of them moving to urban centers every year, there is need to invest in efficient and affordable housing.

“There is a great demand for land and houses in Kenya. Land and real estate is the only investment that has been tested where an investment is always assured of returns no matter the time or the circumstance. Land will always go up in terms of value,” said Mr. Reuben Kimani, the Chief Executive Officer at Username Investment Limited.

For the last 10 years, the value of land and real estate in the country has been growing, presenting a bright future for both existing and potential investors in the sector.

“The best time to invest in land and in real estate is now. Not tomorrow, but today. You should not waste even a day because that will be an opportunity lost. Always remember that every day that passes by without investing is an investment opportunity wasted,” said Mr. Kimani.

Started with a vision of being the best and most preferred real estate company in Kenya, Username Investment Limited has been at the forefront of giving Kenyans from all walks of life land that they can afford.

“Not everyone can afford land. At Username, we are out to make sure that Kenyans get an opportunity to own land,” he said. “Stats show that more than 50 percent of our population is made up of the youth below the age of 25. These are people who have the ability to own land but are often locked out due to higher land prices,” he added.

According to Mr. Kimani, previous investors in the land sector had only focused on high-income earners and neglected those who earn between 50,000 shillings and below, the majority of them being the youth. “We saw a need to help this category of people own land. They also have a right. They need a place they can call home and at Username, we are always set to make this happen,” he said.

Currently, Username Investment Limited has a project that is already 95 percent sold, going for 179,000 shillings, giving an investor the option of paying 15,000 shillings per month.

“Imagine paying 15,000 shillings per month for a plot and being able to own it a year or even less. We believe in giving our customers flexibility and the power to own property,” he said.

Currently, the company has more than 5,000 customers and has already issued more than 4,000 title deeds. 30 percent of their customers are return customers “because we believe in a tradition of trust.”

Mr. Kimani is optimistic that the current Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Land will bring the necessary long-awaited land reforms. He says the ongoing digitization process is good but the ministry should involve all the stakeholders. “Am sure that with the current changes, transactions involving land will be fast and effective.”

He had a word for the young generation, “don’t wait another day to put your money into real estate. Every day that goes without you investing is a wasted opportunity. Real estate is the only investment that has been tested and approved as the best form of investment at the moment.”