A gated community is a form of a housing estate or residential community that is guarded and enclosed within walls or fences. If you are someone who fancies having a quiet life equipped while still having access to all the modern facilities, living in gated communities could be the right choice for you. Living in such private communities has its benefits, which make it a desirable choice of residence. So today, we bring you some of the benefits of living in a gated community that might get you to consider buying a home in such a place. 

One of the biggest attractions to living in a gated community is safety and security. The idea of gated homes is to be in a closed-off and well-guarded surrounding. Gated communities usually have fixed entrance and exit points, that are either manned or have electronic security. This means that only verified residents and guests can enter the community. The guards at the security gate ensure that trespassers or thieves do not get anywhere further than the gates. There will also be CCTV cameras for 24/7 surveillance, electric fences, and so on.

Gated communities offer extra privacy and exclusivity from the outside world as the community only gives access to residents and verified guests. You can have your own space away from any hustle, intruders or trespassers. This kind of exclusivity makes gated community living so desirable. 

The sense of community in a gated residence will make you feel cared for and secure. Often, there is a sort of unspoken understanding between the residents. Many of the communities also hold community events or festivals for the residents to gather together and enjoy. The controlled communal facilities help you to get to know your neighbors, which results in a sense of familiarity and trust among the residents.

Another benefit of living in a gated community is the well-integrated lifestyle facilities that it provides.

Gated communities have shared communal facilities such as a basketball court, children playing ground, swimming pool, gym, and many more. It makes for a comfortable living that is desirable to most buyers. 

Gated community living keeps away trespassers. No more annoyance from solicitors.

The fact that you can restrict or allow entry to whoever you want into the community makes it a safe place from solicitations. This increased sense of freedom and control is a great plus to have and can save you from the havoc and frustration that come from solicitors such as salesmen or unauthorized people asking for donations.

The exclusivity in gated communities means everything is controlled. For example at Nakuru Meadows, over speeding or hooting is not allowed, drivers are asked to drive at 5kmh.

The constant bustle and noise of traffic is not something you will have to worry about. Life in a gated community brings a wonderful sense of peace and quietness away from the usual city buzz of today’s technology-driven world.

You will enjoy eco-friendly homes when you buy a home in a gated community. This is because some gated communities like Nakuru Meadows use natural sources of energy such as solar panels. Each home comes with an individual solar panel. There is also an installed reverse osmosis water treatment plant that helps conserve and purify water. 

This allows homeowners to save a considerable amount from their energy bill which adds to the benefits of living in a gated community very significantly. This kind of green gated community is thoughtfully designed with a focus on energy and water efficiency. This way they promote water and electricity conservation, improve air quality, and thus create a healthier living environment.

Living in a gated community provides a haven for children. Children can be left outside without worry, the safety and security in gated communities are especially good for the little ones with aspirations for exploring. Since there are no open roads with moving traffic, it is safer to allow your kids to play outdoors; you wouldn’t have to worry about them bumping into strangers either. With communal areas set for the kids to play, it is also easier for parents to monitor them.

The final benefit/ reason why you should buy your next home in a gated community is that they have a greener environment. You’ll always have a breath of fresh air right at your doorstep.

Gated communities have a greener environment in general due to the absence of moving traffic or outsiders, they are far less susceptible to pollution. With its regular maintenance and controlled facilities, a breath of fresh air is guaranteed. 

Which one of these pros of living in a gated community has stirred your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.

At Nakuru Meadows, we have a beautiful gated community consisting of 70 family homes. We hope this blog inspires you to consider living in Nakuru and more so at Nakuru Meadows.

Learn about our current prices and offers:

• 3 bedroom Maisonette  Click here
• 4 bedroom Townhouse Click here

To visit please contact us at 0708 822 583 or 0715 856 848. You can also email us at sale@nakurumeadows.co.ke

Finding a new home is no easy task, there are many options on the market, but only a few that meet your needs. You deserve the home of your dreams, and that means scouring the market for the perfect property. Follow these tips to simplify your search.

1. List of Your Needs and Wants

This should be the first thing you do even before you log in to that listing site. Write down everything you need in a property including your maximum budget for a home, the preferred number of bedrooms, the indispensable amenities too, for instance, a parent will consider a property that has a kids play area for their children.

After your needs list is done, now make a list of your wants. Although you would settle for three bedrooms, you may prefer four bedrooms. On this list, include everything that’s not a necessity but would be icing on the cake it maybe a pool or even a generous kitchen yard.

2. Pinpoint Your Ideal Location

Where do you see yourself raising your kids, which location is convenient for you? Is the location dependent on the commute time? Do you want to be in a certain school district? What value factors do you consider when choosing a home?

While it’s great to pinpoint a few neighborhoods, you should also keep an open mind. There may be other areas of which you are unfamiliar. A real estate agent could help you find the best location for your lifestyle.

3. Ask Questions

When your search for a home begins, you’ll probably go to many showings. When you arrive at a new property, come prepared. Have a list of questions you want to ask the real estate agent. While the listing should give you some information, not everything will be included in the property description.

Some important questions to ask include:

• How much is the service charge?
• Has the house ever been occupied before?
• How is the neighborhood?

While walking around the property, have an eye for detail. If anything looks unfinished or in disrepair, make a note of it. Although it might not be significant enough to keep you from buying the home, it could be enough for you to request for a lower price. Keep a list of all of your concerns. After the showing, express your concerns to your realtor.

4. Be Open-Minded

The secret to finding your dream home is having an open-mind. No home can meet all your needs and wants to the latter. Also, your dream home could be hiding under your nose. For instance, you might see a picture of a home that doesn’t visually appeal to you but after reading the description, you could find that it meets all of your desires. If you choose to buy the home, you could make a few changes to the home to make it more your style.

5. Work with an Experienced Real Estate Agent

Get a professional for assistance. Unless you are a real estate professional, you probably don’t have the resources and tools needed to find the right property. Looking online will only get you so far. A real estate broker has insider knowledge of the local market. They know where to look for the latest listings and can help you pinpoint the ideal neighborhood.

Also, be careful, and do your due diligence too. Make sure you get a trustworthy professional. Remember real estate agents are on a commission.

If your ideal location is Nakuru, come check out Nakuru Meadows. We have gorgeous family homes for sale and rent.  Take advantage of our amazing offers and invest in a family home you will always treasure.

Learn about our current prices and offers:

• 3 bedroom Maisonette master en-suite with detached SQ  click here
• 4 bedroom Townhouse all en-suite with detached SQ  click here

To visit please contact us on 0708 822 583 or 0715 856 848. You can also email us at sale@nakurumeadows.co.ke

The Covid 19 pandemic has changed our lives completely and continues to do. Some sectors have been affected adversely while some not so much. Today we evaluate how the pandemic has affected real estate values?

Do you think, Covid 19 will change your purchase decisions on property?

The Covid epidemic upheaval of social and economic norms and patterns may alter local market value patterns. As months roll on, the ways in which value is affected will become evident. How will you know where location value lies in your preferred real estate market?

Property value in residential real estate markets has traditionally been linked to four key location value factors:

1. Proximity to Work or Employment Opportunities

Traditionally, how close or easy it was to get to work determined so much where people choose to buy or rent homes.

Due to this pandemic, over 1 million Kenyan’s have lost their jobs. The ones with jobs are now working from home. This has brought about a need for people to invest in good homes as they now spend so much time indoors. The distance to work in no longer such a big deal as employers begin to change their minds, and allow employees to work from home as long as possible till a post- Covid 19 future.

2. Proximity to schools

This has long been a significant location value factor. Parent’s want to live in an area with good schools nearby. But with the stay-at-home strategy to fight Covid 19, education at all levels has moved online. As a post- Covid 19 future is unpredictable we can only wonder if this will mean a student may qualify for “virtual attendance” to a favored school without moving into that school’s catchment area or not.

3. Proximity to a popular shopping mall or business district

Shopping areas are an attraction for most buyers, but with Covid 19, businesses have been adversely affected and are struggling to survive. Some may end up closing down eventually. There has also been a shift to more home-delivery online ordering. It doesn’t matter where you live, business will now come to.

If an area becomes economically depressed and loses the ambiance of its entertainment businesses, fewer buyers may be attracted to the area, leading to a decline in property prices.

Well-known neighborhoods may change dramatically post-Covid, and buyers may no longer choose a location based on this factor.

4. Proximity to valued local amenities

As a result of the pandemic, proximity to progressive, state-of-the-art, and fully-funded healthcare facilities may become an important value factor. Will healthcare access become a significant location value factor?

Right now buyers are faced with more questions than answers. How will this pandemic affect the neighborhood you favor? Will changes to your chosen neighborhood make it less or more attractive to you? Will price rather than location matter more in a post-Covid future? To some extent, current buyers and post- Covid buyers may have a better bargain when buying a home due to reduced prices.

The Covid 19 pandemic has had serious economic ramifications around the globe. However, the Pandemic has not changed the way real estate value is determined, just the context of value.

So, what value does location hold for you and your family?

What do you want to be near? What do you want to be distant from? If what you want proximity to is what others value too, that location will carry more value and higher prices.

Perhaps your ideal location may be a less-dense, or a rural environment where social distancing from neighbors is a year-round lifestyle.

As you figure it all out, come check out Nakuru Meadows and its neighborhood, see if it’s a good fit for your family. Take advantage of our amazing offers and invest in a family home you will always treasure.

Learn about our current prices and offers:

• 3 bedroom Maisonette  click here
• 4 bedroom Townhouse click here

To visit please contact us on 0708 822 583 or 0715 856 848. You can also email us at sale@nakurumeadows.co.ke

According to a CBK report, there has been poor uptake of mortgages in the market, reasons cited included:

• High cost of housing/properties
• High interest rate
• High incidental costs (legal fee, valuation, stamp duty)
• Low level of income

Today, we will be sharing a few reasons why renting is not bad after all. Don’t beat yourself up if you cannot afford to buy a home.

1. Rents are cheaper than mortgage repayments

The decision between, renting and buying a home is a highly debatable one. The truth is somewhere in the middle, it depends with where you are. Whether or not renting is cheaper depends so many factors like where you live, the housing market, rental prices and so on.

2. Eligibility for a mortgage

Currently, there are high numbers of unemployment in the country and across the globe, people are living from paycheck to paycheck; only a small fraction of the population can say they have a stable monthly income.

Remember to qualify for a mortgage, you have to prove to a bank that you have a stable and steady income to ensure that you will actually be able to service the mortgage. If your monthly income is a unreliable then you are better off renting and building up your credit profile.

3. Taking a mortgage ties you down financially

Typically, most mortgages require an initial deposit of at least 20%, but you may find some banks advertising up to 105% mortgage financing.  Whichever option you pick remember, taking a mortgage means you will be paying off a debt for as long as 20 years with the average rate of 10.5%- 18% annually varying from bank to bank. If you have a fixed monthly cash outflow, it can be very challenging trying to accumulate any savings for other investments.

Don’t get us wrong, owning a home is a great investment in the long run, but renting gives you the freedom to sink your money into other income generating investments. Investments that may allow you to accumulate enough finances to buy a home upfront in a few years or enable you to service the mortgage much easier.

4. Renting allows more flexibility

Sometimes you may just want to upgrade to a bigger home, a better neighborhood, change scenery or simply to move closer to other amenities like your children’s school. Committing to a mortgage will therefore tie you down on where to live.

Feel free to schedule a visit with us or contact us on 0708 822 583 or 0715 856 848. You can also email us at sale@nakurumeadows.co.ke

Home buying is not only a life changing moment but also a risky one especially for first time home buyers. There are so many decisions to make, so much at stake and you probably know very little about the buying process. This guide will help you through the process from start to finish.

Step 1. Improve your credit score for a mortgage.

Step 2: Start saving for the down-payment

Step 3: Decide how much house you can afford.

Step 4: Get pre-approved with a lender

Step 5: Go house hunting & Make an offer

Step 6: Get a Home Inspection

Step 7: Work with a Mortgage Banker to Select Your Loan

Step 8: Have the Home Appraised

Step 9: Coordinate the Paperwork

Step 10: Close the Sale

Feeling more confident to buy your dream home now?

We hope so!

Discover stunning Maisonettes and Townhouses in Nakuru ready for occupation at Nakuru Meadows! Our expert team looks forward to hold your hand all through the process above.

Learn about our current prices and offers:

• 3 bedroom Maisonette  click here
• 4 bedroom Townhouse click here

To visit please contact us on 0708 822 583 or 0715 856 848. You can also email us at sale@nakurumeadows.co.ke