International Buyer Guide

Buying Property in Kenya From Abroad

Buying property in Kenya completely from abroad is absolutely possible. The bigger challenge is making a good decision when you may not fully understand the neighborhoods or be able to stand on-site and judge the exact unit, orientation and view.

Almasi helps buyers close that information gap, compare the options properly and stay supported from the first decision through handover.

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Updated August 2, 2026 Almasi Realty buyer guide
01 Understand the neighborhoods

Maps and listings do not explain how Nairobi areas actually feel or function.

02 Judge the exact unit

Floor, orientation, nearby buildings and view angles can change the decision.

03 Stay involved

Your professional team does the work, but you should understand the important decisions.

Ownership basics

Can a foreigner buy property in Kenya?

Yes. Foreigners can buy property in Kenya.

Article 65 of the Constitution of Kenya limits a non-citizen who holds land personally to leasehold tenure of no more than 99 years.

For most international buyers purchasing an off-plan apartment in Nairobi, this is not a practical disadvantage. Most of the Nairobi projects Almasi handles are already on leasehold land, so Kenyan and international buyers are generally buying the same form of tenure.

Some ownership structures may be treated differently, but that depends on the exact entity and title. Your Kenyan advocate should advise on that if it is relevant. Almasi helps coordinate the ownership and lease questions so you do not have to work through them alone.

Remote purchase

Can the purchase be completed remotely?

Yes. You can buy property in Kenya completely from abroad.

You can compare properties, reserve a unit, complete due diligence, negotiate and sign the sale agreement, and make payments without being physically present in Kenya. We encourage buyers to visit when possible, especially if they do not know the neighborhoods well, but travel is not required to complete the purchase.

The purchase itself
  • Compare and reserve the property
  • Complete legal due diligence
  • Negotiate and sign the agreement
  • Make payments and receive records
When a visit may be needed
  • Opening a Kenyan bank account
  • Forming a Kenyan company
  • A specific bank, lender or KYC step that requires you in person

The exact signing, KYC and registration steps can vary by transaction. Your independent Kenyan advocate should confirm the process and Almasi helps coordinate it.

KRA PIN A KRA PIN is required for the purchase and registration process. For a non-citizen, obtaining it is normally handled with help from a Kenyan advocate or another qualified facilitator. The Kenya Revenue Authority publishes the current process, but buyers do not need to navigate it alone.
Step by step

A practical buying process

1 Purpose first

Start with the purpose of the purchase

Decide whether the property is mainly for rental income, personal use, relocation, family use or a combination. That decision affects the location, unit size, building type, furnishing, management needs and acceptable level of risk.

Ask a better questionDo not start by asking only, “What is the best project?” The better question is, “What property and unit best fit what I am trying to accomplish?”
2 Location

Understand the neighborhoods

If you have spent time in Kenya and already understand the neighborhoods, choosing an area may not be a major issue. If this is your first time in Kenya or you do not know the neighborhoods well, it is much harder to understand the differences from listings and maps alone.

We help buyers understand the practical differences between the areas they are considering, but we still prefer that buyers visit when possible. Almasi can arrange a location tour so you can compare the neighborhoods in person before making a final decision.

Explore our area guides: Westlands, Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Woodley Estate, and Diani Beach.

You do not have to wait for that visit to begin. We can narrow the areas and developments first so your time in Kenya is focused.

3 Unit selection

Compare the exact property and unit

Choosing a development is only part of the decision. The exact layout, floor, orientation and view can materially change the unit. This is especially important with off-plan property because the final view may be difficult to understand from a floor plan or rendering.

Use the unit selector Our unit selectors help buyers compare floors, layouts, positions and orientations where that information is available.
Preview a Unit Selector

Orientation and view should not be treated as small details. Almasi helps buyers read the plans, understand the unit’s position within the development and identify what can and cannot be confirmed from abroad. Where reliable current site information is available, we use it to give the buyer better context without promising a view that cannot be guaranteed.

Buyers should also consider nearby land and what may be built around the development because no current view can be guaranteed indefinitely.

For an investment purchase, treat projected rent and returns as estimates. Ask what the rent assumption is based on, what expenses were excluded and how many similar apartments may compete for the same tenant.

4 Before paying

Treat a reservation fee and a major deposit differently

A reservation fee holds the selected unit while due diligence and sale-agreement negotiations continue. It is not the same as the major contractual deposit.

Before paying the reservation fee, confirm:

  • The exact unit being held
  • Whether the fee is refundable
  • What happens if due diligence identifies a problem
  • Whether the fee is credited toward the purchase price
  • The correct beneficiary and receiving account
Almasi’s recommendationDo not pay the major deposit until the sale agreement has been negotiated and signed. An offer letter may call for the deposit sooner and the developer may push for payment, but we help clients negotiate that timing. In our experience, the reservation fee is normally sufficient for the developer to continue holding the unit while the agreement is completed.

Ideally, due diligence and the agreement should be completed within about 30 days. We have also seen contract negotiations take as long as 90 days. A longer negotiation does not mean the buyer should pay the deposit before an acceptable signed agreement is in place.

5 Independent advice

Use an independent Kenyan advocate

The developer’s or seller’s lawyer represents their client. Your lawyer should independently review the transaction and advise you.

Your advocate handles the legal due diligence, including the title or lease, approvals, contracting parties and sale agreement. Almasi helps coordinate the process, follow up on open items and explain the practical effect on the purchase.

Buyers should still stay active. Read the advice, ask what remains unresolved and make sure the important answers are supported by the documents. Trust your professional team, but verify the material points before you commit.

6 The contract

Review the sale agreement before committing

Your advocate should review and negotiate the agreement before the major deposit is paid. The agreement should clearly cover the parties, property, unit, price, payments, completion, delays, defaults, refunds, title or lease obligations, specifications, parking, defects and handover.

Marketing materials and verbal promises are not automatically binding. If a floor plan, finish, appliance, amenity, parking right or lease-renewal promise matters, ask your advocate to make sure it is properly addressed. Almasi stays involved so the commercial and practical issues do not get lost in the legal exchange.

7 International payments

Send money carefully

If you are sending US dollars and the developer has a dollar account, we generally recommend a direct bank wire to that account. This can avoid a poor currency conversion before the funds reach the developer.

Some banks and markets do not make wire transfers to Kenya easy, particularly in parts of Europe. In those cases, Wise is generally the next-best option.

Confirm the beneficiary and account instructions before sending anything. Keep the wire or transfer confirmation, and make sure the developer issues an official receipt and applies the payment to the correct unit. Almasi follows up on the receipt and payment allocation with the developer.

8 After construction

Plan for handover and ownership

We recommend coming to Kenya for snagging and handover if possible. It is easier to see the finished unit, identify defects and make final decisions in person.

Handover is not always a one-day event. Snagging, corrections, final clearance, documents and keys can take roughly two to four weeks. Almasi helps coordinate the inspection, follow up on defects and work through the handover steps, especially when the buyer cannot remain in Kenya for the entire period.

If the property will be rented, Almasi can also help the buyer plan for furnishing, rental setup and property management.

Off-plan purchases

What your professional team should verify

You do not need to independently collect and analyze every document. Your advocate handles the legal review and Almasi helps coordinate the due diligence, developer responses and practical follow-up.

The professional team should cover:

  • The legal developer and contracting entity
  • The title or lease and relevant approvals
  • The exact unit, plans and binding specifications
  • The sale agreement, payment protections and completion obligations
  • Service charge, handover, defects and ownership documents
The buyer’s roleStay informed, ask questions and understand any major unresolved issue before moving forward. Almasi helps make those issues easier to follow.
Budget properly

Costs beyond the purchase price

Budget for more than the advertised price. Depending on the transaction, additional costs may include stamp duty, legal fees, valuation and registration charges, bank and foreign-exchange costs, service-charge deposits, utilities, snagging, furnishing, property management and taxes.

Exact costs and tax treatment depend on the buyer, ownership structure and property. Obtain transaction-specific advice from a Kenyan advocate and qualified tax adviser rather than relying on a developer’s estimate.

Avoidable problems

Common mistakes international buyers make

  • Choosing the development without comparing the exact units
  • Relying on projected rent supplied by the developer
  • Paying the major deposit before the sale agreement is negotiated and signed
  • Assuming brochures, renderings or verbal promises are binding
  • Using only the developer’s or seller’s lawyer
  • Leaving everything to the lawyer without staying involved
  • Sending money without independently confirming the account
  • Ignoring currency-conversion costs and transfer delays
Buyer support

How Almasi helps

Almasi helps buyers understand neighborhoods, compare developments and individual units, arrange location tours, and make better sense of unit orientation and views from abroad. We also coordinate with the buyer’s independent lawyer, communicate with developers and sellers, follow the due-diligence and contract process, monitor construction and prepare for handover.

Guidance

Neighborhoods, developments, layouts, floors, orientation and buyer fit.

Coordination

Lawyers, developers, due diligence, contracts and unresolved questions.

Follow-through

Construction updates, receipts, snagging, handover and rental setup.

We do not replace the buyer’s advocate, valuer, tax adviser or lender. Our role is to make sure the buyer has better information, understands what is happening and has consistent support through the entire process.

Questions buyers ask

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-citizen own property in Kenya?
Yes. A non-citizen can buy property in Kenya, but when holding land personally the tenure is leasehold for no more than 99 years under Article 65. Most off-plan Nairobi projects Almasi handles are already leasehold, so this generally does not put the international buyer at a disadvantage compared with a Kenyan buyer purchasing in the same development.
Do I need a KRA PIN to buy property?
A KRA PIN is required for the purchase and registration process. A non-citizen normally gets help from a Kenyan advocate or another qualified facilitator to obtain it. Almasi helps coordinate this with the professional team.
Do I have to travel to Kenya to complete the purchase?
No. A property purchase can be completed from abroad, including due diligence, signing and payments. We encourage buyers to visit when possible, but it is not required. Opening a Kenyan bank account or forming a Kenyan company normally requires an in-country visit.
How can I understand the neighborhood and the view from abroad?
Almasi explains the practical differences between neighborhoods and can arrange a location tour when you visit. For the exact unit, we use the available plans and unit-selection tools to help you understand the floor, orientation, surrounding buildings and view direction. We also explain what cannot be confirmed from abroad.
Is a booking or reservation fee the same as the deposit?
No. The reservation fee holds the unit while due diligence and the sale agreement are being completed. Almasi recommends that the major deposit is not paid until an acceptable sale agreement has been negotiated and signed.
How long should due diligence and the sale agreement take?
Ideally, the process should be completed within about 30 days. Contract negotiations sometimes take as long as 90 days. Almasi helps coordinate the process and negotiate deposit timing when a developer’s offer-letter deadline is shorter.
Can I rely on the developer’s projected rent or return?
Treat it as a claim or estimate unless it is supported by reliable market evidence. Vacancy, service charge, furnishing, management, maintenance, taxes, competing supply and currency movement can materially change the actual return.
Who should verify the title and sale agreement?
Use an independent Kenyan advocate who represents you. Almasi coordinates with the advocate and developer, but the buyer should remain involved, understand the advice and verify the material points before committing.
What is the best first step?
Clarify your goal, budget, timing, preferred areas and biggest concerns. Then compare a manageable shortlist before choosing a development or unit.

Start with the right questions

Tell us what you are trying to accomplish

Share where you are in the process and what concerns you most. Almasi will review your buyer profile and reach out to discuss the next step.

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