Factors to consider when purchasing land in Kenya
Buying land is a long-term investment and requires a large amount of
money. Before getting into investing in the land it is important that you do
thorough research on the land you want to buy so as to make sure it will meet
your needs. On your way down this road, you will be faced with very sweet deals
of lands in perfect locations. It’s not until you do due diligence on such
lands that you will realize that they are far from what you saw them be at
first sight.
Below are the considerations you should make before purchasing a
piece of land in any part of the country.
Zoning classification
The national government through the ministry of lands has a very
strict land-use plan for all lands in the country. Lands have been segmented
for different purposes, which include, commercial, residential, industrial,
agricultural, historical, or a combination of either. If your purpose of buying the land is for
example commercial purposes and the government has listed it as a residential
segment, then you can only put up residential property unless you get a change of user.
Zoning restriction
This is the restriction of the size of the property you build in a
certain area. Mostly in Kenya, it restricts the height of the property. You
cannot build a 10 storey building in an area whose restriction is of 5 storey
building. Also, check with the ministry of Land for long-term zoning plans. The
government may have long-term plans like constructing a highway that will
affect your property in the future.
Legal considerations
Do a thorough assessment of all legal documents before buying any
piece of land. Some properties have legal disputes that may be a burden to you
after you buy the land. Consider getting the legal history of the property from
the land ministry office in that area and I can assure you this will not be in
vain.
Location of the land
Location is the primary factor to consider when buying land. For
whatever purpose you are buying the land, you should consider that it is in
close proximity to amenities such as schools, hospitals, and police stations.
Environmental risks
Most natural calamities are unavoidable and unpredictable. But there
are those that could have happened in the recent past whose occurrence is
likely to happen again. Before you buy land, make sure it is not in an area
that has been faced with risk in the recent past. An example of such an area is
that which is prone to floods. It is advisable you do a research of risks that
have been faced in that area in the last 20 years.
Access to Utilities
Access to utilities such as public transport, water, electricity, and gas should be of
high consideration. Do research on how the cost is compared to other parts. In
some areas getting these utilities is too expensive.
The terrain of the land
When buying a piece of land, don’t just go for its cost. Put
development considerations first. For example, if the land is too steep, then
it will require a lot of cash to level it. It will also be difficult and
expensive to install septic systems.
Accessibility
When buying land in rural areas make sure you put this into
consideration first. Before you buy land,
make sure that there is a passable road or a provision for one.
Area climatic conditions
There are many aspects that are affected by the climate of an area.
The range of the temperature, yearly rainfall, and seasonal changes will
determine how you do the insulation of your house, the types of plants and
vegetation that will do well, the accessibility of the area, and many other
factors.
Size and shape of the land
This is also a consideration you should make and should depend on
the type of home you want to build. There are different property designs that
require different sizes and shapes of the land. Other properties may not fit in
certain shapes of lands.
Soil type
Before buying land it’s important you have the soil tested for its
quality and composition. The soil
composition affects the foundation of buildings, how much it would cost to do
the earthwork, and also the stability of the buildings. It’s one of the factors
that make buildings have cracks.
Bottom line
When buying land, don’t just buy because it’s on sale. Let not your
decisions be made in haste. Bring the needs of you to own a piece of land forth
and go for the land that measures up to those needs. Then make sure it aligns
with the above-mentioned factors.