You Have Ksh10 Million: Buy an Apartment in Westlands or Build a Maisonette in Ruiru

The question of whether to buy or build has always been a key concern to individuals thinking about settling down. While thinking about these two propositions, there are trade-offs to be made. Usually, the main contention is what are you willing to forego?

For instance, living in Westlands is expensive but close to many amenities but living in Ruiru can be affordable but it is much further from the CBD and other amenities.

To understand the nitty gritty of the considerations you need to make before deciding whether to buy or build we are going to use a specific example. In this article, we shall analyse what you should do if you have Ksh10 million. Should you buy an apartment in Westlands or should you build a maisonette in Ruiru?

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What Ksh10 Million Gets You in Westlands

Westlands is an affluent neighbourhood in Nairobi. Its residence is made up mostly of expats and wealthy individuals who live in chic apartments and expensive bungalows. The amenities in the neighbourhood are within proximity and are of the highest quality. Hotels, restaurants, clubs and malls make up for amazing social amenities.

Just a brief description of Westlands allows you to understand how much life in Westlands costs including apartments. With Ksh10 million, you are not looking to buy a piece of land in Westlands. Most people choose to live in Westlands for the convenience and comfort that the neighbourhood offers.

What apartment can you afford in Westlands

• Bedrooms: One bedroom apartment ensuite
• Size: Between 50 to 100 square metres, spacious.
• Access: Walking distance to social amenities - five-star hotels, hospitals, schools and shopping centre
• Quality: High-quality modern finishing

Amenities in Westlands apartments

• Gym
• Backup generator 
• Swimming pool
• Lift
• Sauna
• Parking
• HIgh security - guards and CCTV, electric fence
• Borehole

With Ksh10 million you will live a nice cosy life in Westlands but you will have limited space. If you are looking to have a family this might be a bit constraining however, if you are a young professional, this option might be great for you.

Read Also: 9 Ways of Owning a Home in Kenya

What 10 Million Gets You in Ruiru

Ruiru is a Nairobi satellite town. Population wise it is the fourth largest urban centre in Kenya. Life in Ruiru is not as expensive compared to Westlands. The population is usually middle-class to lower-middle-class. The area is rapidly growing with the property market booming, from selling plots of land to apartments to ready-made bungalows.

With Ksh10 million you have two options in Ruiru, either buy land and develop it for yourself, or you can buy an already-built house and just move in. Both options are viable with Ksh10 million.

Buying land and developing with Ksh10 million

You can buy a plot between 40 by 80 and 50 by 100 for about Ksh2.5 million to Ksh3 million. The plot of land will be about 5 km from Thika Super Highway. 

Once you buy the piece of land, you will have about Ksh7 million remaining. According to estimates you can build a house of between 3 and 4 four bedrooms depending on your design, customisation and finishing.

Building a square metre can cost you anywhere between Ksh40,000 and Ksh70,000. A three or four-bedroom house will range between 100 and 150 square metres. The lower estimates for the most square metres therefore is, Ksh6 million while the higher estimates for the least square metres is, Ksh7 million.

Buying a built bungalow in Ruiru for Ksh10 million

Alternatively, with Ksh10 million you can decide to buy a bungalow in Ruiru. Ksh10 million will afford you a three-bedroom bungalow sitting on a 40 by 80 or 50 by 100 plot of land. You also get the title deed to the land the house is built on. Most of these bungalows are in a gated community and are own compound. Additionally, they are located between 5 and 10 km from the Thika Super Highway.

Some amenities found in this development include,

• Amenities
• Electric fence
• Cabro pavement 
• Front Garden
• Parking spaces
• Detached servant quarter
• Borehole 
• Manned gate

Living in Ruiru allows you to enjoy a semi-urban environment where you can access the city conveniently and escape the hustle and bustle once you are finished with the city.

Read Also: Homeownership Option 1: Buying a Ready House - All You Need to Know

Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying Apartment

As with everything in life, there are advantages and disadvantages of buying an apartment in Westlands.

Advantages

• Low Maintenance: Buying an apartment is low maintenance since you only have to mind your interior space. 
• Location: Buying an apartment gives you access to prime locations where your conveniences are within reach.
• Security: Apartments in Westlands have high security including guards, electric fences and CCTV surveillance.
• Amenities: You also get access to top-notch amenities. These can range from schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, malls, transport and much more. 

Disadvantages

• Limited Space: While buying an apartment you trade space. For the same money that you get a three-bedroom bungalow in Ruiru, you get a one-bedroom apartment in Westlands.
• Strata Fees: Some of the shared amenities such as swimming pools and gyms are maintained at a cost that is shared among all the residents of the apartments.
• Lack of Privacy: You live in an apartment meaning you are sharing your space with others compared to your own compound in Ruiru.
• Limited Outdoor Space: As much as the apartments offer outdoor space and rooftop space, the space is limited and shared.
• Limited Control: You have limited control as you have to abide by the regulations of the apartment.

Read Also: The Hidden Costs of Home Ownership in Kenya

Advantages and Disadvantages of Building 

Building too has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

• Control: Building your own house gives you control during the building process and while living there since that is your space.
• Savings: While building you can consider using certain technologies and materials that will help you save on cost.
• Quality guarantee: Since you are the one building the house, you have the final say, hence you can ensure that your house is built to the best of standards.
• Satisfaction: Building gives you satisfaction and a sense of ownership since you made all the decisions that went into building the house.

Disadvantages

• Time-consuming: Building a house is time-consuming. If you have a busy schedule, it might pose a challenge.
• Cost overruns: If not well managed, you might incur extra unbudgeted costs.
• Stressful: Building can be stressful. You are dealing with regulators, architects, engineers, masons, material suppliers and deadlines as well as quality assurance. This can lead to a lot of stress.

Deciding to build allows you to manage your projects which can give you tremendous satisfaction and pride in the final outcome but it also exposes you to other risks such as stress and cost overruns.

Read Also: Can You Own a Home in Your 30s

How To Decide Which Works For You

The choice of whether to buy an apartment in Westlands or to build a Maisonette in Ruiru comes down to preference. If you are looking for convenience and comfort and are willing to forego space and control then Westlands can be for you. However, if you want space and control but are willing to trade in convenience and proximity to the high-end niceties of life, then Ruiru can work for you.

Wrapping Up

With Ksh10 million you have the freedom of choice. You can choose to live in Westlands or in Ruiru. Therefore, before settling on where you want to live, ensure you enumerate what matters to you because as much as you have the freedom, you have to trade some things to get some others.