It used to be that a strong deadbolt was the end-all be-all of home security. But times have changed. Today, home buyers are investing their money in home security. Systems could range from light sensors or security cameras to a suite of integrated smart-home solutions. Consumers today are more concerned about security than ever before, especially in residential areas, leading to a growing home security features including armored doors. Interestingly, this is one of the aspects that property developers often neglect with most only installing security features as per individual buyers’ requests. However, realizing that physical security plays a big part in leveraging an investment project is crucial. Below are some of the security features on a rising demand in the Kenyan residential market that will act as a key clincher when delivering the sales pitch to a potential home buyer.

Doors Upgrades

When it comes to physical security assessments, door upgrades are among some of the most important to consider. This is because people access doors more frequently than almost any other element of a home. In many ways, the exterior of a residential property is the first point of access and the first line of defense. And without any strong doors, perimeter security offers very little in terms of security measures. Other aspects to consider include door frames and hinges as some can be manipulated to allow unwanted access to a house. Ideally, you want to use a door that is able to remain strong and robust over time and provides some restriction to forceful entry methods used by criminals and burglars. Some of the doors giving Kenyan home buyers a piece of mind are armored doors, with some people fixing them in bedrooms. These not only provide security but also automatically raises the value of a home.

Window Film Installation

Window film has been a popular staple in the commercial real estate market and it is used in many commercial properties alongside other physical security measures. It has taken the residential community quite some time to catch on to this beneficial trend. Window films are essentially the protective film that is placed over a glass window to help increase their resistance and make them more secure. They are also designed to provide a safety net from dangerous broken glass and flying shards by bonding to the glass and holding it in place if it breaks. Usually, they are available in a variety of thickness depending on the level of protection needed. As far as physical devices security goes, this is one of the more subtle ones because it is very difficult to tell whether or not a protective film is being used on a window. It also couples as a great selling point for potential home buyers.

Pre-Installed Surveillance Cameras

Surveillance cameras are definitely more popular now than they were a few years ago and the popularity is continuing to increase at a steady pace. Much of the growth is attributed to the fact that people have learned more about security cameras.

They serve to heighten the physical security measures that are already in place as it gives a way to monitor and record things that might have previously gone unseen. Surveillance cameras help guard the perimeter as well as other parts of the house that have limited visibility or need constant monitoring.

Surveillance, perhaps, is the most important feature as it helps monitor other security measures in place while serving as one.

Window and door sensors

In some instances, sensors do not need to be installed as a separate security measure as they are included as part of a package deal in surveillance cameras in an effort to increase physical security layers. The benefit of window and door sensors is the fact that they are usually inconspicuous and hard to spot. Once interference is detected, the connection is broken, and the break in power supply triggers the alarm.
While the security features discussed above are important, each is relevant to specific developments based on location and external security measures put in place. Too much emphasis on security devices may render a system complicated to understand. As a developer, attaining the right balance is crucial to making a development stand out. Also important to note is that the more powerful a security system is, the easy, the security system integration. Some security equipment can integrate several security functions into one device, which provides high leverage to buyers looking for simple yet exceedingly dependable security systems.

REAL ESTATE TRENDS

Massive construction activities in Nairobi’s Kilimani spurs climate concerns

The massive construction activities in Nairobi’s affluent Kilimani estate are now raising concerns over the effect they have on global warming and the environment as more trees have been cleared to pave way for the roads and buildings

The suburb, which is set to become home to Cytonn’s 35-storey tower, and currently on a construction transformation path, has attracted the intervention of UN’s environmental program featuring the Grey2Green initiative that will help restore a serene environment and help counter effects associated with concrete.

The initiative, which has helped plant over 2000 trees since 2016 aims to plant more than 2000 exotic, indigenous, and exotic trees in schools within the area in the year 2018.

Banks join Kenyan Real estate firms in pursuing the Kenyan Diaspora

Many companies have in the recent past joined hands with the Kenyan diaspora in real estate investments. Others have solely been formed with the target market being the diaspora. However, increased rates of fraud have resulted in many Kenyans living abroad to shying away from investment propositions as only a few companies are offering credible investment opportunities. To take advantage of the gap, reputable firms are now venturing into the property market to provide an alternative to potential investors.

Diaspora Kenyans have emerged as critical players in the growth of the economy with high remittances which reached an all-time high of Ksh 21.2 billion in April this year. KCB is among the top financial institutions wooing the Kenyan diaspora in Australia and the UAE as it eyes expansion of services outside the country. The company will offer services including buying, building, acquiring approvals, selling, and management of land

GLOBAL REAL ESTATE TRENDS

Cement Shortages in Rwanda boost trade in neighboring Tanzania and Uganda

The shortage of cement in Rwanda has resulted to decry by major stakeholders in the sector as prices have skyrocketed. Since March, the price per bag of cement has increased steadily from Rwf 8700 to Rwf 13000, representing a 49% increase.

The country, which is in a race to fix its infrastructure currently imports 46% of its cement, which is at least 23000 tones against its locally produced 27000 tonnes.
Some of the East African companies fighting for the market share include Hima and Tororo of Uganda, and Tanzania’s Dangote, Tanga, and Lake Cement companies.

This comes at a time when Kenya is dealing with shortages in construction materials such as gravel, which caused prices to rise during late last year where a cubic meter was retailed at Ksh 5000.

South East Asia: Data Centers set for exponential growth

The data centers landscape in South East Asia has in the recent past been vibrant with growth as many developments take place in the region. A significant portion of the action has been centered in Singapore and Hong Kong where data centers operators are building their second and third data centers.

Global Switch, an owner, and operator of large-scale carrier and cloud-neutral data center in Europe and Asia has been at the forefront of data centers transformation currently in play in the region. The Company is currently establishing a $209.8 million data center dubbed Singapore Woodlands in Singapore to add to the region’s data center market which is estimated to be worth $12 billion.

The region’s data center is expected to grow at 27% annually to exceed the European’s by 2021.

In Kenya, we have begun to see the commencement of investments activities in the data center market with the second construction of a carrier-neutral data center by icolo.io which began in February this year. Growth in the internet and explosion of digital data in Kenya is expected to spur growth in the sector.

THIS WEEK IN KENYA REAL ESTATE

This week’s market research focusses is on the sales and rental prices for 2 and 3 bedroomed apartments in the coastal regions of Nyali and Diani. Statistics in the tables below were derived from listings by property firms in Kenya, and analysis was conducted to provide an insight into the varying prices for investors looking to purchase either of the two apartment sizes within the two areas.

2-bedroomed Apartments

3-bedroomed Apartments

KENYA INTEREST RATE MARKET WATCH

This week, the treasury bills were subscribed at 165.65% up from 160% the previous week. The 91 –Day, 182-Day and 364 –Day bills yielded 7.967%, 10.265%, and 11.141% rates respectively with the 364- Day bills outperforming the 92 and 182 day bills at 198.43% down from last week’s 155.07%
Out of the offered treasury bills, the total accepted bids were 36262360 million.

KENYA’S EQUITY MARKET WATCH

Total shares traded in the week decreased by a margin of 96.39 percent down from 51,041,500 last week. The NASI and the NSE 20 Share index both recorded decreases of 1.46 and 2.63 percent respectively.

Market capitalization further decreased by 1.4635 percent down from 0.661 percent recorded the previous week while I-REIT Turnover recorded a 20454% increase down from 17125 to 3519900.

MARKET ANALYSIS SUMMARY

Last week, Express Kenya dominated the gainers’ chart at 8.89 percent followed by WPP Scan Group at 5.41, Olympia Capital Holdings at 5.36, and Fahari Stanlib at 3.91.

The top three losers of the week were Centum Investments closing at Ksh 37.75 hare price, Flame Tree Group Holdings, and British American Tobacco closing at 5.95 and 4.76 percent loss.

CURRENCY HIGHLIGHTS

This week, the shilling strengthened against the European currencies trading at 0.3 percent increases against the Euro and the Sterling Pound and 0.6 percentage increases against the Indian Rupee.

In the East African region, the shilling performed well against the Tanzanian and Ugandan Shilling, closing at UGX 36.92 and TZSH 22.64 for a Kenyan shilling.