Mombasa Homes Expo set for next month

Venerated industrialist Manu Chandaria will be among the key speakers and his topic of choice is on how to succeed in business.

The main sponsors of the event include the Ministry of Housing, Savings & Loans, Housing Finance, Shikara Ltd, Tamarind, Unique Homes Magazine, Commercial Bank of Africa and Lantana Homes.

Being a peaceful town with a warm climate all year round that is spiced by cool sea breezes, the coastal towns are a favourite with both locals and foreigners, many of whom are more keen to own property in the region.

"The expo unveiled untapped opportunities in Mombasa, which is why several Nairobi-based developers have rushed to Mombasa," says Thuranira.

Thuranira urges other major developers to organise similar expos in other towns such as Eldoret, Nyeri, Meru and Nakuru. Kisumu held its first homes expo a few months ago.

Seafront properties

"The expos will encourage more Kenyans to invest outside the city or their ethnic regions especially considering that land has become a scarce resource in most populated areas," says Thuranira.

Following the Mombasa expo, retirees from around the country trooped to the Coast to seek property.

"More people are now contemplating retiring in Mombasa because the coastal city is welcoming, peaceful and hospitable. People here are not as aggressive and this is a charming trait," says Thuranira.

Seafront properties are particularly popular with the wealthy.

"People who live near beaches believe the sea has a healing effect on their lives," says Thuranira.

Interest in apartments has also gone up as investors consider them safer.

Commercial interests have also increased at the coastal town, evident in the number of malls and office complexes that are coming up.