The construction boom at Riat Hills in Kisumu, Kenya, is transforming the property market in the lakeside city.
Residential property developers are rapidly changing the face of the little known Riat Hills into a palatial estate. Situated along the Kisumu-Kakamega Road, Riat Hills has acquired the much needed facelift; with modern maisonettes and bungalows dotting the hilltop.
The ambience of the estate and the aerial view it gives of the lakeside city, and of Lake Victoria, explain why investors are rushing to acquire property in the area. An afternoon walk around the estate shows dozens of modern architectural designs of maisonettes and bungalows – in expansive compounds – standing behind well trimmed edges that are the main attractions on the hill.
Riat Hills, reminiscent of Kitsuru and Karen in Nairobi, now joins the league of other Kisumu upper class estates such as Milimani, Tom Mboya, Mountain View and Kenya Re. Consequently, as more people opt to settle at the hill, demand for property in Milimani and Tom Mboya estates has reduced. This has tremendously changed the market price for Riat Hills property.
According to real estate agents, an acre of land at Riat Hills in 1992 fetched less than Sh200,000. Today the same is selling at Sh2 million or even Sh2.5 million. Ounga Commercial Agencies Director, Mr. Eric Ounga, was recently quoted by The Standard newspaper saying that the value of property at Riat Hills would appreciate further if the infrastructure was improved.
“The potential of Riat Hills as a residential and commercial estate is enormous, but the Council needs to do more to encourage investors,” said Mr. Ounga.
Most developers atop Riat Hills attribute the estate’s rapid development to lower construction costs as a result of the availability of rocks. This means they spend less money digging foundations because there are rocks. On the other hand, homeowners say they are attracted by the ambience of the area as well as the aerial view of Kisumu.
“It is cool up here compared to the high temperatures around the city centre,” says Janice Atieno who owns a bungalow in the estate.
If you are looking for property in Kisumu, visit ConstructionKenya.com . We can hook you up with a real estate agent who will help you to find the property that best suits you.
Archive for December, 2009
Flourishing real estate investment opportunity in Kisumu
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009Getting To Know Keystone Colorado
Thursday, December 24th, 2009The small resort town of Keystone Colorado is about 85 miles West of Denver Colorado. It takes about 1.5 hours to drive to Keystone From the Denver International Airport. For someone who has never been to Keystone, it can be a confusing and tedious task of planning a vacation for the whole family to meet everyone’s needs. This guide is meant to be a primer on where to stay and what is available in the different areas of Keystone Resort Colorado. Keystone is not just a single area, but a ski resort that takes up an entire valley about 5 miles long. Situated within this long valley there are some defined neighborhoods within Keystone Colorado that each offer their own unique characteristics. These characteristics are what will ultimately make your vacation getaway to Keystone Colorado the best it can be.
River Run Village – River Run Village in Keystone Colorado is the heart of it all. The small and quaint village area was built in the early to mid 1990’s and serves as the central gathering point for skiers, shoppers and vacationers. The area is mostly condominiums with a first floor of retail space, housing fine restaurants, coffee shops, and outdoor clothing stores. The best part of River Run Village is the active atmosphere that keeps the village moving. Skiers love River Run because you can walk to the ski slopes at Keystone Resort within just a few minutes from anywhere in the village. Along they way, they can stop for a quick cup of coffee or tea to warm up for the day. Shoppers love River Run Village because of the plentiful opportunities to shop for ski gear, outdoor clothing, or gifts for family or friends. Families love River Run because of the kid-friendliness of the entire village. From play structures, to swimming pools, to mini golf, there is plenty of different thing to keep kids active and happy for days. At night during the ski season, River Run becomes alive with bands playing and bars and restaurants to enjoy an Alpres’ Ski singer and gather with close friends to talk about the day on the slopes. If you’re looking for a vacation where you’ll be close to everything, River Run Village is the place for you.
Mountain House – The Mountain House base area is not too far from River Run. In fact, it’s a quick and easy half mile walk from River Run. However, the atmosphere is quite different. This original base area of Keystone Ski Resort is slightly older, built mostly in the late 1970’s and features larger condominiums with amazing views, and walk-to-slopes convenience. The Mountain House base area is spacious and features a vast learning area and bunny hill for new skiers and riders. However, during the night the Mountain House base area winds down and comes to a close at an early hour. This area is for families perhaps with small kids who need to have the area quiet by 8pm. Close by, however, are plentiful restaurants and shops along US Hwy 6, so you still will be within just a few minutes walking distance to fine dining, and fun pubs in the evening.
Keystone Lakeside Village – Keystone’s Lakeside Village is one of the most unique areas in any ski resort area. While not home to any ski lifts as of yet, the Lakeside Village still holds its own with the abundant activities available any time of year. The Lakeside village is home to the Keystone Conference Center, which hosts hundreds of different conferences throughout the year and keeps the village bustling with people and fun. Keystone Lake, a 5 acre pond surrounded by restaurants, shops and condominiums, is central to the whole area. During the winter months, the entire lake is frozen and becomes North America’s largest outdoor ice skating rink. Best of all, this lake is maintained by a Zamboni, which smoothes the ice to a shiny flat surface for easy skating. Winter activities such as hockey, figure skating, and more are happening all the time at the Keystone Lakeside Village. The summer months yield a beautiful blue Lake that is the foreground to breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide to the East of Keystone Colorado. Huge planted boxes of Colorado wildflowers litter the area and it is truly a sight that comes right from the front of a postcard. Enjoy the summer days paddling a canoe, kayak, or paddle boat around the lake, or taking a stroll along the bike path that runs all the way through the valley. Access to skiing is easy with a constant stream of shuttles that run directly to the ski slopes. Not quite walk-to-slopes, but you’ll actually walk much less by taking a shuttle.
Keystone Ranch – Further down the Keystone Valley to the West is the Ranch. The Keystone Ranch is home to 2 world-class golf courses. Within the golf course is a community featuring high-end single family homes with million dollar views of the green golf course in the foreground and snowcapped peaks in the background. As for the fun….it’s up to nature back here nestled between the Keystone Valley and Swan Mountain. Plentiful hiking and biking trails are close by along with cross country ski trails and sledding during the winter months. Fine dining at the Keystone Ranch Restaurant is easily available. This is not a simple pub…this is world class food for sure!
Whether you’re planning your first trip to Keystone Colorado, or you have been to Keystone many times, there is truly something for everyone in your group. Based on the activities for each neighborhood, choose what you want to do and the area will simply fit right into your vacation plan. Take the time to get to Keystone Colorado today….the trip is worth it and you’ll have memories and stories for years to come.
Nascars Clint Bowyer From Boy to Superstar
Saturday, December 12th, 2009Clint Bowyer, the 26 year old savvy racer from Emporia, Kansas, started racing in motocross at the young age of five. He was a good on two wheels but soon discovered that he was even better on four wheels after his grandfather brought him to a dirt track in Humboldt, Kansas. His father, Chris Bowyer, wasnt very happy with his second sons decision at first because the family had already invested a lot of time and money into motorcycles and the young Clint Bowyer had shown a lot of potential. His older brother, Andy Bowyer, was racing motocross nationally. Eventually, Chris Bowyer supported his young son because of his enthusiasm.
His mother lays claim that they werent in it to make him a NASCAR star but rather they did it because they enjoyed it as a family. After awhile, the whole family turned to four wheels and Chris even set up a shop in his storage lot near his towing company in Emporia. Even until this day, his parents and their dog follow the Cup circuit in a motor home to show their support to Bowyer and it has paid off.
Because Bowyers father had many drivers for customers, he would hang around race shops to try and pick their brains. By the time he was 15, he was driving short-bed Chevy pickup that he had put together with the spare parts from his fathers storage lot. He was also working at a Goodyear shop in middle school to pick up the tools of the trade. From there, he was taught what made a person successful with their cars.
Bowyer is a fierce competitor and the markings of a winner was clear from the get go. He won and liked it. When he is on the race track, he is in it to win the trophy. Since racing at the age of five, Bowyer has gone on to achieve over 200 wins and countless championships throughout the years. He broke into the street stocks scene in 1996 at age 17 during the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas. He counts that as one of his most memorable races because an angry competitor had chased a flagman into a bathroom for 45 minutes and threatened to crush the winner, only to then realize that the winner was 17 years old.
Dick Ross, who was tuning up Bowyers engine that night, realized that Bowyer was made out of special material when Bowyer managed to guide home a 50,000-pound fire truck, a 6-foot towing chain during a 10 mile stretch of two lane highway in central Kansas without getting a scratch on the vehicle.
4 years later, Bowyer went back to the Thunderhill Speedway and won the 2000 Modified championship and finished second in the Modified points at Lakeside Speedway. He continued to get 18 more wins, 32 top fives in 40 starts en route to the 2001 Modified Championships at Lakeside Speedway and Heartland Park. After that he was made the 2002 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Midwest Champion after another Modified Championship at Lakeside Speedway and a Late Model crown at 1-70 Speedway in Odessa. Bowyer has gone on to win a great many more championships when he began running for the NASCAR Busch Series in 2004.
His parents are still in awe at how much their son has achieved and they are still amazed when fans congratulate them. Although Bowyer now resides in North Carolina, he still enjoys going back home where people still remember him as Clint and not the NASCAR star. And like any Kansas native, he believes that the best barbecues cant beat Kansas Citys barbecue.