Kenya tops global housing market returns in 2025, HassConsult survey shows
Kenya’s housing sector has outpaced nine major international economies to become the world’s best-performing property market in 2025, posting the highest gains in both prices and rental yields.
This is according to new data by HassConsult, which compared performance across Kenya, South Africa, the US, Canada, the UK, France, Switzerland, Singapore, and Australia.
The study shows that Kenya has extended its lead as other markets stagnate under the weight of high interest rates and weak demand.
Residential property prices in Kenya rose by 7.8per cent in the year to June 2025, outperforming Australia at 4.74 per cent, while most Western and Asian economies recorded minimal or negative growth. Since 2000, Kenyan home prices have climbed 425per cent, compared to 201 per cent in the US, 151 per cent in France, and 122 per cent in Singapore.
HassConsult Co-CEO Sakina Hassanali attributed the market’s resilience to its unique financing structure.
“Homes in Kenya are fully paid, which makes the market super-resilient. Owners rarely face mortgage defaults, preventing the forced sales that destabilize debt-driven economies,” she said.
Less than 2per cent of homes in Kenya are mortgage-financed, versus up to 90% in countries like the US and UK.
This insulation has shielded the market from cyclical downturns while demand continues to grow, driven by rising incomes across education, health, trade, agriculture, and finance sectors, alongside a fast-expanding population.
Kenya also leads in returns for investors, with rental yields averaging 5.5 per cent and combined capital and rental returns reaching 13.28 per cent in the year to June. Off-plan projects delivered even higher gains, averaging 18.06 per cent across eight prime developments.
According to HassConsult Development Sales Advisor Ian Mutinda, off-plan has become the main entry point for Kenyan buyers.
“The discounts and installment structures are delivering returns more than double the norm in other global markets,” he said.
