Home loans Kenya
How home loans in Kenya work
A home loan is a secured, reducing-balance loan used to buy or build a property. The lender decides whether to approve, the amount, the term, the rate, and the documents required.
A practical mortgage journey
- Estimate affordability and total purchasing costs.
- Compare lenders and request prequalification.
- Identify a suitable property and complete title and ownership due diligence.
- Submit a complete application; the lender carries out credit assessment and an approved valuer assesses the property.
- If approved, satisfy the offer conditions, complete transfer and security documents, pay applicable duties and registration charges, then proceed to disbursement.
Plan beyond the monthly repayment
Deposit, stamp duty, legal fees, valuation, insurance, lender fees and registration costs can affect the cash needed to complete. Use the full calculator to keep these separate from the monthly repayment.
Eligible owner-occupiers may deduct qualifying mortgage interest up to KES 360,000 per year (KES 30,000 per month), subject to Kenya’s tax rules, qualifying lenders, documents and the one-residence limitation. This is not automatically deducted from the repayment estimate.
Official sources
- CBK Residential Mortgage Survey, year ended 31 December 2024
- Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company eligibility criteria
Last reviewed 23 August 2026. Rate details are collected from official public sources; review dates and campaign end dates matter.