KMRC mortgage guide
KMRC mortgage eligibility in Kenya
KMRC does not lend directly to individual borrowers. Eligible buyers apply through a participating bank, SACCO or mortgage lender for a Kenya-shilling affordable-housing mortgage.
Core eligibility criteria
- The property must be residential and within the lender’s eligible affordable-housing criteria.
- The loan must be in Kenyan shillings and be made through a participating lender.
- The applicant’s income, deposit, security and documents remain subject to the lender’s assessment.
The affordability limit is not a household budget target
KMRC’s two-thirds payment-to-income figure is a refinancing eligibility ceiling. It is not a recommendation for what a household should spend on housing, and individual lenders may use stricter affordability rules.
For properties and borrowers that qualify
Some lenders advertise up to 105% financing only where their specified cash-cover or insurance safeguards apply. The lender, not ArdhiHome, decides product suitability and approval.
Published mortgage-market facts
The CBK Residential Mortgage Survey for the year ended 31 December 2024 reports an average mortgage rate of 14.9%, a published range of 8.2%–20.4%, 30,016 residential mortgage accounts and KES 279.3 billion outstanding mortgage value.
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.