HassConsult unveiled the results of its third quarter property price indices, which showed a take-off in asking prices for properties, a slowdown in rent rises, and a restoration of the high returns on investment in the local housing market. “The market correction to rents that we flagged in 2011 – as property yields moved to lows of around 7% – now appears to be reaching its conclusion and we are moving into a new period of take-off in sales prices and investment returns,” said Ms Sakina Hassanali, HassConsult’s Head of Research and Marketing. House price inflation – which was particularly…
Author: Editor
In the western world, looking for property online is as commonplace as buying a book or shopping for clothes using the internet. It seems natural to flip through the latest real estate listings on your smartphone while waiting at the bus stop or relaxing at home. In fact, it’s almost hard to imagine a time when these tools did not exist. In the emerging markets, the picture is very different. In many countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, online property hunting is a relatively new phenomenon. Traditional means like newspaper classifieds and real estate fairs are…
The National Bank of Kenya (NBK) plans to build on its mortgage portfolio to meet demand from the diaspora. This is after reportedly sealing more than Sh1 billion worth of mortgage deals during an expo held in the USA last August. According to the bank’s Executive Director for Retail and Business Banking Robert Kibaara, a lot of Kenyans abroad are continually looking for investment opportunities in residential homes and commercial buildings as well. Mr Kibaara described the event held in the state if New Jersey was an eye-opener. “We are building a portfolio that will be able to meet the…
The ghost of unhealthy lifestyles has continued to disrupt many people’s plans with some losing their jobs as a result of spending more time in hospitals than at work. This inspired Japheth Amimo three years ago to set up Pro-wellness Solutions, a business that is now targeting not only corporates but also individuals. It takes more than a keen eye to notice that some workers are unable to deliver because of lack of fitness. Think of the typical work station set-up of top executives, for example – following up clients at the comfort of the office, working hard attending…
Recently, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in physics to the minds behind new energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting. Three scientists – Isamu Akasaki, Hiroski Amano and Shuji Nakamura – were recognised for “the invention of efficient blue light-emitting diodes, which has enabled bright and energy-saving white-light sources.” Blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have fundamentally transformed lighting around the world, from lamps and televisions to smart phones and other devices. The Nobel Assembly called them “revolutionary,” stating in the prize announcement that “incandescent light bulbs lit the 20th century; the 21st century will be lit by LED…
Microsoft has launched the Lumia 530 in Kenya in its effort to recapture the low-end mobile handsets market. Retailing at Sh10,999, the phone is a successor to the Lumia 520 and will be sold exclusively in Orange outlets and authorised dealer shops. During the launch, the company’s representatives said Lumia 530, available in both single and dual 3G SIM, targets the youth who have already experienced the Android operating system with their first smartphone. Its preinstalled applications, such as Music + that allows for uninterrupted offline music streaming, thereby saving time and money. These apps are meant to win over…
Systems fail. IT systems, in particular, are prone to catastrophic failures. So interwoven has IT become in modern organisational life that when IT systems fail, pretty much everything else does. But IT systems are, in turn, made up of other sub-systems, including security systems. And security systems fail, allowing system breaches by attackers. At some point, the average IT security system will fail, whether the logical bit of it – via some form of hacking – or the physical bit of it, via forcible or masqueraded entry by unauthorised people. The first thing to do when systems are breached is…
Women can now wear trousers without fear of retribution, as working women have become the norm. In the 1970s, when women started making inroads into the workforce, they had to figure out how to adapt men’s business attire, namely suits, to their bodies.
Women can now wear trousers without fear of retribution, as working women have become the norm. In the 1970s, when women started making inroads into the workforce, they had to figure out how to adapt men’s business attire, namely suits, to their bodies.
It’s rare to see a woman without a handbag. It is something that every woman carries with her. Whether going to a picnic, shopping or to a party, a handbag is like a friend that goes everywhere and most women feel incomplete without them. Handbags are symbols of a women’s taste. Not long ago they were considered to be accessories meant to compliment and match an outfit. However, handbags are now fashion statements that are available in a range of colours, styles designs and shapes. Handbags are beautiful and practical accessories that are highly desired. Women can carry…