HassConsult data shows retirees, remote workers and the diaspora are key buyers New data from property firm HassConsult shows that retirees, remote workers, diaspora investors and long-stay visitors are increasingly purchasing land for permanent or semi-permanent residence, creating a property boom that has largely detached itself from the country’s broader economic trends.
According to the firm, coastal towns such as Diani, Watamu, Lamu and Bamburi recorded some of the strongest land price growth in the country between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2025, with appreciation ranging between 56 and 79 per cent.
Sakina Hassanali, Co-CEO and Creative director at HassConsult, said the Kenyan Coast has developed unique land market dynamics during the 2020s, fuelled by changing lifestyles and work patterns. “Coastal land has delinked from general economic trends in Kenya on new dynamics during the 2020s,” she said.
“Across remote working, retirement relocation, and the long tail of international and domestic buyers who first discovered the Coast as tourists, it has developed its own, distinct land dynamics.” The report identifies what it terms a “beauty premium” along the coastline, where scenic appeal, ocean proximity and lifestyle quality are now key determinants of property value.
Areas with expansive beaches, ocean views and strong hospitality infrastructure are attracting the highest investor interest and recording the fastest appreciation. In Nyali, beachfront land now commands a 19 per cent premium above the wider area average, underlining the increasing value attached to sea views and direct beach access.
Land prices in Nyali have surged sharply over the past five years, making it the most expensive coastal market in the region. An acre now sells for approximately Sh146 million, up from Sh114 million in 2020. Several factors have pushed up land prices in Nyali. Its proximity to Mombasa’s commercial centre, well-developed road infrastructure, high-end residential estates, shopping malls, international schools and hospitals have made it one of the most desirable addresses on the Coast.
The area also benefits from relatively reliable utilities, established tourism infrastructure and strong security compared to many emerging coastal towns.