5 locations to find affordable houses in Kano

While Property owners in Kano, the most populous state in Nigeria, are smiling to the banks owing to the phenomenal rise in value of their landed properties, low income earners are increasingly overburdened with house rent and therefore looking for affordable options just to meet the basic need of shelter. Rising cost of building materials, […]

While Property owners in Kano, the most populous state in Nigeria, are smiling to the banks owing to the phenomenal rise in value of their landed properties, low income earners are increasingly overburdened with house rent and therefore looking for affordable options just to meet the basic need of shelter.

Rising cost of building materials, provisions of basic infrastructure like access road and general inflationary trend are some of the factors driving cost of property up in the state.

This report takes a look at five areas in the commercial nerve centre where affordable properties are available for rent or outright purchase 

According to those involved in property business , Kano has both formal and informal settlements, and the chances of getting increased settlements in the state are high as people are migrating from old settlements to the new, modern estates that provide security, serenity and are conducive to better living.

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1. Hotoro/Kawo

Hotoro quarters is a vast area in Nasarawa Local area stretching to eastern bye pass and hosting key institutions like NNPC depot, Mobile police barrack, CBN staff quarters.

Some parts of Hotoro are considered exclusively for the rich while other areas are affordable for medium and low income earners.

Mamman Sarina ,an estate agent , said he usually procures houses for people seeking rent in Hotoro where rent is is relatively low.

“ Rents in Hotoro start from N400,000 essentially because some areas are without pipeborne water and where houses do have boreholes the rent can go up to N800,000 or one million naira.

“ Houses for outright purchase are categorised depending on the finishing, location and the quality.Price ranges between N20 million and above in densely populated areas known as ‘awon igiya’,” he said.

Kawo is an extension of Hotoro bordering Government Reserved Areas (GRA) like Lamido Crescent and Giginyu.Kawo evolved from the congestion in in Kano to pave way for new settlements.

Like Hotoro, affordable houses are available in Kawo with tenancy rate going to as low N400,000 for a two bedroom apartment.

Wasilu Kawo a radio anchor who lives in the area said the area is attractive owing to its proximity to strategic location like Giginyu quarter where you have the headquarters of Department of state services,DSS, Tarauni Market, Nassarawa GRA and Hotoro.

He said “ Kawo is a mixed area with all the major tribes.The attraction to Kano is affordability of houses and it’s proximity to other strategic places.Maryam Abacha University is a stone throw distance away just a Nasarawa GRA is next door neighbour to Kawo and so people find it attractive.”

 

2. Kwankwasiyya/Amana cities

These are new cities built by Kano State government with luxury duplexes and bungalows scattered all over but left unoccupied until recently when Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf completed new government house in Kwankwasiyya city where cabinet meetings often are held.

Initially property owners in the two cities were not willing to move in because the estates were a bit isolated and far from the metropolitan areas . Caretakers of the properties rented them out to squatters at giveaway amount just to protect the property from petty thieves.But the renewed passion and directives of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to property owners to move in or face revocation of allocation has brought life to the two cities.

Constant supply of electricity from Kano independent power plant and KEDCO have also been complimenting government’s efforts of bringing life to the cities attracting tenants.

The prices of the houses at the time of allocation ranged from N11 million for a bungalow to N35000 million for a duplex, but the current market value of the houses may have more than doubled now.

The acting Managing Direction of Kano state Housing corporation has introduced a clean up exercise at the Kwankwasiyya city to enhance its livability and aesthetic appeal to promote physical occupation by owners or tenants 

It was also learnt that these areas are attracting property investment owing to either a notable government project going on, or being established in the area, or rising number of the people living in the area.

 

3. Jaba/Gama 

Jaba located in Nasarawa Local government area, is another place where property is affordable because it is densely populated area attracting property investment 

Virtually every ethnic group in Nigeria is represented in Jaba which neighbouring the Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), the Nigerian Airforce training school/Air force base, immigration training school and NDLEA headquarters in Kano.

Ado Fela, an estate agent in the area said prices of affordable houses start from N15 million and above while annual rent starts from N600,000 up to one million naira depending on the property.

In the past few years, the area was near empty with only locals engaging in the farming activities but it has blossomed into a lively settlement attracting property investors.

Gama, on the other hand, is largely occupied by low income earners. According Fela a house could go for between N9 or N10 million in Gama A and Gama B with annual rent starting from N200,000 or more. Mud houses whose annual rent could not go beyond N50,000, are still obtainable in Gama, said the estate agent.

 

4. Danbare

Danbare is close to Bayero University New site and the popular Janguza Army Barrack, hence the reason for its rapid development and attraction to investors.

Most people working in the University find the area attractive. It was established that people are now trooping to buy land and reserve for future uses,even as many private student hotel appears to be a lucrative business.

A mass housing project by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is ongoing just after Janguza barracks which suggests that the area is rapidly expanding and therefore attracting property buyers.

 

5. Sharada/Ja’in

Sharada located in municipal local government area is both industrial and residential area where property business is booming.

Factory workers prefer to live close by to get place of work with ease.Most of them find rent in the Sharada area closed to the market affordable.Others who cannot afford would go elsewhere in Ja’in which next door for cheaper houses for rent with a future plan of buying a piece of land to build their own gradually.

There are several other areas in Kano where houses are affordable even as new private housing estates are springing up across the state making Kano a massive construction site.