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How can we fail?

If you have bought a plot of land you have probably stumbled onto this phrase: 50 x 100! If you haven’t, do not worry; you will soon hear it when you start the search for land. But what exactly does this mean in real estate? Well for the start the full title is a 50 x 100 foot plot. So, if you guessed that it is the linear dimensions of the plot, you guessed right. Land is measured in many ways; AREA, LENGTH as well as PERIMETER. 50 feet stands for width while the 100 feet stands for length. Don’t be tempted to leave, yet. The story doesn’t end there. You might ask, do all 50 x 100’s have to be 50 feet width and 100 feet length? This is where it gets very interesting. The short answer is no. When surveyors get instructions to subdivide land, their basic instinct is to get the smallest functional land size; which is a 50 x 100 (approximately 11.5 decimals). In Kampala (KCCA), the smallest acceptable land size is 15 decimals (We will address this in another piece). This 50 x 100 is basic...

The quality of every decision is premised upon the quality of information one has. Every action therefore is a demonstration of wisdom – or lack of it. Why a house first? The underlying motivation for a house is SECURITY. The others like, savings on rent, image, come secondary. Common financial literacy intimates a home is not an asset but a liability unless rented out. To therefore answer the question above, a cost benefit analysis should be employed: What is the cost of building a 3 bedroom bungalow? If you add the cost of land in a fairly near place the cost will not be less than 100million. With 100million, what businesses can you do? You can buy 10 acres around Zirobwe and plant over 4500 stems of matooke and get about 150 bunches per month after one year. With 100million you can start a whole sale shop in a fairly busy township. With 100million you can start a poultry project of at least 1000 layers or broilers. With 100million you can start a small manufacturing plant – blocks, ...

Does Your Plot Have Road Access?  Nameera (not real names), after doing her stint on TV got some money and contacted a broker who got her a beautiful plot in Nansana with a great view. She bought it immediately. Very excited she contacted Eng. Abdu (not real names) her cousin’s wife’s cousin to construct her rentals only to find the plot she bought had no  road access ! Crest fallen, and feeling ripped off she contacted us to get rid of the plot. We visited the plot and after preliminary findings, we discovered the issue. If you are in Nameera’s shoes, what are your options? Summary: 1.      Every land owner is entitled to road access to a public highway. 2.      The first step to obtain access is through negotiations with the owners of the adjoining land 3.      If that fails, application is made to the land tribunal for leave/permission to construct road access through the adjoining lan...