HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR CAR: 

You have finally found the car you like on cheki.co.ke and made it your own. Now it is time to relax because there is nothing left to do right? Wrong! 

As much as we would like not ruin our “clean” self, it is a sad fact that cars wear down, they need repair, and sometimes there is so much work you that feel like taking a hummer and smashing it.

If you have ever felt like beating your car into a pile of scraps, here are a few basics on how to maintain your car.

Check your engine Oil

One of the most important things is to change your oil. Engines are very expensive but oil is pretty cheap. With the synthetic oil you would go a little bit longer between the oil changes.

Check your tires

When your tires are over inflated that means your tires will wear out faster, and if the tires are under inflated that means you will lose more control over the car and your gas mileage will defiantly suffer.

Servicing your automatic transmission

It is a good idea to change the fluid in the transmission every 30,000 miles. If your car has a filter in it you may also want to change the filter. However you may not have to change your filter with some newer car models unless of cause you live in a dusty desert.

The coolant in your cooling system 

You don’t want a dirty coolant because it can ruin the whole cooling system. A poorly maintained cooling system can cause the engine to overheat and blow up

Check the battery 

Replace your battery at least once or twice a year before your battery goes completely dead and does some serious damage.

So now that you understand a little something about car maintenance, throw away your hummer and remember, a little maintenance can help your car go along way.

Toyota Belta in Kenya.

Japan motors have this time introduced something exceptionally unique and fascinating for the people of Kenya. Their latest highlighted car is called the Toyota Belta. Belta means beauty, and this quality fully reflects in the car structure. this car would certainly be a surprising gift to car enthusiasts in Kenya.

Specifications of Toyota Belta:

• The entire car service revolves around the automatic version system that certainly provides easiness to the people.

• It includes 4 doors therefore it can easily fit in maximum 5 people in the car.

• The seating facility in the car is fully equipped with massive space and allows the person to relax and sit in comfortable mode.

• The car comprises power mirrors that allow the person to turn up the mirrors by pressing a button. Moreover, the speed meter has also been loaded on the dashboard.

• Furthermore, the FM radio and DVD entertainment has also been covered in Toyota Belta.

Lastly just like their every car Toyota Belta headlights are also crystal material and also include the air conditioner services but its engine gains the gasoline facility for the people.

Price of Toyota Belta in Kenya:

Toyota Belta has been widely put forward for the people in two different forms and its price also varied according to the model. For 1000cc the rates are Ksh 800,000 whereas for 1300cc the price is Ksh 950,000.

And so good people, there you have it. If you want a classy and economic friendly car, choose Toyota Belta. cheers!!

Unlocking the secret to hiding a spare key

Want to safely hide a spare house key? Here are a few tips. Burglars, don't read this story.

It's a horrible feeling: You arrive home and discover that you lost your key. If only you had a spare you could use to gain entry. Actually, there are numerous ways to hide that spare key.

Let's get the obvious ones, and by obvious I mean dumb 

Don't leave a spare key under the doormat. Even the most dim-witted criminal will check under the mat. You've seen those artificial rocks. So have burglars. Forget them. Put it up over the door frame? Come on, you can be more inventive than that. There are better solutions to the lost-key conundrum:

Lockbox: You've seen real estate agents use them. They are small secure containers that can be opened by punching in a code. They come in various sizes and strengths. Real estate people attach them to the front-door knob. Don't be so obvious. Hide it somewhere on the property, in a location where it can't be seen from the street and not in close proximity to the lock. You're telling a burglar, "Hey, Goober, there's a key inside, and it'll open this here door."

Good disguises: If you have in-ground sprinklers, there's a dummy sprinkler head that blends in with the others and can hold a key (Khs 800/=). Similarly, there's a working thermometer that has a hidden compartment where a key may be stashed (Ksh 700/=).

The neighbors: If you have a trusted neighbor, ask them to hold on to a spare key. You can reclaim it if you get locked out, or they can let themselves in should an emergency arise while you are away. Just be sure the neighbor is dependable and doesn't have a ne'er-do-well teenager who might take advantage of the opportunity.

On the property: There are likely several hiding places just a few steps from your door. Duct tape a key to the leg of your grill, to the underside of your mailbox or inside the bird bath pedestal. Bury one under the seed in your bird feeder, or plant it under the potted impatiens on the porch. Want to get more razzly dazzly? Glue a small magnet to your key, and attach it to the inside of your home's downspout extension.

Up a tree: Take a spare key and nail it to a tree. It could be on your property, or maybe it's down the street a block or two. Nail it up in an inconspicuous location on the tree, somewhere that's out of plain view and requires some searching to find. When you stash the key away from your property, anyone coming across it by chance will have to try a whole neighborhood of doors. Just remember which tree the key is hidden in.

The doghouse: No dog should be made to live outside. But for the times little dodger is out running around in the yard, you should provide him with a shelter. Inside that doghouse is a good location to hide a key. Heck, even if you don't have a dog, get a small doghouse and hang the key inside. Just seeing a doghouse will give a would-be burglar pause.

Wind chimes: Several websites suggest hiding a key inside a set of wind chimes. Even if a prospective thief knew the key was there, he'd have to make a lot of noise getting it out. No criminal wants that. And if you really want to mess with the guy, hang a whole key ring of multicolored keys in the wind chimes. Not only would he make noise with the chimes, he'd also have to figure out which key opened the door. (You would know it's the blue one. Or the red one, etc.) If there's one thing burglars hate more than making noise, it's standing on a porch fiddling with a ring of keys

Design recipes:Tips for creating a soothing bedroom 

When it comes to creating the perfect decor for your bedroom, it doesn't have to be about spending lots of money. Instead, aim to create a soothing and calming atmosphere that reflects your personality and creates the ideal oasis.

In refreshing your bedroom, remove pieces that are excess and keep pieces you love, using them for inspiration to create an overall decor story, or as the foundation for your bedroom color palette.

When it comes to creating a perfect boudior, here are my top design recipe tips

1. Select neutral bedding. It will serve as the perfect blank slate in order for you to build a bedroom color palette. After selecting your bedding, add color and texture through your artwork and accessories.
2. Buy affordable toss pillows. Toss pillows will provide you with an affordable way to update the look of your bedroom quickly and easily. Think about swapping out toss pillows seasonally for a fresh new look.
3. Invest in great sheets. I prefer cotton sateen with 400 thread count with a creative embroidery or decorative border pattern that looks beautiful when making the bed, folded back.
4. Purchase the essentials, including a well-made bed, nightstands with simple lamps and a basic dresser with a beautiful decorative mirror above.
5. Layer a scent. Soy-based candles and scents such as lavender - try placing fresh lavender in tiny cheesecloth pouches and place them throughout the bedroom - can open your senses and refresh your mind.

How to make the most of your small living space:

Feeling cramped but don't want to move? There many ways to make small seem spacious. Embracing a "less is more" mindset is even trendy, with micro homes attracting macro interest on social media and on TV. Here are tips from top-rated interior designers and real estate agents for how to make the most of small rooms:

Pick your palette: Consider neutral or light paint colors, which reflect light and can make a room appear larger. Using one main color alone or in a variety of shades can create a sense of serenity. If you introduce a secondary color, do so in small splashes.

Create a focal point: Keep color, pattern and materials simple, but introduce one bold or special element, such as an elaborate mirror, artwork or pendant light fixture. Another way to draw the eye is to paint one wall in an otherwise neutral room a bold or dark tone.

Keep it simple: Choose items with simple lines and shapes. Reduce visual clutter with a few larger pieces of furniture rather than multiple small items. You don't have to stick with the typical sofa and love seat arrangement. Consider pairing a small couch or love seat with one or two chairs.

Clear the clutter: Remove excess items from any small room, including accessories that contribute to visual clutter. Avoid small artwork and decor items; larger pieces can make a space feel larger and make more of a statement.

Let there be light: Brighter spaces appear larger than dim ones. Uncover windows. Don't block views to windows and doors; the farther you can see into a space, the larger and more open it seems. Recessed lighting and sconces can be a space-saving way to shed light. In some cases, recessed lights may negate the need for end tables and lamps. Other lighting options include accent, track or under-cabinet fixtures.

Reflect on this: A large mirror - or gallery of smaller ones - along the longest wall of a room can make it seem wider. Other space-enhancing ideas: two mirrors across from each other, a mirror across from a window, an over sized framed mirror leaning against a wall.

Carve out space: Consider furniture that serves multiple functions. A headboard can double as a bookshelf. An ottoman can provide hidden storage and work as a coffee table. Add storage by recessing shelving into a wall, or extending bookshelves to the ceiling. To create the illusion of more space, paint the inside of shelves a deeper shade than the wall color.

Boost your bathroom: One of the best ways to make a bathroom seem more spacious is to trade a traditional cabinet vanity for a pedestal sink. Install a medicine cabinet for storage. If you keep a cabinet, consider one with legs or open shelves. Another tip: Swap your shower curtain for a glass door or, more affordably, a clear curtain. 

So, go ye and make the most of your small living space. Cheers!

Real estate bubble? In Kenya, the foundations stand strong

Protus Nyamweya, a property dealer with over 11 years’ experience in the US and Kenyan housing market, knows all to well what a real estate bubble can do to an economy, having found himself in the middle of the American housing crisis in 2009.

So dire was the situation across the pond that Mr Nyamweya closed only one deal in 2010, and so he decided to pack up and head home with the lessons.

That famous American housing bubble burst was the result of a large number of home owners who struggled to pay off their mortgages after the low introductory rates they had signed up for reverted to regular interests, shocking the industry to the core.

Mr Nyamweya, who is now the executive director of the local arm of Proam Group Ltd, the company he founded in 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia, offers insight into what the country’s booming real estate market must do to avoid going down the same road.

As he does that, he is optimistic still, believing that the local property market is yet to start showing the cracks he witnessed in the US pre-2009.

“Although the real estate markets in Kenya and America have similar basic concepts, they are as different from each other as night is to day,” he says. “Kenya has experienced this boom since 2001 and has a lot of advantages that can help it avoid going down the dangerous way America trudged.”

Below, the Kenyan advantages, according to Mr Nyamweya:

1 Housing Tax Policy

Kenya does not have a clear and understandable tax gain. Real estate buyers in Kenya are taxed through their teeth, and this makes them think twice before buying.

The real estate Housing Tax Policy in America became the only safe avenue to escape capital gains under the tax relief of 1997 and Section 1034 Exchange. A couple could avoid paying up to $500,000 (Sh42.5 million) in capital gains for up to two years. 

2 Mandated loans

These loans were easily accessible and consequently led to explosion of sub-prime mortgages in the US. There was also a lot of carelessness and laxity in lending standards.

Basically, loans were extended to Americans who could not afford paying for them. Everyone who had a social security number, (the equivalent of a Kenyan PIN), and an income, however small, qualified for a mortgage. 

More loans were given out to potential home owners and housing prices began to rise. That easy availability of credit fuelled a huge flow of foreign funds, continually facilitating debt-financed consumer spending. Mortgage loans were being paid against the interest only — a small part of the actual mortgage loan given, unlike in other countries, including Kenya, where the principal and tax are part of the package in repaying a mortgage.

“Clearly, this is a problem that Kenya does not have and, I suspect, will not have in the near future. There are a lot of rigidities in lending for mortgages and Kenyans are yet to embrace debt-financed credit,” states Nywamweya, adding that in Kenya you need 10-30 per cent of the development finance to get a loan approved.

3 Lower interest rates

Kenya does not have Adjustable Rate Mortgage loans (ARM) which feature balloon payments at the end of the term. Our typical term is 10- to 15-year straight loans at current market rates and nothing special. So do not be hoodwinked, it is still very hard to get a loan to buy real estate in Kenya.

In the US, interest rates were historically low. Because of easy access to money to buy property, Adjustable Rate Mortgage loans with balloon payments became the norm. You could buy at a rate of three per cent on a no-document loan and have the rate adjust as you make payments for five to seven years with a balloon payment at the end.

The goal was to buy and refinance or sell the property before expiry of the term, or refinance. Unfortunately, many of those caught between refinancing and sale of property could do neither. They could not sell because the supply by far outstripped the demand. 

4 Home ownership craze 
Americans’ love for homes is widely known and acknowledged. That fascination with homes, coupled with the above factors, meant that buying homes was easier than buying a car.

Acquiring a property in the US took 30 to 45 days if financing was credit-based, while cash buyers took less than a week. As interest rates started rising, it became apparent that the homes were quickly becoming “unaffordable”, hence those who had mortgaged them gave up on payments.

In contrast, home ownership in Kenya is still regarded as tough and difficult. Only a few people actually get through the process. Land title and transfer bottlenecks are issues property buyers are still grappling with in Kenya, and such processes at times take months on end to be completed.

5 Beliefs on housing investments

Among Americans, home ownership is widely accepted as preferable to renting, especially when the ownership term is expected to be at least five years. This is partly because the fraction of a fixed-rate mortgage used to pay down the principal builds equity for the home owner over time, while the interest portion of the loan payments qualifies for a tax break — whereas, except for the personal tax deduction often available to renters, money spent on rent is deemed wasted.

In Kenya, the only exception is that the rate and payments are higher, so there is need for careful understanding of what you are buying and the long-term consequences. Though many believe home ownership is a good investment here, few can afford it, so there are no beelines outside banks for mortgages. The market is there, the boom too, but none is comparable to the climate witnessed in the US five years ago.

6 The crash of the Dot-Com bubble,

The Stock Market crash — or Dot–Com bubble burst — in 2000 resulted in many people withdrawing their money and investing in real estate, which was believed to be a more reliable investment.

This opened up a haven for speculators who moved from stocks to real estate. Kenya has speculators, but they buy and hold, selling at higher price after improving the property. It is thus a ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ market.

7 Return to higher rates

Between 2004 and 2006, the Federal Reserve System raised interest rates 17 times, increasing them from one per cent to 5.25 per cent. The Federal Reserve System then paused raising interest rates because of the concern that an accelerating downturn in the housing market would undermine the overall economy, just as the crash of the Dot-Com bubble in 2000 had contributed to the subsequent recession.

Nyamweya says 90 per cent of Americans were, and still are, borrowers living on credit cards and small incomes. So when the bubble burst, a large number of home owners were unable to pay their mortgage as the low introductory rate reverted to the regular interest rates that took into consideration the principal and tax as part of the repayment.

This return to higher rates made homes unaffordable and many homeowners were left holding negative equity, hence foreclosures. This is not a factor that we can apply locally, thus we cannot make a viable comparison. Here, buyers invest in properties well aware of the incredibly high rates, therefore, mortgage payments do not change that much.

8 Risky products 
Kenya requires full documentation before a loan is approved, with at least a 10 per cent deposit. We do not have zero-per-cent-deposit loans, neither do we have interest-only loans. Thus, creating a bubble in Kenya is impossible.

The use of sub-prime mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, interest-only mortgages, and stated income loans — no documentation loans — where the borrower did not have to provide documentation to substantiate the income stated on the application to finance home purchases described above, have raised concerns about the quality of these loans should interest rates rise again or the borrower be unable to pay the mortgage. 

Mr Nyamwea concludes that, if ever Kenya gets to experience a ‘housing bubble’, it will not mirror America and other parts of the world, because we have always been in recession, though in manageable scales.

House prices might drop, because our economy is smaller and less than 30 per cent of Kenyan buyers actually borrow, but the majority of Kenyan buyers still save money to buy or, if borrowing, do so for a very short period of time, with most paying off the loans in less than five years.

“I will, however, say that the next six months will determine if prices continue rising, plateau or drop, but still, I do not expect to see prices get worse than 2007. So buy now and sell later... or forever regret it,” he concludes.

How Relevant is Pan-Africanism in Today’s Global Economy?

In today’s globally integrated and competitive market economy, is Pan-Africanism still relevant? It’s being whispered in and around investment power houses and economic forums that Africa is next after China. But, is Africa really ready?

 

Africa is the wealthiest continent in terms of natural resources endowment, with an estimated value of more than $65 trillion and it has an amazing rich history; as expressed by the views of the Pan-Africanists. But what would Africa’s new and young generation do to take this movement to a new height of economic empowerment for all Africans?

Africans know that the primary factors that are hindering their continent from realizing the dream of Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah and Egypt’s second President Gamal Abd El Nasser are; nationalism, tribalism, ethnicism, racism (yes, black people are racist too), religionism, sexism, selfism, and individualism (as opposed to collectivism mostly found in Asia and the Middle-East).If Africa can overcome these factors, then it can truly realize the unification of Africa as envisioned by Nkrumah and El Nasser.

 

However, as long as Africans keep promoting these factors, then Africa will always be undervalued, under-developed, under-productive, hence dead poor and separated.In today’s global economy, China is the next Economic Power House, and Africa is next after China, but Africans need to come together first and abandon those unfavorable and sick ingredient factors that cause awful separation among themselves; these factors are the roots of every ethnic war, corruption, coup de tat, etc. in Africa. They are the primary disease that needs to find a cure.

 

For Africa to realize the African dream, Africans need to move from Agrarian Political based Economy into Economic market-empowerment; empowering Africans with better and sustainable paying jobs will enable Africans to compete in today’s competitive market and integrated global economy.

However, this can only be achieved when there’s strong Foreign Direct Investment, but only after Africa has realized unity and political stability. And for those with small brains,  slept through all your history classes, or only tune to BET and MTV channels, Africa is not a country and Nelson Mandela is not the President of Africa.