How I Made My First Million at 21, Certified Homes MD Peter Nyaga

He is known in Kenya as the master of affordable homes, an expert in delivering value; strict to timelines, and succeeding where others failed. As you might expect from someone with that kind of reputation, Certified Homes MD, entrepreneur Peter Nyaga did not start his career thinking this was where he’d end up.

In his high school days, Peter sold biscuits and sweets to his friends thus getting profit in the long run, an antidote for survival. Thereafter, he asked to volunteer in his brother’s land-selling company as an errand boy – he could be given some cash to attend to official duties and other minor tasks delegated to him. His brother’s firm was involved in selling plots, renting houses and offices.

“I wanted to get experience in Real Estate. I knew as an errands boy my brother could give me fare, and also, I had relatives in Nairobi so somewhere to sleep was not a problem. If I had fare and somewhere to sleep, the rest would sort itself,” the accomplished entrepreneur told Enterprise Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Kimani Patrick at a live interview.

Within three months of being a messenger, his brother allowed Peter to start attending to clients that came to the company seeking investment solutions. According to him, this was a nice move. It gave him the opportunity to get much exposure, network, and establish contacts with the clientele who came by.

Within 6 months, Peter made his first million, gotten enough experience to start his real estate firm, and started planning his exit plan – which materialized within the next 7 months and quit his brother’s firm to start his own firm – having gained the necessary skills needed to run a company.

Peter could later team up with 5 friends who had common goals and they were able to do affordable housing and delivered about 400 units in just two years – he was the CEO.

At the firm, Peter always felt the need to do more. In November 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to quit the partnership and started his own firm – Certified Homes Limited, a company that now deals in constructing apartment buildings, bungalows, and value-added investment plots. The firm also does market research for clients.

As someone who has accumulated much experience in the real estate industry, Peter advises people to always first know the reputation, history, background check, and due diligence of a company that they want to invest with. He adds that one should ensure they also do a background search of the land they want to invest in from the land registry so as to know the real owner of that land. At Certified Homes, as the name itself suggests, all their properties are always certified. They insist on dealing only in genuine properties handled with utmost honesty as they focus on customer needs.

One of their dearest projects is the Sukari Heights, in Kahawa Sukari, which fits for both commercial and residential living. It has a supermarket grocery store, gym, barbershop, a salon, and every tenant has a reserved parking lot. This was all designed to make life convenient for all their tenants. It consists of studios going for Ksh 2.95m, 2 bedrooms with master ensuite for Ksh 3.95m, 3 bedroom standard for Ksh5.05m, and 3 bedroom executive with servant quarter going for Ksh 5.95m.

Peter has also authored a  book, ‘Achieving Your Dreams’, which was launched during the Enterprise Magazine’s Annual CEOs Breakfast on March 5, 2021, in Nairobi. In the book, Peter shares his entrepreneurial journey and as well as a  guide to achieving your dreams in an easier and faster way. He advises young Kenyans who are fresh high school graduates and also those in colleges to consider taking the technical courses since they are more marketable. He adds that they are more advantageous since one does not have o wait for a government job but can create one of their own with these courses.

Articled Edited by Kimani Patrick.

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