Ruth Mbula: How I Became A Real Estate Company Owner At 30

She is full of positive vibes. In her early 30’s, Ruth Mbula says she is living her dream, providing comfort to her clients – helping them find a place to call home. The bubbly entrepreneur believes she is a realtor par excellence, as one of her clients recently said in a social media post.

Before founding her real estate agency company known as Rubrina Properties, Mbula says she had to really think about what she wanted to do independently – and without the craze of 8 to 5 kind of jobs. Whereas she was still in real estate, she hoped that at one point in her budding career, she would want to do it differently.

Kenya’s real estate sector is facing rapid growth, with investment institutions predicting even much more growth in the sector, going into the future. This growth will contribute immensely to the country’s GDP.

Statistics from the Central Bank of Kenya also indicate that the real estate sector takes up almost half of the total remittances from Kenyans in the diaspora. In 2019, more than Ksh150 billion was pumped into the real estate sector. Many Kenyans working abroad want to own a home – back home.

It is this growth that has occasioned the rise in the real estate agency business in Kenya, especially in major cities like Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa, with Estate Agents Registration Board indicating registering thousands of real estate agents by late 2020.

She is among the many real estate agents in Kenya who are determined to not only make a career out of an exponentially growing sector but also change the narrative, for the better. We had a sit down with her at her NextGen Mall office and here is her perspective.

1. Who is Ruth Mbula?  Educatįon Background, Professional Background

Ruth Mbula is an entrepreneur and a realtor who believes in doing her very best in everything and in every way. She is the founder and CEO of Rubrina Properties

Educatįon background – Business management and marketing

Professional background – Real estate

2. What are you passionate about and what drives you?

Am passionate about customer service and I believe in going far beyond the call of duty, doing more than others expect

3. For how long have you worked in the real estate sector and what have you learnt so far?

I have been in this industry for four years now and I have learned that investors are looking for investment opportunities, however, they are keen on trust, integrity and deliverables. And that is what Rubrina Properties does. We thrive on integrity as our pillar.

4. Now tell us about Rubrina Properties, and why the name?

Rubrina properties is a real estate brokerage firm serving buyers and sellers of luxurious homes and property management services. The company has a big clientele globally.

We are based at the Nextgen mall 1^st floor suite 48 along Mombasa Road, Nairobi

Rubrina properties means HOME OWNERSHIP.

5. 

   The real estate sector in full of all manner of agents, some not very professional and straightforward. Many Kenyans have been conned in this sector, especially, Kenyans living in the diaspora. Is this a problem you have heard of, and how are you positioning Rubrina to mitigate this challenge?

Many people have been conned before and this should never happen again.

Rubrina properties is a legit company focusing on delivering homes to investors and is run by professionals. We anchor our business on the following values;

• Trust
• Integrity
• Attention to details
• deliverables
• business

6. Who is your typical client and how do you reach them?

Good question! Our typical client is anyone looking for a good investment in the real estate sector. Someone looking for a home or an apartment to buy and rent out. We do all that.

We meet our clients through many different ways but key among them include online marketing (which is big now), referrals and mostly repeat clients. So far, so good and we thank God.

7. What are some of the innovations you are putting in your business in order to stand out?

We go an extra mile to manage properties for our investors. This makes Rubrina Properties stand out as it gives a full package.

8. What is your advice to anyone interested in real estate agency?

Simple, you must remain truthful always!

9. Where do you see Rubrina Properties in the next five years? Expansion plans, CSR activity, more staff etc.

In the next five years, Rubrina Properties will be the most trusted real estate agency – we are also planning to become a fully-fledged property developer.

On our corporate social responsibility, we are currently supporting school-going kids with school uniforms. No kid should fail to go to school because of a lack of a uniform. We even have a CSR activity planned for late this month (November) in Malaa, Machakos County where we shall be visiting a school or two. We are not just a business; we value humanity too.

10. Is real estate well-paying?

Yes! Absolutely.

11. Your parting shõt?

Investing in real estate is the best deal ever and Rubrina Properties is there to make it happen!

Read: New Class Of Assets Emerges In Nairobi’s Real Estate Sector

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