Tuesday, March 27, 2012

5 Tips for buying that Dream Holiday Villa in Dubai


The sluggish property market in the entire Middle Eastern region has affected every Emirate in varying intensity. While property investors are having their fingers burnt, there has been a silver lining to the dark cloud. Many genuine buyers, who’d kept away citing the sky-rocketing prices during the boom period, are now beginning to show interest in purchases again.

So if you are one of those wise people who have been waiting to purchase that dream Holiday Villa in Dubai, then here are some tips to help guide you in your dealings. For a promising market, such as this, won’t stay sluggish forever

Avoid Speculation:        
One of the key mistakes that investors made in the recent property bust was to make speculator purchases. There were reports of people trying to outbid others in an attempt to get ahead in property draws. Prices that were already on a rise were sent spiraling out of control by investors that were pouring good money into bad transactions. So, unless you have several compelling reasons, it’d be wise to stick to offers of ready-to-move-in properties

Go Visual:          
 
Sure, anyone can create a swanky website and splash a lot of money on the promotions. But, the reality could be quite different. A holiday home is quite a commitment and involves a large sum of your hard earned money. While the initial research may be conducted online, it does help to pay a personal visit to the shortlisted properties and choose the best one yourself.

Credibility:
A developer that cares for their property long after they have handed it over to the residents speaks volumes about their credibility. Reputed developers usually tend to use materials of a high quality and do not cut corners. A great way to check for this is by asking for references of current home owners. You could also do a background check on the developer with the local authorities like the Real Estate Regularity Authority (RERA) or the Lands Department. This comes handy when dealing with anyone other than a Tier-1 developer.
Unnecessary Loading:
Property taxes in Dubai are often calculated on the total area of the plot. It therefore makes more sense to pick up a 5000 square feet villa that’s located in a 10000 square feet plot rather than one that’s located on a bigger plot. Apartments too are not spared from this malaise and an apartment purchase also includes a certain component that’s added on for all the common areas (balconies, landing areas, etc.)

Research Extensively:
There is plenty of help available on-line available for all those who are willing to make the effort. Forums, for example are a rich source of information to help you with your purchases. One can easily uncover the real picture of a particular property or area by asking the right questions. Utilities costs, transport facilities and other ground-realities, they can all be found out online.
So, good luck with your hunt for your dream purchase. Remember, if that dream villa still seems out of reach, a holidayapartment in Dubai might just fit the bill! 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The need for thorough paperwork when dealing with rental properties in Dubai


When a move is finalized, one of the first steps for an expat is to start hunting for a Dubai property rental that best suits their needs. It is indeed an exciting time for anyone to be moving to this Emirate. A new life awaits them and it brings with it a lot of promise for happiness and prosperity.

Both apartments as well as villas are a popular residential option among the international population. Depending upon one’s preferences and budget, there are many residential options waiting to be discovered. Dubai rental properties in up market areas like the Palm Beach Jumeirah, Umm Suquiem, Safa, etc. are a popular option among the well heeled expatriates. For those on slightly reduced budgets, there are quite a few quality options available.
  
But a word of caution for those negotiating on a residential deal; make sure you run thorough background checks and ensure that the paperwork is complete in every aspect. Recent developments where master developer, Nakheel was forced to send a strong message to landlords who had withheld long term dues on service charges are a prime example. The developer even went on to highlight the names of defaulters, in a bid to get them to succumb to social pressures and pay up the outstanding dues.

While the developer was well within their rights to do so, it was the tenants who were caught up in between. They suddenly found themselves being barred from common recreation areas like clubs, gyms, gardens, swimming facilities, etc. This tactic has been panned by critics who felt that tenants, most of them who had been regularly paying the dues to the landlords, were being punished for no fault of theirs.

This just drives home the point that one can never be too sure about anything. This is why, one should take that extra effort in ensuring that their paperwork is up-to-date in every aspect, to avoid such unsavory incidents at a later stage.