Top Things to Consider When looking for a Villa in Dubai

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Buying and owning a home is a dream come true for many. As the saying goes, owning a property is a keystone of wealth, providing both financial affluence and emotional security. Seeing your time and money vested in your home is a feat of accomplishment itself.

But it can also be a nightmare if proper preparation, calculation, maintenance, and procedures are not adhered to. In some cases, buyers fall prey to risky deals, or not, geopolitical concerns, contract disputes, or simply, property management neglect. At some point, some buyers have had to let go of their properties for volatile issues or unforeseen circumstances. This can cause not just losing your property and hard-earned money but also your peace of mind.

Homebuyers and investors are attracted by the lucrative promises a property may bring such as security, return on investment, increase in value, and new launches around the development.

If you are looking to buy a villa in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the offers in the UAE market alone are plenty. Therefore, it is important to consider every aspect of a property before making that final call as a buyer. Here are the top things on your checklist when seeking a villa:

1. Location

At the top of our list is location, location, location! It is one thing that makes your home desirable, and once that desire is established, it creates demand and demand increases the value of your property. To identify the right fit of location for a residential property, it is important to check the status of the neighbourhood, proximity to schools and other facilities, availability of amenities, safety, and so on. Thankfully, Dubai offers a plethora of residential properties with locations that are along the coast, within Downtown, around the Marina or just right at the outskirts of the city and can go as far as Al Nahda to Jebel Ali.

Market demand fluctuates over time, so the demand for a less likely location today may boom in the next five years after new projects and development launches. Likewise, an excellent property today may also lose its value over time depending on many factors.

Also, when it comes to resale value, the location of the house is one of the most important things, if not, the most important factor in determining the appreciation potential of your home.

2. Developer’s Track Record and Contractor’s Quality Record

Second on our list is the credibility of your Property Developer and Contractor’s track record. Apart from the location another factor to consider is to know who the Master Developer is and who the building Contractor was. Buying a property means not only purchasing the physical building but the piece of land it stands on is also in question.

We recommend that you do an extensive verification of the builder. Research its past or current projects or even start a forum post online. Fortunately, the Dubai government already has an extensive list of procedures and licensing standards you can check online. It covers everything from building permits, construction license and so on. Ensure the quality standards and approved specifications followed by your contractor through the Dubai Development Authority and Dubai Municipality. As a buyer, also verify if the project has been registered by the Developer with RERA, Dubai Land Authority’s regulatory body and whether they have complied to all provisions.

Dubai’s Master Developers have built names to be trusted with but it’s always worth to cross-check.

3. Property Size

You may seek a property for investment purposes or maybe you are looking to buy a villa in Dubai for living at a later stage. It is advisable to determine your needs and requirements to also understand the size of the property you are willing to invest in. Generally, brokers and builders mention a super built-up area in their ads and brochures. This may include common areas such as the staircase, foyer, hallways etc.

We would advise buyers to check the carpet area of the villa, in the bedrooms and living spaces. The carpet area may be 30 percent less than the super built-up area the property is advertised as. For this reason, always go by the carpet area, this is the area enclosed within the walls. Ensure to check your overall property size and how much built-up area you will need to build your dream home.

4. Amenities

As a buyer, you are always looking for the best value for your money. In relation to the location of your home, other top factors to be considered are the amenities available to your property. This means you should also consider the quality of your property and the neighbourhood.

Is there enough parking space for your car, does it come with a private garden, do you have access to the swimming pool, are there playgrounds available for your children, is there a community park – are just some of the questions you can bring up when making a survey for your future home. Apart from that you would also like to know the proximity to other facilities such as Schools, Medical Clinics, Supermarkets, places for worship and so on.

Looking into other infrastructure plans such as Metro connectivity is directly linked to the location of your home and can boost the ROI of your property tremendously.

5. Community Advantages

Buyers are now also considering the reputation of the community and the experience their new neighbourhood will bring. It is advised to make a thorough research not only on the developer but also on the interim owner’s associations, the transparency of the service charges and the ease of making payments.

It is beneficial for you as a homeowner to have reliable property and community managers checking not only on the upkeep of your home but also on the well-being of those who reside in it. Understand how community communications, complaints, payment collections, and other features are being implemented in your community.

So do a site visit before booking the property and interact with the neighbours within the area.

The list can be endless, however, keeping in mind the top factors helps you make an informed decision before making that final purchase. We are excited for your new home and next investment in Dubai!

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