Dubai Property – The Rules of Selling and Renting

Rules in property purchases in Dubai

The central focus of this thread revolves around the question of a member who asked for advice on selling or holding on to his property at Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai Marina District. Different viewpoints have been given by some members about this.

Some members opted to hold on to the property since the location is a popular beach destination and other attractions near it pose as an excellent place for short-term rentals. However, they also mentioned that the ideal time to rent out the place would be between 1-3 years since prices are unstable because construction is yet to be completed. Aside from this, during the waiting period, a good assessment of trends in the property market can be done.

On the other hand, some members felt that selling the property at this time is a good option. This is based on observations regarding the demand and supply of properties within the Marina District.

There is a possibility that the supply may exceed the current need for properties by the year 2010. This, in turn, can result in a so-called “market bubble” bursting. Thus, other members have agreed that selling the real estate while its popular is ideal, but it still poses no guarantees.

Due to the great influx of villas and apartments located along the Dubai Marina District, questions regarding the strength of the local property market have been posted. It may seem that these properties are elegant and attractive in their own unique way, but more than how much the market can only absorb should be considered.

With numerous structures on the rise within the region, this may tip the scale to an oversupply. With this escalating circumstance, investors are then thinking twice about their transactions and commitments with the said projects.

Although the recent demand has caused more construction, the demarcation line between supply and demand still indicates the last say about Dubai Marina’s present situation and its future stand as an emerging market.

 

Save


7 Responses to “Dubai Property – The Rules of Selling and Renting”

  1. I am going to be passing through Dubai from Australia en route to London next month in line with fellowship I have to look at prefabricated housing – specifically what sort of training I need to organise for our apprentices, tradespeople and professionals so that they can operate in an internation labourr market and meet the needs of your building and construction industry.
    Who should i contact and arrange to see in Dubai? thank you very much.

    Reply
  2. Dear

    I am out of UAE, but i want to move there. I want to rent an apartment in Int.City 1BR, England cluster. How much is renting that per year? and how about DEWA, is that with me or owner?
    How about service charge.?

    plz let me have your fast reply by my email : [email protected]

    thanks

    Reply
  3. Tenants drive rents in Dubai

    Signifying the right time for tenants and buyers to rent or buy the most attractive properties at prices dictated by them.

    Apartment and villa rents have reported a sharp decline of 22 and 34% respectively in Q1 2009 in comparison to the prices in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Dubai report issued today by Asteco, the UAE's largest property services company.

    The new trend is now leading many landlords to review their rent structures and offer attractive incentives and payment options to suit the demands of the tenants.

    Lower rents are now attracting tenants back to Dubai and home buyers are now able to snap up stunning property bargains in some of the most sought-after neighbourhoods in the emirate, the report added.

    Commenting on the trend, Andrew Chambers, Asteco's Managing Director, said:

    'This is a positive development for house-hunters to either take up an attractive property on rent or buy as Dubai turns into a buyer-driven market. We are witnessing a high number of transaction activities, especially for finished units, as investors take advantage of attractive investment opportunities available in the city.'

    In the first quarter of 2009, average rents for studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments across Dubai slumped to Dhs61,500, Dhs93,000, Dhs132,000 and Dhs185,000 respectively.

    Average rents for villas were Dhs160,000 for two-bedrooms, Dhs215,000 for three-bedrooms, Dhs264,000 for four bedrooms and Dhs366,000 for five bedrooms.

    The biggest apartment rental drops were witnessed in Palm Jumeirah, Al Barsha, Bur Dubai and Discovery Gardens, where average rents hovered around 30% lower than the rents in Q4 2008.

    Villa rents also dipped significantly, with the largest drops reported in Springs and Jumeirah Island at 41%.

    Asteco's Dubai Report showed that many tenants were moving from larger units to smaller ones, due to a reduction in household incomes and adoption of a more cautious approach towards household expenditure.

    In stark contrast, those not affected by the economic downturn have seized the opportunity to upgrade their homes to larger units or relocate from old buildings to newer ones.

    Additionally, people who left Dubai earlier to take up reasonable options in the Northern Emirates are also beginning to return.

    Tenants are also taking advantage of the attractive incentives provided by landlords, such as payment options of up to 12 cheques, grace periods, deferred payments, and one month's free stay.

    The decline has come as a big relief to tenants who used to spend more than half of their salaries on rent alone.

    Transaction activity for units in established community-style developments in New Dubai has perked up again, following disappointing sales in the Q4 2008 period.

    The area recently saw the completion of infrastructure projects and convenience of retail and leisure facilities nearby. Demand is high for properties in Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Discovery Gardens and Emirates Living. Due to the lack of mortgage availability, cash buyers currently are highly sought after.

    Apartments in Jumeirah Beach Residence and Dubai Sports City reported the highest average decline in sales prices of 53% less than the prices in Q4 2008.

    Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina followed closely behind at 46% and 44% respectively.

    The drop in sales prices is seeing an increase in transaction activity as buyers take advantage of lower-priced units.

    Villa developments experienced a greater decrease in sales prices as compared with apartments, with prices falling an average 43% across the emirate. Most affected were units in Jumeirah Island and Springs, which reported a drop of 65% and 61% respectively.

    Arabian Ranches and Meadows also saw a reduction of 55% in property prices during the first quarter.

    On the other hand, Asteco's Commercial Report for Dubai showed that office spaces that have been completed or nearing completion fetched higher premiums than off-plan projects.

    However, office sales prices for finished units as well as off-plan units have been subject to a decrease, with several companies opting for smaller office units. Instead of purchasing office space, some companies have opted for leasing to help with cash flow while expansion plans and start-ups have been put on hold until regional and global markets begin to stabilise.

    Downtown Jebel Ali and Jumeirah Village saw huge declines in average office sales prices at 55% and 50% respectively while previously hot business locations Tecom, Deira and Bur Dubai saw office rents decreasing sharply by 43%, 41% and 40% respectively, signifying a preference for better located office spaces in DIFC and DHCC.

    Compiled and updated quarterly since 2006, Asteco's research reports include the survey and compilation of residential and commercial rental analysis for each emirate of the UAE.

    Founded in Dubai in 1985, Asteco is the UAE's largest property services company. Its services include retail, commercial and residential sales and leasing; strategic consultancy; property management and marketing; feasibility studies and valuations; and research and investment.

    Reply
  4. New rule for off-plan properties

    New developers in Dubai will now have to pay 100 per cent of the land price to start selling properties "off plan" and will have to inject a minimum 20 per cent of project value to commence construction, a top government official said.

    "Besides, paying land value in full and injecting 20 per cent of the project value to start construction, new developers will have to link payments to construction. This is a new regulation that will become operational from March," Marwan bin Ghalita, Chief Executive Officer, Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Rera) said yesterday.

    Although the agency has postponed plans to introduce a new sales agreement, it will soon be introducing a "cool off" period clause that will allow investors time to rethink their decision.

    "The investor will have the right to have a clause of cool off period for 15 days and then commit to a contract. Once you sign a contract, you are bound by it."

    Reply
  5. Has the construction in the area lead to an increase or decrease in the property market in the marina area?

    Reply
  6. Once more the rule has change already since this publication. Dubai real estate regulatory agency is facing trumendous challenge a head. Basically them rule number one those days is to wait and see.
    This is not the opinion of investors and developers who wich a clear change in them favor.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>