Long term accommodation in Dubai with Better Homes

Better Homes is the United Arab Emirates’ most comprehensive real estate website, focused on empowering users with the resources they need to make informed property decisions. Founded in 1986 and backed by a highly experienced management team led by Ryan Mahoney, the CEO, we are the go-to resource for Dubai long term residential apartments and villas in some of the city’s most desirable and up-and-coming locations.

Since starting out in 1986, we have grown to become one of the UAE’s best real estate agencies. How have we managed to achieve this? By using a blend of technology, design and old-fashioned customer service.

One of our most valuable resources to connect with millions of property seekers every month is our website, bhomes.com. The site offers a great level of functionality and intuitiveness not typically found in property websites and attracts thousands of home hunters every day.

Through our site, we ease the pain of pouring through phony or duplicate listings by presenting verified listings in an intuitively designed website interface. Flowing underneath this experience is also our unique search technology which enables Dubai long term residential property seekers get all the information they need about a property without having to view it in person – thus saving them time and money in the process.

As one of the UAE’s leading real estate brokerages, we at Better Homes help consumers, offering great experiences for people whether they are buying, selling or renting Dubai long term residential property. We look to remain a valuable platform to connect with the best Dubai real estate professionals and empower people to make one of the biggest financial decision of their lives.

Dubai offers a wide range of property investment options – from the very affordable to the most expensive addresses in the world. While oil prices continue to remain low, Dubai property market’s improved regulatory environment, increased maturity and a well-diversified economy are indicators that the market will eventually self-correct, leading to sustained confidence amongst investors.
Make the most of your search for Dubai long term residential property at bhomes.com.

Search Features

Check out the most comprehensive Dubai long term residential property listings at bhomes.com, with new features, making it even easier for you to search, save and be the first to hear about the latest Dubai long term residential apartments and villas. Here are few of our favourite tools on the site.

Draw your own search tool: Use our cutting edge Draw-a-Search tool to draw your very own property search area on bhomes.com. Find Dubai long term residential apartments and villas in the exact area you wish to live in. Any properties within your drawn area are then displayed on the map.

Save your Dubai long term residential property searches: Jump start your Dubai long term residential search. Save properties you love for future viewing. Recommend a property to a friend. Get homes right in your inbox based on your preferred search criteria.

New Dubai long term residential homes: Know about the latest homes before they hit the market.

Agent Search: Get the essential info you need to zero in on the right agent. Get unbiased reviews from previous clients. See an agent's expertise and skills and Dubai long term residential properties they’ve sold near you. View top agents who specialize in the areas that you wish to buy or rent Dubai long term residential property in.

Blog: Whether you are looking for the latest Dubai long term residential property for sale or rent, unique insights into the real estate market data, or home design tips, our blog is a veritable source of Dubai real estate goodness. Stay in the loop with the latest and greatest from team Better Homes!

Mortgage calculator: Take the stress out of financing and knowing how much your home is worth with our mortgage calculator.

Open Houses: Discover when and where the latest Open Houses in the market are held. Skip the guesswork and view properties first hand.

Log on to bhomes.com to kick start your Dubai long term residential property search right away.
  

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Affordable & Luxury Apartments in Dubai by Better Homes

It is no secret that the highest demand in real estate comes from the mid-income segment of buyers. It must also be remembered that these buyers also aspire for a more luxurious living experience.

Luxurious living has always involved large spaces and accessibility to exclusive amenities such as reserved parking, advanced security, a concierge, swimming pools, well-equipped club houses and smart interiors. However, super-expensive Dubai property tends to be in the most expensive locations and showcase the priciest international designer brands in fittings, flooring and decor. All this reflects on the bottom-line for buyers. Since such projects are in any case targeted at the ultra-rich, they still sell.

However, who says top quality and great value cannot go hand in hand? At Better Homes, we are changing the idea that only the rich can live in luxury homes; by offering affordable and luxury Dubai property at the most affordable prices.

Why are we pioneering affordable luxury? Because making luxury affordable is an idea that spans across all products we use. For example, while Apple has a snob appeal, other brands have managed to capture the larger market with a feature-rich Android platform and are a new standard of luxury that everyone can afford.

A recent study conducted in partnership with Informa, the organisers of Cityscape Global, showed that Dubai property that are built to a high standard of quality, as well as those that deliver good value for money, are the most important factors considered by respondents before investing in residential real estate. This means that, what the Dubai property rental market is missing affordable housing which constitutes by itself potential unmet needs waiting to be fulfilled.

As one of the UAE’s leading online marketplace for Dubai short stays, at Better Homes, our mission is to make affordable Dubai property in the emirate easily available to our users. With a growing list of properties on our portfolio, we are committed to helping people find the ideal rental one.
Here are Dubai’s top communities for affordable Dubai property.

Discovery Gardens & Gardens

Located in Jebel Ali, this green and verdant neighbourhood is perfect for families. Currently, the Ibn Battuta metro station is the nearest, but this won’t be for long as Dubai Metro Route 2020 will pass through it. There are quite a few good schools and nurseries in the vicinity and a wide range of restaurants and hotels for a nightlife fix.

View listings here

Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC)

The family community of JVC has more than 2,000 villas and townhouses as well as schools, mosques and sports facilities. Residences are affordable yet spacious, for practical living in a tranquil and friendly setting. If you have the budget for a townhouse here, chances are you’ll get the kind of lush front lawn and spacious layout that will rival what you’d find in some of Dubai’s most desirable villa neighbourhoods.

View listings here

Jumeirah Village Triangle

A freehold community, Jumeirah Village Triangle has 6,000 spacious villas close to schools, sports facilities and shopping centres. For young families, it’s an affordable taste of luxury living. Arabic and Mediterranean themed architecture compliments a serene community that offers all the benefits of living downtown, and is also a quick and easy commute to other parts of the city. From landscaped gardens and cafés to fast food joints, restaurants, supermarkets, banks, pharmacies and florists, JVT has everything you need.

View listings here

Al Qusais

While Al Qusais may be away from the glam and gloss of Dubai, living here will not only help you save money but also give you access to all conveniences. For instance, Sharjah is just over 20 minutes away by car in non-peak hours. Qusais also has supermarkets, schools, restaurants and hospitals at every turn along with a dedicated metro station.

Dubai Sports City

There are plenty of reasons to love Sports City, from good schools to generously sized apartments. The neighbourhood also has some of the best sporting venues in the country, featuring an Athletics Academy, Football Academy, ICC Global Cricket Academy and the Buch Harmon School of Golf. Offering a balanced approach to city living by combining a downtown feel with a homespun vibe, Dubai Sports City has emerged as a favourite of long-time Dubai residents and newcomers alike.

View listings here

Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO)

Situated off Emirates Road, DSO is a 7.2-square-kilometre free zone technology park, dotted with residential and office towers. The community is a mix of small town charm and amenity-packed buildings offering apartments and villas for sale and rent. And a great draw for those seeking affordable housing options and first-time home buyers attracted to Dubai’s up-and-coming real estate market.

View listings here

By 2021, UAE is expecting to welcome 45 million people. Given the long term outlook with various mega projects and infrastructure developments planned, including the Expo 2020, we think that it is a great time to discover affordable luxury homes in Dubai for the long term.

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Better Homes: Perfect Property Investment & Management in Dubai

Dubai offers so many great property investment opportunities. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know where those opportunities are, given the wide range of options you are presented with.

For over two decades, our family-owned and operated business has helped investors and property owners to get the most out of their investment. We offer everything you need to maximise your rental potential and make investing in and owning real estate a rewarding experience.

Founded in 1992, Better Homes’ Property Management has met the needs of numerous clients of residential property portfolios. Today, we have a dedicated team in excess of 75 people, taking care of properties across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and United Arab Emirates.

At Better Homes, we enable you to make informed property investment decisions, no matter where you are buying from. Our team has decades of experience in the local real estate market and professional experience we can use to help you find the perfect property for your investment goals.

In addition to our property investment services, we at Better Homes also have a dedicated property management team who ensures that your investment properties are in the best possible condition. From routine maintenance and rent collection to renovations and tenant screening, we can help you save money while improving your property.

We understand the importance of property management and are committed to managing all the day-to-day operations on behalf of property owners so that they can focus on more important things. We provide exceptional customer service and maintain a high degree of tenant and owner satisfaction. Our property management includes a full range of the highest quality and the very best in residential and commercial property management services.

Our service is perfect for beginner and seasoned property investors alike. If you’re a beginner, using our service means you can get started and get the most out of your investment even if you know nothing. We’ll teach you everything you need to know.

We offer property management solutions for single units, multiple units, entire buildings and developments in Dubai’s residential and commercial segments. We have an occupancy rate running at an average of 96.8 percent to our credit. Apart from this, we also offer a full and comprehensive range of property management services ranging from accounting to coordination of repairs and maintenance.

If you are an experienced investor, you will love our service too. We do all of the hard work for you – which means you can spend your time doing the things you love. If you are an investor looking to widen your portfolio, we can discuss advanced investment strategies to help you further build your wealth.

Now is a great time for property investment in Dubai across Dubai’s freehold residential areas. Despite a slowdown in real estate values, Dubai real estate has maintained its appeal. According to the latest Dubai Land Department (DLD) Real Estate Research and Studies Department report, the UAE and Dubai property market also saw investments pouring in from nearly 26,000 investors, comprising 149 nationalities, with total investments worth AED 57 billion during the first half of this year.

The diversity of the investor base reflects the wide range of property investment options in the country, investor confidence and sustainability of growth in the economy. Also, market fundamentals for Dubai real estate are likely to remain positive this year, including infrastructure investment and connectivity.

With Cityscape Global coming up in September next month, where developers will showcase hundreds of project launches, experts predict a rebound of the Dubai property market in late 2017. This is expected to be driven by continued large scale investments in tourism and retail infrastructure, increased diversification initiatives from the government and the open nature of the economy. Further, while rents and prices have fallen between 10 and 15 percent since 2014, the Dubai real estate market is now mature and stable, with little change in rents and sale prices anticipated this year.

For the best advice on property investment and management services, give us a call to get in touch with one of our experienced Better Homes agents.

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A Guide to Buying an Apartment in Dubai

Looking to buy apartment in Dubai? Purchasing property is usually a great way of getting more for your buck – but it can be a minefield for the inexperienced.

Here are top things to remember before signing on the dotted line.

1. How much can you afford? Never buy anything that you ultimately cannot afford.

2. Why are you buying? Buying an off-plan property to move into yourself is a very different scenario to buying it as an investment for resale or to let. The reason behind your purchase will determine the type and the location of the property you should buy.

3. Know the developer and evaluate the project. Do your due diligence on the developer behind the project. What have they built to date? Is the developer licensed by RERA? Were there any issues with previous projects? What’s their reputation like? Will they hand over the completed property in time? How does the project compare with similar projects in the same community?

4. Is any bank willing to back the off-plan project? Understand the financing options offered by their preferred banks. Irrespective of whether the purchaser is a UAE national or non UAE national, UAE Central Bank allows banks to only provide 50 percent of financing for all off-plan properties. This is regardless of how many other properties buyers own and whether or not they intend to occupy the off-plan apartment.

5. Know your rights: Ask for the land title deed, escrow account number, DLD approvals and agreement with the contractor. There’s strong investor protection in place now, with RERA snuffing out risky speculation by introducing measures such as the developer having to pay 100 percent for the land and make a down payment of 20 percent as bank guarantee, deposit 20 percent in escrow account or complete 20 percent construction before selling off-plan.

6. Reselling an off-plan property is harder now than it was before 2008: Most developers will permit resale only once the original buyer has paid off at least 40 percent of the property’s price. Emaar, for instance, restrict the resale of their off-plan units until handover. There are others that do not operate under such constraints, so depending on whether you’re looking to sell before completion or not, you should choose your developer accordingly.

Moreover, purchasing an apartment in Dubai isn’t cheap. However, do you know the real cost? When you factor in the added costs, you may end up spending 10 percent more than the agreed purchase price. If you’re selling a property, you’re likely to be hit with extra costs too.

The extra costs

So where do the extra fees come from? These include a registration fee of AED 2,000 on properties below AED 500,000 and AED 4,000 on properties over AED 500,000.

Furthermore, the agency fee is 2 percent of the property price; conveyancing fees cost up to AED 10,000 and valuation fees up to AED 3,500. There are also lenders’ fees to consider and a developer’s fee which may amount to 5 percent or more of the property price.

Mortgage fees vary depending on whether you decide to take out a regular loan or Islamic finance. You may need to pay legal fees too, that’s if you decide to consult a lawyer regarding the transaction. However, this is a personal preference and not a requirement.

In October 2014, the Dubai Land Department increased its transfer fee to 4 per cent whereas it’s between 1 to 2 per cent in Abu Dhabi. What about fees after purchase? Well, you’ll need to pay AED 11 per square foot every year if you’re residing in an apartment for the developer’s annual service fee as well as maintenance charges.

The Down Payment

You’ll need to make a deposit of approximately 25 percent on your purchase price and if you take out a mortgage, you’ll need to consider interest fees.

Service	Cost (AED)
Dubai Land Department transfer fee	4% plus AED 540 administrative fee
Abu Dhabi transfer fee	1% to 2%
Registration fees	AED 2,000 for property below AED 500,000
	AED 4,000 for property above AED 500,000
Mortgage registration fee	0.25% of loan + AED 10 fee
Mortgage processing fee	Up to 1% of loan amount
Estate agency fee	2% of purchase fee

Service	Cost (AED)
Conveyancing fees	AED 6,000 to AED 10,000
Valuation fee	AED 2,500 to AED 3,500
Oqood fee, for off-plan properties	4% of purchase price
Down payment	25% of property cost *

All said and done, purchasing a Better Homes apartment couldn’t be easier. Visit bhomes.com for the latest and finest range of properties In Dubai
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Tips on Saving Cost of Living in Dubai

Decluttering your finances can be hard, but absolutely essential if you’re to give yourself a path to financial freedom. Here are tips on saving in Dubai.

Make a list: Draw up a list of all your creditors and your debt amount so that you don’t underestimate how much you owe.

Budget, budget, budget!  Ensure that a percentage of your paycheck is automatically deposited into your savings account on payday. Planning a weekly or monthly budget will help you live within your means and keep your spending in order. Take into consideration essentials such as household expenses and travel and set aside a small amount for emergencies. Put any amount left over toward your debts.

Cut back: Do you really need the latte from Starbucks every morning? Make a grocery list and stick to it whilst shopping. Scoop up after-dinner leftovers and brown bag lunch to work. It’s far cheaper than eating a take-out meal or going out with colleagues.

Downsize: Selling your car or moving into a smaller home will free up extra money and help you pay off your debts quicker. You may also want to look at moving to a cheaper part of town, as long as it doesn’t increase your commuting costs. 

Throw away the plastic: Keep one credit card for emergencies and cut the others. It’s very easy to spend on credit, so taking away these cards will stop you from running up new debt.

Plan events in advance: Booking expensive treats like holidays and concerts can cause overspending. Try to book these in advance so you know exactly how much you’ve spent and how you can work them into your budget.

Make money: Can you ask for a pay rise or think of ways to make some extra money? Find out what skills or new job opportunities could lead you to a higher salary. Consider renting out a room, selling old furniture or getting a second job.

Consolidate loans: Combining your loans with other debts, such as a credit card, can lower the interest rate and the amount of interest you’re paying.

Pay off your smallest debt first: Paying off your smallest debt and paying the minimum repayment on your other debts can give you the motivation you need to keep going. Once you’ve paid off one debt, you’ll be more inspired!

Hone in on a major goal you may have: Be it saving for a down payment on your dream home or paying off your student loan, visualise what you want by creating a board of photos of you’re the pad you want to buy or the vacation you want to take. Use these images as prompts when you are tempted to overindulge. Keep your eye on the prize. Better Homes offers some of the latest properties in the market, so make sure you check our site for a wide selection of Better Homes properties.

While it’s important to live in the moment and enjoy life, without checks and balances in place, you’ll find yourself saying yes to everything and missing out things that really matter.

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