When should you start searching house in Dubai before moving? It is a really strange housing market!
You took the decision, you are moving to Dubai so when to start searching house in dubai?
Have you prepared your luggage? Have you planned your journey? Did you decide in which area to live? (Btw, a new guide to help you selecting which area is coming, follow the House section of the blog.)
Dubai housing market is quite a strange one. Things here are moving fast, people are coming, people are going. Together with them, apartments are almost having their own life.
On average, people live in Dubai for 3 years. This means a lot of apartments are taken and a lot are left empty everyday. Moreover, in Dubai companies are building new homes every day and announcing new projects! These factors contribute to a big volatility of the market. As well as, which houses are available and which are not.
Most of the time, people start searching house in Dubai a couple of months before actually moving. While this can be quite good in terms of understanding in which area you want to live, it is actually counterproductive.
Let me explain:i
If you want to buy or you want to rent start getting into the mindset that Dubai moves fast. Everything you see available on the big websites (i.e PropertyFinde and Bayut) might be already taken or not available tomorrow.
Yes, unfortunately real estate agents are so busy that they forget to remove already rented or sold units. Moreover, if you start searching house in dubai too soon, real estate agents are not going to answer you. Or they will tell you to text them back closer to the date.
Of course, if you start too soon, everything you see is going to be taken when it is time for you to move. Real estate agents will never hold an apartment for you. The market is fast! What is not taken today is going to be taken tomorrow. So you either pay immediately and moving there later or they will never accept your reservation. Which also means you will not see the unit in person). They can find a new tenant tomorrow so why bothering in having a unit not making a profit on the market just to wait you?
I know it is really hard and really strange, but this is the Dubai’s market. One day the unit is available, the day after is not. I have seen so many friends really thinking if buying or not, which resulted in thinking too much and then loosing the unit.
So what to do if you cannot start searching house in dubai too soon?
The main suggestion is to start searching house in dubai just two or three weeks before moving to Dubai. This allows you to have time to text with real estete agents and explaining your needs.
Another suggestion is to build a relationship with the agents. They will help you so find a few that you really like and have them searching for you the best unit for you. TIP: Ask for private deals, so everything is not on the main websites!
Last suggestion is to move fast when you see something you like. Different real estate agencies can show to people the same unit! Therefore, even if your real estate agent says that can be yours, be careful! Another agency can come tomorrow and rent it before you can take the decision. Trust me, I have seen it happening so many times…
To quote Harry Potter “Oh, and keep an eye on the “apartments” (staircases). They like to change…”
