Low LTV ratio a tough barrier for homebuyers

When purchasing property using bank finance in the UAE, a buyer will have to shell out at least 25 per cent of the price upfront, as per Central Bank regulations. Many property stakeholders believe this limitation is holding back a sizeable portion of potential homebuyers, and suggest that authorities should instead increase the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to encourage first-time buyers.

Industry analysts generally agree this is a good idea, although some say a higher LTV, which essentially lowers the down payment to buy property, should not be the norm. Instead, an exemption could be made for first-time buyers. Another approach is to encourage other purchase schemes that are attractive to first-time homebuyers, such as rent-to-own options

Property Weekly talked with property experts on the key points to consider about the LTV ratio.

Increase liquidity

Mario Volpi, sales and leasing manager, Engel & Völkers

In 2013 the Central Bank introduced a maximum 75 per cent LTV rate to cool a potentially overheating market, and it achieved the desired effect. Six years on, there are calls for a reversal or at the very least a softening of this stance. If the LTV will be relaxed to say 85 per cent, this would be a very positive step for the secondary property market as there is a high demand, but would-be buyers are struggling to raise the required 25 per cent deposit. If the banks come up with a specific first-time buyer mortgage product, I believe this will create a more fluid market that would benefit all.

Raise affordability

Lewis Allsopp, CEO, Allsopp & Allsopp

There doesn’t need to be a widespread higher LTV ratio, but I do feel there is a definite need for a first-time buyer product. The buyer sentiment is there. For example, over the last few weeks in Jumeirah Golf Estates, the developer spread the down payment of 25 per cent over 18 months on a ready stock. As a result of this attractive payment plan, only one villa remains available in Redwood Park, and 60 per cent of Whispering Pines stock has sold. This is a microcosm of the market, showing that there is a desire in people to want to buy property in the city but, in some cases, the affordability is holding them back. Once we see movement in first-time buyers, we will see a domino effect through the market with a lot more activity, positivity and confidence.

Educate applicants

Fadi Nwilati, CEO, Kaizen Asset Management Services

A higher LTV generally increases the number of people who can enter the real estate market. However, we must not forget the reasons why LTVs were reduced a few years ago to the levels they currently are. If the authorities were to increase the LTV, it is essential that banks are more careful in their application review process to make sure that the mortgage applicant, particularly first-time homebuyers, can cover the mortgage payments. Banks must educate mortgage applicants to understand the various fees that accompany a mortgage. What will be more impactful to the market is having more rent-to-own products by developers. It is less risky and it may well be a smoother process for first-time homebuyers.

Retain expats

Myles Bush, CEO, PH Real Estate

I think if banks were to reduce the 25 per cent deposit to say 10-15 per cent, there would be a huge number of people who would bite the bullet — stop renting — and start looking to buy. If the banks were to lend this little bit extra, we would see a sharp increase in the number of people looking to purchase, which would inevitably mean fewer people looking to rent — this, in turn, may well reduce already-inflated rental prices. Helping buyers get onto the property ladder is not only a good thing economically, but it also helps with the retention of expats here in the UAE.

Know the risk

Rakesh Mirchandani, director, KGR Real Estate

In some countries, higher LTV ratio, grants and programmes are available for first-time homebuyers. Lower interest rates and higher LTVs are undoubtedly crucial factors to stimulate real estate transactions, but the latter carries significant risk. The lenders want to get their monies back along with interest. In the case of a default, the lenders will need to be able to sell the property considered as the collateral; hence, the LTV will determine the risk, and a higher LTV would mean that the property is less likely to pay off the loan. By keeping the LTVs lower, the banks want to make sure borrowers do not take out mortgages they can’t afford. Over the years, we’ve seen an increase in buyers taking up fixed interest rates in anticipation of the rise in interest rates. This can help and motivate renters to buy and move into their own property. This way they would make a lesser down payment, and it would help with their cash flow. Also, it can offer a higher percentage of return on their equity/investment when the property prices increase.

 

Source: https://gulfnews.com/business/property/low-ltv-ratio-a-tough-barrier-for-homebuyers-1.64219568

Read More

UAE’s Select Group buys beachfront plot on Palm Jumeirah

Dubai developer Nakheel said it sold one of the few remaining beachfront plots on Palm Jumeirah’s West Crescent to the UAE-based real estate company Select Group and its joint venture partner Emirates Strategic Investments Company.

The companies are planning to develop branded luxury homes and a boutique hotel on the 17,919 square metre plot, master developer Nakheel said in a statement on Wednesday.

The joint venture already owned an adjacent plot spanning 47,474 sq m. The new purchase brings the group’s total beachfront development area on Palm Jumeirah to more than 65,410 sq m, the statement added.

“The demand for tranquil beachfront locations has increased exponentially and our aim is to target the ultra-luxury segment,” Rahail Aslam, founder and group chief executive of Select Group, said.

Dubai’s property market is seeing signs of recovery, driven by the emirate’s economic support measures and government initiatives, including visas for expatriate retirees, remote workers and the expansion of the 10-year golden visa scheme.

Dubai registered a total of 25,455 real estate transactions worth Dh92 billion from January to April 2021, the Dubai Land Department said on Monday. This represented an increase of 51 per cent in terms of the volume of transactions and 72 per cent in terms of their value compared with the same period in 2020, the DLD said in a statement.

The emirate attracted 8,749 new investors between January and April 2021. They accounted for 65 per cent of the total number of real estate investors in that period and registered a growth of 54 per cent compared with the same period last year, the DLD added.

 

Palm Jumeirah figured among the top five communities for villa sales in April. In terms of apartment sales, Dubai Marina, Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay and Al Thanyah Fifth registered the highest number of transactions in April, the agency said.

Located between the One & Only and W Hotel Palm Jumeirah, the plot is one of the last few remaining beachfront spaces in the development.

“We are excited to capitalise on [the] recent strong turnaround in [the] Dubai real estate sector by acquiring such quality assets,” Khalid Al Suwaidi, chief executive of ESIC, said.

The hotel operator and architects will be announced within the next few weeks, the companies said.

Select Group plans to start construction on the project before the end of the year, with a completion date expected in three years.

“We are delighted that all parties’ collaboration has concluded with the sale of one of the last remaining plots at our flagship master development, Palm Jumeirah,” a Nakheel spokesperson said.

Other projects built by Select Group include Jumeirah Living Marina Gate in Dubai Marina and 15 Northside in Business Bay.

 

Source: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/property/uae-s-select-group-buys-beachfront-plot-on-palm-jumeirah-1.1230360

Read More

Dubai real estate to see ‘big boom’ once Expo 2020 starts

Favourable interest and mortgage rates, a highly effective Covid-19 vaccination drive, and new visa rules for investors, will result in Dubai’s property sector witnessing a “big boom”, especially when the city opens its doors for Expo 2020, says Rizwan Sajan, chairman and founder of Danube Group.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the INDEX Dubai 2021 exhibition, Sajan remarked that Dubai would continue to be a city that enjoyed the confidence of global investors. The emirate had proven itself to be resilient in the face of several challenges that have gripped the global economy time and time again, he said.

“Expo 2020 is going to bring a big boom for Dubai,” he stated. “If you look at what has happened over the past two to three months, you will see that real estate prices have gone up again. This means that developers will be eager to start constructing new apartments and villas. We are blessed, especially when you look at all the policies that the government has been coming up with, such as the Golden Visa and the 100 per cent ownership laws, to make expats feel like they are at home. All of these policies will definitely help to build confidence in investors that are interested in setting up their businesses here.”

“In addition, the way that the Covid-19 crisis has been handled here will also send a strong message to the world that Dubai is ready for business,” Sajan observed. “We are already seeing a lot of investors from India expressing an interest in coming and opening their businesses in the city. Not just that, but a lot of European and Chinese expats are looking to purchase property in Dubai.”

He also reiterated his advice on the best time to invest in property in the emirate. “I can say that we will see a big real estate boom coming in the near future. I keep telling people that the time to buy property, if you are interested in doing so, is now because later you will not get the same prices that you are seeing in the market right now. Interest rates right now are very low just like the property prices and even the mortgage rate is extremely attractive.”

Property prices over the past six months, he revealed, have gone up by 30-35 per cent, further highlighting the positivity in the market. He also said that property in Dubai is still cheaper compared to many other major international hubs such as Hong Kong and London. While villa prices have gone up, and will continue to do so in the coming months, apartment prices are still low and make for an attractive investment.

“The luxury property market has already started recovering, and the affordable property market will follow,” Sajan added. “Many companies that had laid off their employees are looking to rehire their staff so business is getting back to usual. I also believe that the supply of new units will remain balanced in the near-term.”

Asked about how the Covid-19 pandemic had impacted the building materials market, he said that prices have been “going very very high.”

The main reason for this, he revealed, has been the difficulty in arranging logistics and the shortage of material.

“The demand is more due to the consumption in the US and Europe,” Sajan said. “We have seen this trend – where the prices have gone up by more than 50 per cent in the building materials segment – after many years. We are trying our best to get materials because of the huge demand that we are seeing for Expo 2020 Dubai; lots of projects have to be completed before the event opens its doors. However, I believe that there will be no problem in Dubai as far as the construction industry is concerned.”

 

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/local/dubai-real-estate-to-see-big-boom-once-expo-2020-starts

Read More

Why luxury property is at a premium in Dubai, according to real estate expert

A leading real estate agent has revealed that demand for luxury properties is currently outstripping supply in Dubai.

Chris Boswell is one of the emirate’s most successful real estate agents with over $1.15 billion in sales, including the record for the most expensive private residence, sold at $50 million.

He told Arabian Business the first quarter of this year had been “quite possibly one of the best quarters since 2007-2008 and said he has closed over $56m in high-end sales since the start of the year – several in collaboration with co-listing agent Barnaby Crompton.

However, he explained: “For the first time in years demand completely outweighs supply in Palm Jumeirah villas and plots/villas on Jumeirah Bay Island. Not only are villas on Palm Jumeirah selling fast but at record prices per square foot.

“It really has been a frenzy of late. My clients are tired of the high taxes and not feeling safe in their inner cities and many feel let down by the way their governments handled the Covid situation. What really is paramount for many is the safety and security that the UAE offers.”

Chris Boswell is a Dubai-based real estate agent

The value of transactions of luxury Dubai residential property in the first quarter of 2021 rose by 25 percent compared to the year-earlier period, according to research by Luxhabitat Sotheby’s.

A total of 3,450 apartments and 586 villas were transacted in Q1 in the Dubai prime residential market valued at AED11.6bn ($3.1bn), according to analysis based on data from the Dubai Land Department (DLD).

Boswell revealed buyers were coming from Europe, the US and the Far East and is currently representing “several well-known ultra-high-net-worth individuals, sports personalities and leading names in the entertainment industry” as they look to make Dubai their primary residence.

According to consultancy firm Knight Frank, Dubai remains a place to seek out bargains for buyers with deep pockets.

A million dollars can buy 165 square metres (1,776 square feet) of space in Dubai, around five times more than in London or New York. The emirate has 42,356 homes valued at $1 million, second only to the UK capital.

Boswell said: “The international high-net-worth community realised in late 2020 that Dubai was a secure place to reside during the Covid lockdowns across the world.

“I feel that many immediately recognised the value in Dubai and all the amazing things the city has to offer and that prime waterfront real estate was incredibly undervalued by comparison to other major cities around the world. In addition they felt safe and secure under an umbrella of great leadership through an incredibly challenging and difficult time.”

 

Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/real-estate/464134-why-luxury-property-is-at-premium-in-dubai-according-to-real-estate-expert

Read More

Real estate deals worth Dh962m concluded today in Dubai

Dubai: Real estate transactions worth Dh962 million have been concluded in the emirate today.

According to the Dubai Land Department, 317 sale deals worth Dh776.38 million, including 17 land sales worth Dh145.08 million, and 300 sales of apartments and villas that sold for Dh631.3 million.

The most important land sales worth Dh63 million was for a land plot in Al Hebiah First, followed by a land sold for Dh20 million in Al Thanyah Fourth and a Dh15 million was paid for a land in Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens.

Al Hebiah Fourth came first in terms of the number of sales, with 4 sales worth Dh22 million, followed by Al Hebiah Third, with 4 sales worth Dh8 million, while the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens came third with two sales worth Dh21 million.

As for the most important sales of apartments and villas, a sale deal of Dh120 million was struck in The Palm Jumeirah followed by a Dh21 million deal in Burj Khalifa and finally a transaction worth Dh16 million in Me’aisem First.

The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens saw 63 sales of apartment and villas for Dh111 million, followed by Burj Khalifa that registered 33 sales worth Dh100 million, while Dubai Marina saw 31 sales worth Dh80 million.

The value of mortgages amounted to Dh147.66 million, of which 13 mortgages of lands valued at Dh34.04 million, and 58 mortgages for villas and apartments valued at Dh113.62 million.

The most important of which was concluded in Al Thanyah Fourth for a mortgage of Dh15 million, and another one in the Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens with a value of Dh14 million.

As for the grants, 18 grants valued at Dh38.85 million were registered across Dubai, the most important of which was in the Palm Jumeirah area, with a value of Dh11 million, and another in Al Safa Second, with a value of Dh9 million.

Source: https://gulfnews.com/business/property/real-estate-deals-worth-dh962m-concluded-today-in-dubai-1.1623591691608

Read More

Dubai realty rally to continue for years: HSBC, Morgan Stanley

Property market analysts believe that Dubai’s housing market, which has been buoyant since H2 2020, would continue to thrive.

The on-going rebound in Dubai’s property sector that is largely driven by a wave of government reforms and strong demand for larger homes will last several years, analysts from two leading international banks said.

HSBC bank analysts expect the rally in Dubai’s real estate sector, which recorded a total sales transaction value of Dh10.97 billion in April 2021 — the highest since March 2017 — to last several years.

“The reported sales rebound in Dubai year-to-date has been remarkable,” HSBC’s Stephen Bramley-Jackson and Alok Baid wrote in a report. HSBC’s upbeat outlook aligns with that of Morgan Stanley analysts who forecast that robust demand, peaking supply growth and long lead times for new projects could lead to “a tighter-than-expected market over the next several years.”

“The rally in Dubai’s residential property prices isn’t stopping anytime soon,” they said. Demand for property picked up amid “a wave of government reforms over the past 12 months, attractive mortgage rates, and a shift in demand patterns due to Covid-19,” according to Morgan Stanley.

Property market analysts believe that as the government rolls out incentives for investors on the back of a host of region-first economic reforms, Dubai’s housing market, which has been buoyant since H2 2020, would continue to thrive.

According to Dubai Statistics Center data, Dubai’s economy is projected to grow 4.0 per cent this year after an estimated 6.2 per cent contraction in 2020. As a key contributor, the realty sector accounts for about 8.0 per cent of Dubai economic output.

“The dynamics in the residential real estate market in 2021 has been interesting thus far. In April alone, we have seen six villa transactions over Dh50 million, with one on the Palm recorded as the second highest villa transaction in 2021 worth Dh 105 million. When looking at the mortgage transaction data, we have seen that April, March, and January of 2021 had the highest number of monthly transactions since March 2010,” said Lynnette Abad Sacchetto, director of research & data at Property Finder.

A dramatic recovery in Dubai realty was noticeable from March when transactions during March were at a 10-year high as strong market growth continued, a recent report by Property Monitor said. “With a fifth continuous month of gains, Dubai’s price recovery is well underway though not uniformly spread across communities. Villa and townhouse communities have particularly emerged as hot spots with a further acceleration in prices expected over the coming months.”

However, the positive outlook contrasts with certain negative views from international property consultancy Knight Frank and a few others.

Knight Frank analysts said a supply glut that has depressed Dubai’s property prices for over half a decade would persist and likely keep it on the sidelines of a global upswing in values of prime residential real estate.

Fast emerging from the pandemic slump, the construction industry will deliver an estimated 62,000 homes in the emirate this year and nearly 63,500 in 2022, which would be the most since 2009, Knight Frank estimates.

According to realty pundits, luxury villas are the hottest segment in the market, with European buyers in particular seeking homes on Dubai’s signature Palm Jumeirah man-made island, as well as golf course estates.

A recent property market report from Allsopp & Allsopp noted that the first quarter of 2021 has been incredible for the Dubai real estate market with an 82 per cent increase in sales transactions. Real estate consultancy Core estimates that an additional 26,500 units are expected to be handed over in the remainder of the year, taking the total annual forecast for 2021 at over 37,000 units.

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/dubai-realty-rally-to-continue-for-years-hsbc-morgan-stanley

Read More

Dubai realty keeps its poise, posts transactions worth Dh11B+

Dubai’s resilient real estate sector continued to witness a steady surge in investments by recording 5,359 deals worth over Dh11 billion in May.

While 11,387 new investors entered the market comprising 66 per cent of total registered investors since the beginning of the year, 6,021 real estate transactions worth Dh21.8 billion were registered in May, an increase of 197 per cent and a surge in value of 221 per cent compared to May 2020, according to the real estate bulletin issued by the Dubai Land Department (DLD).

The bullish data once again underscores Dubai’s attractiveness as a preferred global real estate investment destination and the emirate’s “flexibility in adapting to various developments, thanks to the legislative environment and superb infrastructure”, the DLD’s Real Estate Updates noted.

Since the beginning of the year, Dubai has recorded Dh36 billion worth of real estate investments, an increase of 44 per cent.

The bulletin showed that the value of real estate brokerage achieved by effective real estate brokers in Dubai’s real estate reached Dh827 million since the beginning of the year. In addition, 253,959 Ejari contracts were recorded in January to May, 53 per cent of which were new and 42 per cent were renewed.

The residential sales index achieved 1,071 points during May, with a growth rate of 7.1 per cent compared to the base year.

The top five areas that attracted investors in the villa sector included Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Wadi Al Safa 5, Wadi Al Safa 7, Al Thanyah Fourth and Palm Jumeirah. In apartment sales, Dubai Marina, Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Business Bay and Al Thanyah Fifth topped the list.

The DLD said it expects the real estate sector to witness continued growth and a greater recovery in the coming months leading to Expo 2020, which “will attract tourists and visitors from around the world and constitute a great opportunity for the real estate sector to strengthen its position regionally and globally”.

According to JLL Mena, a spate of new regulatory measures, local availability of the vaccine, and the upcoming Expo 2020 festivities are reasons and opportunities for the rebound of the real estate market in 2021.

Analysts believe that demand picked up amid “a wave of government reforms over the past 12 months, attractive mortgage rates, and a shift in demand patterns due to Covid-19”.

According to Dubai Statistics Centre data, Dubai’s economy is projected to grow four per cent this year after an estimated 6.2 per cent contraction in 2020. As a key contributor, the realty sector accounts for about eight per cent of Dubai economic output.

Weekly deals hit Dh5B

Meanwhile, realty transactions in Dubai were valued at Dh5 billion this week, with the total at 1,921; 135 five plots were sold for Dh716.18 million, while 1,298 apartments and villas were sold for Dh2.54 billion.

The top three transactions were lands sold in Island 2 for Dh87.5 million, Al Hebiah First for Dh62.5 million and Island 2 for Dh87.5 million.

Al Hebiah Third recorded the most transactions with 35 worth Dh75.96 million, followed by Hadaeq Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with 23 worth Dh126.23 million and Al Hebiah Fourth with 20 worth Dh91 million.

The top three transfers for apartments and villas were apartments sold in Marsa Dubai for Dh345 million, Burj Khalifa for Dh280 million and Palm Jumeirah for Dh196 million.

The sum of mortgaged properties was Dh2 billion, with the highest being a land in Al Qusais First mortgaged for Dh276 million. Eighty-four properties were granted between first-degree relatives worth Dh201 million.

 

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/real-estate/dubai-realty-keeps-its-poise-posts-transactions-worth-dh11b

Read More

Azizi Developments decides to have ‘crystal lagoon’ instead of canal at its Riviera in MBR City

Dubai: It’s official – a ‘lagoon’ will wind through the ‘Riviera’ in Dubai. Azizi Developments’ low-rise project Riviera in MBR City will have a ‘crystal lagoon’, across 2.7 kilometres and covering an area of 130,026 square metres.

The addition comes as an addition to the original masterplan for the Riviera. The developer, Azizi, had earlier planned on having a canal with sea water, But that would not have been fit for swimming. The lagoon also provides “more stunning views” from the homes, the developer said.

“It took a lot of planning, with many of our stakeholders having been involved in making this ambitious plan a reality,” said Farhad Azizi, CEO. “But we are happy to now be able to reveal that this marvellous body of water, which is sure to make RoIs (Return on Investment) on Riviera’s properties surge, will be built within the coming year.” The lagoon will see more than 51.5 million gallons of desalinated water across its area, with a blue flooring.

MORE WATER BODIES
The Majid Al Futtaim Properties’ ‘Tilal Al Ghaf’ will have its own ‘beach’ – even though the project itself is well away from Dubai’s shoreline. The 3 million square metre project is located along Hessa Street.

For MBR City, the Azizi announcement represents the second ‘lagoon’ project within its boundaries. The District One community has its own water body.

Azizi is staggering the buildings of the low-rises at the Riviera across four phases. The first two phases are entering advanced stages of completion. In all, there will be 16,000 homes at the Riviera, which will also feature an extensive retail boulevard as well as ‘Les Jardins’ — a green ‘social space’.

 

Source: https://gulfnews.com/business/property/azizi-developments-decides-to-have–crystal-lagoon-instead-of-canal-at-its-riviera-in-mbr-city-1.1624860929624

Read More

European buyers relocating families to Dubai spur realty rebound

In June, Dubai’s resilient property market maintained its resounding recovery, with a 2.1 per cent price spike, the eighth successive monthly surge.

European buyers, mostly end-users relocating their families to the relative safety of Dubai, have been driving a significant rebound in the emirate’s property sector as prices hit an eight-year high, recording a 10 per cent year-on-year jump in June.

A report by Property Monitor, a leading property portal, said European buyers emerged as “a key demographic recently, driving sales with most being end users.”

“Based on our conversations with brokers and industry experts, the motivation here is the relocation of entire families from Europe as opposed to the sole breadwinner living in Dubai. As further evidence of this trend, several schools have reported an uptick in enrolments of new residents,” said the report.

“What we’re seeing here is an evolution… where people are buying homes to live in after renting for a few years, then going on to sell those homes and upgrade to larger properties, creating a mature property cycle,” Lewis Allsopp, CEO of Allsopp & Allsopp, the estate agency, said.

In June, Dubai’s resilient property market maintained its resounding recovery, with a 2.1 per cent price spike, the eighth successive monthly surge as transaction numbers recorded their best performance since December 2013 with 6,389 deals recorded, said the portal.

Median prices in June were Dh928,848 for apartments, Dh1.7 million for townhouses and Dh3.4 million for villas.

“On a monthly basis, prices spiked 2.1 per cent and now stand at Dh924 per sq ft. They were last seen at these levels two years ago. Since bottoming out in November 2020, property prices have risen by 12.7 per cent,” said the report.

“The recovery still remains uneven between communities with the strongest price increases seen in the market for villas and traditionally sought-after communities. However, we expect the recovery to balance out over the rest of 2021 and switch to a more tenable pace across Dubai,” said the report.

According to Dubai Land Department data, the Dubai property market recorded Dh68 billion worth of deals) in the first 53 days of the year. For the full year, the projections are for Dh300 billion plus.

Demand continues to remain robust for properties at the top end of the market with transactions for properties valued over Dh10 million registering yet another strong month.

In all, 111 transactions were recorded for this segment in June, slightly lower than the 117 in May, but still indicative of a buoyant market.

On a monthly basis, sales jumped 43.7 per cent and climbed a massive 174 per cent from last June when buyers were first taking notice of attractive real estate deals amid easing movement restrictions.

“A block of delayed registrations in June for previous months was recorded from Azizi Developments, including off-plan and initial sales from the developer. While this was a notable contributor to the rise in sales volumes this month, even without these deals, June recorded one of its best performances for transactions since at least 2009,” said the report.

A total of 2,419 off-plan transactions were registered in June, up 43.3 per cent on a monthly basis. Completed properties took 62.1% market share in June 2021 versus 37.9 per cent for off-plan, continuing a year-long trend as new launches stalled, and buyers demonstrated a preference for ready-to-move properties.

However, completed property transactions may start to give up some of these market share gains as new project launches gather pace. Meanwhile, initial sales transactions—the first sale of a property from the developer for an off plan or completed project—jumped 51.2 per cent monthly to stand at 3,800 in June.

Mortgages for villas and townhouses increased month-on-month while loans for apartments declined, reflecting buyer preferences. Overall, at 2,135, new loans for June fell by 9.4 per cent over the previous month, driven by a decline in bulk mortgages, which are primarily taken out for apartment buildings. [email protected]

 

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/european-buyers-relocating-families-to-dubai-spur-realty-rebound

Read More

Palm Jumeirah house prices close to record high

A new record was set in July with the $32.9 million sale of a villa on Jumeirah Bay Island to a European buyer.

Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah is not only registering a new record high villa prices but also posting the highest number of home sales in almost five years, according to analysis by global property consultancy Knight Frank.

“The boom in ultra-prime home sales across Dubai is nowhere better reflected than on the Palm Jumeirah, where average transacted prices, at over Dh2,100 per square foot (psf), are at their highest level in over five years. What’s more, 19 of the 34 $10 million plus homes sold in Dubai between January and June were on the Palm Jumeirah,” said Faisal Durrani, Partner – head of Middle East Research, Knight Frank.

“Villas remain in high demand as both resident expats and international investors seek to secure larger and more luxurious homes in the most prestigious parts of the city. The pandemic has taught us all the importance of personal space and with a shift to hybrid working models emerging as the norm, families are seeking accommodation that delivers on space, luxury and exclusivity. This accelerating trend has driven average transacted villa prices on the Palm Jumeirah up by an impressive 40 per cent over the last four years,” said Durrani.

A new record was set in July with the $32.9 million sale of a villa on Jumeirah Bay Island to a European buyer, highlighting the buoyancy in the villa market. Prior to the sale of that mansion, the most expensive home to sell in 2021 was on the Palm Jumeirah, where One100 Palm sold for over $30 million in March.

At Dh3,250 psf, average transacted villa prices are just shy of the all-time record high of Dh3,436 psf set in Q3 2017. “Despite accounting for a little over 2.0 per cent of the total number of villa sales across Dubai, the 90 villa transactions on the Palm Jumeirah drove almost 13.5 per cent of the Dh15.8 billion city-wide villa transactions during Q2,” Knight Frank said in a statement.

“The Palm Jumeirah is really coming into its own. The recent opening of Nakheel Mall has helped to cement the amenities available to the island’s residents, helping to create not only an exclusive enclave, but one that epitomises the very definition of a 15-minute city; an emerging and highly desirable legacy trend of the pandemic globally,” said Durrani.

Apartments on the Palm Jumeirah have also shown a resurgence in transactional activity, with 300 flats selling in Q2 alone; the highest since Q3 2015. And not only that, but the average apartment deal size now stands at almost Dh1,800 psf, the highest level since 2016, according to Knight Frank’s analysis.

“There has certainly been a very healthy number of transactions for Q2 2021 with record breaking months and sales prices. Apartment sales make up a large proportion of transactions with a number of high value transactions for the boutique developments such as Palme Couture, Atlantis The Royal, One Palm and W Residences,” said Yasin Valimulla, associate partner at Knight Frank Middle East.

Valimulla said villa and townhouse sales remained strong, continuing on from the Q1 2021 momentum, and prices saw a sharp increase compared to the previous quarters. “The villa market has always proven to have its own micro market and with so many transactions happening, we are seeing price expectations increasing with the demand being higher than the current villa supply. This has been evident with both sales and rentals transactions.” [email protected]

Source: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/palm-jumeirah-house-prices-close-to-record-high

Read More