Where to live?
Discussion
Hi guys
I moved to Dubai last week to start a new job, I couldnt stand any more excitement in Saudi. Spent yesterday cruising around looking for somewhere to live.
Has anybody got any views on where to avoid in Marina or Jbr or Downtown? I looked at a couple of apartments in a building in downtown and they were a bit crap, frankly I was disappointed at the state of the places.
Any opinions gratefully recieved, there are so many places to look at it would be useful if I could sift out the crap before I start in earnest
Thanks
J
I moved to Dubai last week to start a new job, I couldnt stand any more excitement in Saudi. Spent yesterday cruising around looking for somewhere to live.
Has anybody got any views on where to avoid in Marina or Jbr or Downtown? I looked at a couple of apartments in a building in downtown and they were a bit crap, frankly I was disappointed at the state of the places.
Any opinions gratefully recieved, there are so many places to look at it would be useful if I could sift out the crap before I start in earnest
Thanks
J
Still looking at areas in general. I am looking for at least 2 bed apartment preferably near the action hence Jbr/marina/downtown areas.
Budget reasonably flexible but I guess max of 150k for the right place
Having just said all that I've just been cruising propertyfinder and there are some villas that can be had in the Ranches for less than my budget although this may be a bit far out of town. Will drive out there in a while and check it out
Budget reasonably flexible but I guess max of 150k for the right place
Having just said all that I've just been cruising propertyfinder and there are some villas that can be had in the Ranches for less than my budget although this may be a bit far out of town. Will drive out there in a while and check it out
Sounds like the Marina is here you want to be, although I've not looked at places around JBR. For 150 you' have millions of choices. If you don't mind a 15 minute drive into town, the ranches is good. We have friends there and it's a nice, social place with a golf club and plenty of shops etc.
I'm in "The Villas" which is located ithe arse-end of nowhere. We like it though!
I'm in "The Villas" which is located ithe arse-end of nowhere. We like it though!
150k in the marina will get you a stunning pad. the one i live in [2500 sqft penthouse, 3 br's + maids room, huge living room, huge terrace] costs that. if you want quality, stick to emaar or trident. there's a new 50+ storey building just started letting at the north end of the marina so should be plenty of opportunity to haggle. if you like the layout of a flat but they won't move on price, ask the agent to put the same offer in for other flats in the building with identical floorplans.
marina's a great place to live, only downside is lack of space for tinkering with cars. propertyfinder's prob your best bet for looking.
http://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/apartment-for...
http://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/apartment-for...
http://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/apartment-for...
marina's a great place to live, only downside is lack of space for tinkering with cars. propertyfinder's prob your best bet for looking.
http://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/apartment-for...
http://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/apartment-for...
http://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/apartment-for...
Thanks Chilli
I am leaning heavily towards marina/Jbr, the attraction of having a beach on my doorstep is quite persuasive. Do you know of any developments or buildings that have poor reputation and should be avoided? You are right there is lots of choice and I want to try and weed out the slums before I waste any more time looking at them. I know that as a newbie to the area the agents will no doubt try and offload the rubbish that has been on the books for a while and I want to minimise time wasted going through all that malarkey.
On that point, can anybody recommend good agents?.
Thanks
I am leaning heavily towards marina/Jbr, the attraction of having a beach on my doorstep is quite persuasive. Do you know of any developments or buildings that have poor reputation and should be avoided? You are right there is lots of choice and I want to try and weed out the slums before I waste any more time looking at them. I know that as a newbie to the area the agents will no doubt try and offload the rubbish that has been on the books for a while and I want to minimise time wasted going through all that malarkey.
On that point, can anybody recommend good agents?.
Thanks
Thanks Shirt good to have inside opinion. I have been advised about Emaar but hadn't considered Trident. I spotted some Trident places yesterday, including one near the habit or, so will check out availability.
Do you know if there are any places to avoid on Jbr? Some communities seem to be consistently cheaper than others and I'm guessing ya here is a reason for that, unless it's just hat there is more availability/competition for letting.
Do you know if there are any places to avoid on Jbr? Some communities seem to be consistently cheaper than others and I'm guessing ya here is a reason for that, unless it's just hat there is more availability/competition for letting.
i'd avoid JBR unless it's been done well inside or has a great view. they are not crap but are a step down compared to the marina.
i haven't been in that many on the SZR road side but it does seem that the nicer ones are JBR side as the view over the marina and the golf course is very impressive. the pick for me would be al sahab [where i live] or marina quays. they are lowrise, 2min from the beach, 5 min to waitrose, and easily accessed without hitting the bulk of rush hr traffic.
where are you going to be working?
i haven't been in that many on the SZR road side but it does seem that the nicer ones are JBR side as the view over the marina and the golf course is very impressive. the pick for me would be al sahab [where i live] or marina quays. they are lowrise, 2min from the beach, 5 min to waitrose, and easily accessed without hitting the bulk of rush hr traffic.
where are you going to be working?
Don't know a huge amount about JBR, but for 150 you will get a stunning place - might even stretch to a 3 bed if you want, (a mate I think pays 145 in one of the Safa towers). Finishing on some of the towers I reckoned wasn't great, but you are renting not buying so perhaps not so much of an issue.
I'm just on the boarder of the Marina in Mag218 and rate the place. Access is far easier than on JBR (a few roadworks on the beach road, but none of the silly 1 way system issues while they put the tram in) and I have all the restaurants etc minutes walk away. I'd have a look at this place, a good sized 1 bed is less than half of what you were thinking of spending and suits me perfectly - I figure I'm not going to pay extra for a spare room thats hardly ever used.
Two beds with balcony are ballpark 110, perhaps more if you are higher and have a sea/palm view. I know people over the road in The Torch who rate it and Marina Heights Towers also just over the road seems good - you'll pay more for either of those as if you get the right side of the building you'll get an uninterrupted marina view. My view of the marina could be screwed if they build on the plot between MHT and Torch, but as they have filled the big hole in that looked like the start of foundations and now its a carpark, I don't think thats going to happen soon.
The new 50+ story place is next to Torch and I think not open yet. Not sure of the developer, so maybe ok, maybe not. I'd been told that Cayan were also good BTW..
Agents here are pretty much all sharks. Basically they get a flat 5% fee so want to keep the price up. Most people will haggle about the number of cheques and the fee - get it for less if you pay upfront for the year sometimes, but if you want to pay in more cheques you'll probably have to pay closer to the asking price.
I'm just on the boarder of the Marina in Mag218 and rate the place. Access is far easier than on JBR (a few roadworks on the beach road, but none of the silly 1 way system issues while they put the tram in) and I have all the restaurants etc minutes walk away. I'd have a look at this place, a good sized 1 bed is less than half of what you were thinking of spending and suits me perfectly - I figure I'm not going to pay extra for a spare room thats hardly ever used.
Two beds with balcony are ballpark 110, perhaps more if you are higher and have a sea/palm view. I know people over the road in The Torch who rate it and Marina Heights Towers also just over the road seems good - you'll pay more for either of those as if you get the right side of the building you'll get an uninterrupted marina view. My view of the marina could be screwed if they build on the plot between MHT and Torch, but as they have filled the big hole in that looked like the start of foundations and now its a carpark, I don't think thats going to happen soon.
The new 50+ story place is next to Torch and I think not open yet. Not sure of the developer, so maybe ok, maybe not. I'd been told that Cayan were also good BTW..
Agents here are pretty much all sharks. Basically they get a flat 5% fee so want to keep the price up. Most people will haggle about the number of cheques and the fee - get it for less if you pay upfront for the year sometimes, but if you want to pay in more cheques you'll probably have to pay closer to the asking price.
Avoid JBR, they are going to build on all the car parks between the walk and the sea, will be a bloody disaster when they start.
It's already a nightmare getting in and out at the wrong time.
Trident as already mentioned are on a par with Emaar.
Another tower to add to the avoid list is DEC, s
thole.
It's already a nightmare getting in and out at the wrong time.
Trident as already mentioned are on a par with Emaar.
Another tower to add to the avoid list is DEC, s
thole.We are living at Marina Residences on the Palm. Paying 180k for a 3 bedroom plus maids room with full sea/Atantis view. Huge balcony- great for BBQs. We have full access for two pools and gyms. Apartments spacious (ours 2,500 sq ft) / modern with good quality finish. A two bedroom will probably set you back 130k.
Also check out Tiara and Oceana on The Palm. Facilities are hard to beat. Infiniti pool, licensed bar and a small beach. Lovely views of Dubai skyline.
I've lived in the Marina (Emaar first six towers- also nice), convenient location but traffic is a nightmare and it gets noisy at night.
My view, if you live in Dubai you must be on or near the water.
Also check out Tiara and Oceana on The Palm. Facilities are hard to beat. Infiniti pool, licensed bar and a small beach. Lovely views of Dubai skyline.
I've lived in the Marina (Emaar first six towers- also nice), convenient location but traffic is a nightmare and it gets noisy at night.
My view, if you live in Dubai you must be on or near the water.
J4m80 said:
Thanks Shirt good to have inside opinion. I have been advised about Emaar but hadn't considered Trident. I spotted some Trident places yesterday, including one near the habit or, so will check out availability.
Do you know if there are any places to avoid on Jbr? Some communities seem to be consistently cheaper than others and I'm guessing ya here is a reason for that, unless it's just hat there is more availability/competition for letting.
Check out Tiara / Oceana on the Palm. It's right up your street. Do you know if there are any places to avoid on Jbr? Some communities seem to be consistently cheaper than others and I'm guessing ya here is a reason for that, unless it's just hat there is more availability/competition for letting.
Thanks guys all good stuff. I saw some hoardings on the beach side of the walk yesterday that weren't there when I stayed in that area a couple of months ago, I guess that's the start of the infil works, shame really but that's progress I guess. I suppose that if I do end up there I'm only tied in for 12 months max so could get out if it turns messy.
Now then, The Palm. I had a quick look at that option but was concerned that it is a bit remote from the action. Can I ask one question? If you live on the trunk, do you have to travel far to U turn when you want to go anywhere? Having travelled up and down that road many times in a taxi I can't recall seeing any u turn facility, but then again I suppose I wasn't looking for them.
Anyway should be getting resi visa this week so I will start hassling agents tomorrow, I can.t wait...
Now then, The Palm. I had a quick look at that option but was concerned that it is a bit remote from the action. Can I ask one question? If you live on the trunk, do you have to travel far to U turn when you want to go anywhere? Having travelled up and down that road many times in a taxi I can't recall seeing any u turn facility, but then again I suppose I wasn't looking for them.
Anyway should be getting resi visa this week so I will start hassling agents tomorrow, I can.t wait...
J4m80 said:
Thanks guys all good stuff. I saw some hoardings on the beach side of the walk yesterday that weren't there when I stayed in that area a couple of months ago, I guess that's the start of the infil works, shame really but that's progress I guess. I suppose that if I do end up there I'm only tied in for 12 months max so could get out if it turns messy.
Now then, The Palm. I had a quick look at that option but was concerned that it is a bit remote from the action. Can I ask one question? If you live on the trunk, do you have to travel far to U turn when you want to go anywhere? Having travelled up and down that road many times in a taxi I can't recall seeing any u turn facility, but then again I suppose I wasn't looking for them.
Anyway should be getting resi visa this week so I will start hassling agents tomorrow, I can.t wait...
Avoid the trunk (shoreline apartments). Not nice. If you choose to live on the palm its Tiera/Oceana or Marina Residences you need to be aiming for. Light years ahead in terms of spec / quality. Now then, The Palm. I had a quick look at that option but was concerned that it is a bit remote from the action. Can I ask one question? If you live on the trunk, do you have to travel far to U turn when you want to go anywhere? Having travelled up and down that road many times in a taxi I can't recall seeing any u turn facility, but then again I suppose I wasn't looking for them.
Anyway should be getting resi visa this week so I will start hassling agents tomorrow, I can.t wait...
The roads in and out of the palm are free flowing. I've never had traffic problems getting in or off. Lots of exit points.
You are only 10mins away from the action.
i dont agree that marina/jbr traffic has to be nightmare. it really depends where you are commuting to and at what time.
for instance, i live opposite starbucks which is bang in the middle of jbr. i work in jafza, so i come out of the car park, immediate right and over the bridge, right again and straight out onto szr. 15mins to work, 20 if it's busy going into the port. on the way home, i come straight in over the dewa bridge, spend 5mins in traffic and i'm home.
if you can flex your working hours, its easy [mine are 7:30-4:30 which beats port and marina rush hours]. you really want to be avoiding living at one end of town and working at the other. szr between tecom and dfc can be a right pain in the arse.
for instance, i live opposite starbucks which is bang in the middle of jbr. i work in jafza, so i come out of the car park, immediate right and over the bridge, right again and straight out onto szr. 15mins to work, 20 if it's busy going into the port. on the way home, i come straight in over the dewa bridge, spend 5mins in traffic and i'm home.
if you can flex your working hours, its easy [mine are 7:30-4:30 which beats port and marina rush hours]. you really want to be avoiding living at one end of town and working at the other. szr between tecom and dfc can be a right pain in the arse.
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