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Showing posts from September, 2012

Strategic Timing: Building a Property Portfolio

When it comes to building a property portfolio, one crucial factor stands out above all else: timing your entry into the market. Unfortunately, we cannot turn back time to purchase properties or investments that we know would have appreciated in value over the course of 10 or 20 years. Reflecting on some properties we sold in International City back in early 2006, it's surprising to see that their prices today are still lower than they were in that year. It's almost as if going back in time to acquire a property. However, this situation presents an excellent opportunity to construct a property portfolio with a small initial investment. Consider the following example of purchasing a studio apartment in International City, Dubai, using bank finance: Property Purchase Price: AED 250,000 Down Payment required by the Bank: AED 50,000 Bank and valuation charges: Approximately AED 5,000 Bank Loan: AED 200,000 In this scenario, a cash investment of AED 55,000 is require

Enhancing Property Value: Importance of Maintenance and Upgrades

In Dubai, we handle numerous property rentals every month, and one common mistake we often observe is that investors tend to neglect the upkeep of their properties. Despite receiving rental income, many landlords are hesitant to invest in maintaining their properties, particularly in International City where apartments are often in poor condition. Fortunately, property maintenance in Dubai is relatively affordable. To illustrate, let's consider the example of several properties we manage in International City for our clients. These apartments are now 5-6 years old, and the construction materials used at that time were of mediocre quality. However, by simply replacing the floor and bathroom tiles, you can significantly enhance the value of your property. We have experienced firsthand that investing in these improvements never results in a loss. In fact, it greatly improves the rental and selling potential of these properties. From a financial standpoint, it makes per

Understanding Property Investment: Key Considerations

When it comes to purchasing properties, people have different motivations. Broadly speaking, these motivations can be categorized into two main types: "buying for investment" and "buying to live." In this discussion, I want to shed light on some significant issues faced by those who buy property for investment purposes. Over time, I have observed many individuals making hasty decisions when it comes to investing in property. The majority rely on luck and hope that their investment choices turn out to be correct. However, it is crucial to ask yourself an important question: Why am I buying this property? If the answer is simply because everyone else is doing it and property prices are rising, it's time to reconsider. Human nature often leads us to follow the crowd, with numbers increasing as more people join in. In financial theories, this phenomenon is known as herding. Unfortunately, the Dubai property market also fell victim to this trend. Many individuals w