Millhouse

I've been looking to move out of my flat and into a villa. The dog and a pregnant wife are starting to force the situation of needing more space - all good.

What isn't good is the villas. I've lived all over dubai and am generally open minded to anywhere (within reasonable distance of DIFC) - so far as part of my search, I've looked at:

- Ranches : villas starting to age, community very congested compared to when I lived there before - a bit pricey still considering the age. Everyone seems to hate each other while copying each other of course.
- Mudon : Fab looking, all leaked in the rain, "only another 6mins from the Ranches" (which means it's now 33minutes to anywhere and everywhere in Dubai.
- JVC : What the **** has happened there is beyond me
- Springs/Lakes etc : all old and shit. And it's the Springs.
- JVT : Passable villas, nice view of the powerlines
- Bada : Old villas but decent location, near city walk etc. AC bills insane due to old systems. Villas vacated so long ago even the roaches have died.
- Jumeriah 1 : Everything is ****ed. AC bills insane due to old systems
- Jumeriah 2: Almost everything is ****ed. AC bills insane due to old systems
- Jumeriah 3: Some of it is ****ed, the rest is expensive. AC bills insane due to old systems
- Soufouh: Miles away and the daily hell of SzR
- Mirdif: traffic in the evenings isn't improving despite the new turning being delivered
- Meydan: An oasis in a desert wasteland, no services at all.
- Suicide Oasis: Ageing, weird and trapped in the suicide belt of worker accommodation
- Falcon city of shit: Too big with crap access
- Villa: Too big with crap access

Saw a cracking brand new villa in satwa but it really was literally on satwa high street. I wanted it as it gave me multiple naan-bread, sharwarma and hand-job options for when the wife shuts down after birth. She didn't like the traffic.

Are there any decent villa communities in Dubai?

DXBtoDOH

Umm Suqeim?

Everyone has to compromise on something. I'd take the location and proximity to the beaches over anything in Dubailand.

IKnowNothing

I agree, on the inland side of Al Wasl, near to Spinneys and Park and Rob, also in the future she can walk junior to JPS.

There are some "new" - under 5 years old - villas there too, also a load or recently revamped ones with new aircon, plumbing etc.

Somewhere around here https://tinyurl.com/ycgkmcds

Millhouse

Thanks - will look into that area.

Millhouse

Certainly agree with that. I'm not going to dubailand for sure.

Arnold S

Al Bada'a, Jumeriah 1, 2 - loads of houses on their very last legs, expect a lot of construction work for years to come. Those that aren't (next to the canal) come at a premium. There's little in the way of community spirit either. Thought about Jumeriah Park? Modern houses with decent gardens, quiet streets due to no through roads and near to JLT, the Marina etc.

Millhouse

It was going so well until you said, near to JLT and the Marina

I'm even considering one of the larger flats on the ground floor in the greens!

Millhouse

Here's an interesting fact... and I've lost the link to the report.

More housing units are on-set for delivery over the next 2 years up to 2020 than were delivered in the period 2008-2017

Wow.

DXBtoDOH

The midrise blocks next to the lake (Tanaro? Arno?) have large flats with massive terraces. Don't need to be on the ground floor if you have a huge terrace. Your wife may enjoy having the Greens shopping centre to walk to with the baby. Pet friendly.

I do know someone who moved into a cheap villa in Umm Suqeim on a quiet lane with a empty plot next door. Landlord assured there were no development plans. Two months later, bulldozers moved in. A few weeks later the construction manager knocked on the door and said that he noticed the foundations of the villa seemed to be shaky and was worried that the construction could destablise it further.

I still wouldn't rule out Umm Suqeim. Shop around. Look carefully. Loads of nice villas and it's a renter's market. Just bargain hard.

Millhouse

Gavtek

Green Community? Haven't been there in a while but always looked a nice place to live.

Brains1983

We had a look up at Damac Hills (pretty much Mudon). Really liked it, albeit it's empty right now and there will be construction ongoing for quite a while yet by the looks of it.

Millhouse

I've looked at Damac NoFills. I found the villas a bit dark and gloomy (brown tinted windows doesn't help) - the one I looked at was back-to-back and I could literally have shared bathroom towels with my neighbours. I generally preferred Poodon over Damac NoFills. Some lovely open spaces in that area I must say.

csdf

Out of curiosity, what do you define as an insane AC bill?

Millhouse

4000+ a month in summer.

I know of several in Jumeriah who get hit with 5-10k summer bills. I don't fancy that. In my mirdif mansion we hit 3800 which I though was toppy.