Villas
 

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?

Re: Villas
 

Umm Suqeim?

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

Re: Villas
 

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

Re: Villas
 

Thanks - will look into that area.

Re: Villas
 

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

Re: Villas
 

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.

Re: Villas
 

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!

Re: Villas
 

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.

Re: Villas
 

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.

Re: Villas
 

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

Re: Villas
 

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.

Re: Villas
 

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.

Re: Villas
 

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

Re: Villas
 

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.

Re: Villas
 

Congrats on the pregnancy, unless you've already said and I've already said congrats and forgotten - in which case - hope it is all going well.

Anyway.

I spend ages looking at villas, particularly smaller ones because I'm getting sick of the ***********s upstairs and general apartment living. That being said, my current job is under 100 paces away. Hard to justify moving to a more expensive apartment and buying an extra car etc.

Mira? Long way out but lovely community from what I saw and decent places for sensible cash. Long way out though.
Sports City? Bit far from DIFC but my boss has been in Victory Heights for years and it's a really nice place.
Anything in Barsha?
Is there anything round Festival City way?
Za'abeel? Not sure if there's anything there but would be bang on location?

Re: Villas
 

Furjan ?

Re: Villas
 

There's some decent value in the Ranches now to be honest and on the plus side if you moved back you could borrow my Pilates trainer and we could swap organic kale based smoothie recipe's ?

Re: Villas
 

I hear the golf club is falling apart and someone from the inside sent an unhappy email to members. Rumour or any truth?

Re: Villas
 

When you look at Propertyfinder and the like, do you also look at the agent's pic and think "Nope, don't trust them", I do.

Re: Villas
 

I heard a few rumours about what has gone on and some it is pretty serious stuff . The Golf Club has gone downhill since the refurb a few years ago , it just never got the customers back after the closure . I don't use it that often . Maison Mathis next door is a better bar by far and better quality.

Emaar have really messed up with that club , not sure what the membership percentages are but the F&B can be deserted during the week and service is piss poor at best . Still , you can get a pint of Nelson Mandela for 30 rips during the week so I suffer it now and again .

Re: Villas
 

Apparently membership is very low but only rumour, not certain if true.

It's an atrocious place more often filled with Mrs Jones and her hateful and poorly behaved scumbag kids. That's not the club's fault mind, but the terrible service and average food is totally their fault. It's also far too expensive for what it is as a course.

Still, I don't mind playing there occasionally and you're spot on about MM next door.

Re: Villas
 

Organic kale is so 2018. We're on non-dairy kefir after our qigong lessons where I'm looking mate - coming to the ranches soon.

Actually - I think I'm closing in on the wasteland that is Meydan. It's obviously a complete wilderness with not even a shop or petrol station in sight but 9 mins to the DIFC and Dubai Mall on an empty road is just too tempting. Mrs Millhouse 2 also believes that she will feel less isolated there than dumped in the ranches with all the white women in their Prados moaning about the granularity of their cold pressed avocado oil face masks.

I'll have to get a bike again so I can ride around the track given that there is nothing else to do. Actually quite excited about moving - Oddly, my journey time from the DIFC to home at night might actually be reduced due to the empty roads.

Re: Villas
 

Millhouse,

With a wife expecting a baby soon, why not stay in an apartment somewhere where she can push the baby in a pram to the local shops? I'd think a new mum with a baby would get really bored in a new build community with no amenities. Places like the Greens and Marina are loaded with young families with babies for this reason.

I'm aware there's a dog but he/she/it/gender-fluid can cope for another year or so?

Re: Villas
 

Music to my ears - would you like me to pass her number to you so that you can tell her?

Greens is actually really decent and we did look - Marina I'd probably do a family homicide-suicide.

Being stuck in a apartment with a baby, maid and no direct access to the outside (been there, done that 12 years ago) is a fair recreation of hell on earth. Ollie (a boy but he doesn't remember his testicles so maybe fluid) would only make matters worse with wanting to go downstairs for a poop at 7.30am every day.

Re: Villas
 

Ranches 2 is good value , 20% less for new builds , can get a decent 4 bedroom for 140 K .

Re: Villas
 

you just want some of my non-dairy kefir

Re: Villas
 

I have been in the Greens for 6 years and wouldnt live anywhere else.... The Greens buildings are getting old now but the Views are still nice and it is a nice community which is kept clean and is quiet at night.. I would live further down street 7 though and not near the shops/road facing as the noise/dust is bad there
The new Dutco building facing the golf course is brand new and all the residents know each other so they dont have any usual neighbour issues

Re: Villas
 

How long is the commute to the DIFC(o)?

Re: Villas
 

Have a word with DREC (drec.ae) they manage properties around Al Safa / Um Suqeim that used to be primarily for Emirates pilots. The villas are relatively recent and maintenance is good. ARENCO are worth a try also - they have been doing a fair amount of renovation so they should have some better places available in addition to the usual clapped out stock.

Re: Villas
 

Re: Villas
 

it takes me 17 mins door to door
I leave at 7.30am and get to my building carpark at 7.47am

DIFC home takes 5-10 mins longer as i have to get out of the DIFC but once on SZR it is straight through