With the Middle East experiencing a property boom like never before, we asked two real estate comms experts how they cut-through to the consumer: Mark Humphreys communications manager, Better Homes; and Jamshed Nawaz marketing and advertising manager, Landmark Properties.
ArabianBusiness.com staff writer , Sunday, 12 November 2006, ArabianBusiness/Features
Writing a cheque that bounces can have serious repercussions in the UAE. Diana Milne reports on what happens to those who get caught.
Diana Milne, Tuesday, 01 May 2007, ArabianBusiness/Features
Property owners in Dubai are currently preparing for life under the new Strata law, due for implementation in the future.
ArabianBusiness.com staff writer , Saturday, 18 August 2007, ArabianBusiness/News
A price correction is likely within the Dubai real estate, according to Billy Rautenbach, director of operations at Better Homes.
ArabianBusiness.com staff writer , Monday, 03 September 2007, ArabianBusiness/News
With high oil prices and $150bn earmarked for development in the nation, the future is bright for the KSA.
Amy Glass, Tuesday, 04 September 2007, ArabianBusiness/Features
It all started for Billy Rautenbach home in South Africa, where she got into real estate industry by accident.
ArabianBusiness.com staff writer , Wednesday, 14 November 2007, ArabianBusiness/Interviews
The story in Dubai is rent - a place where the cost of putting a roof over your head has tripled in five years, and quadrupled in ten.
Greg Aris, Thursday, 22 November 2007, ArabianBusiness/Features
Better Homes has reported a 500% growth in commercial sales over the first three quarters of 2007, according to the firm.
ArabianBusiness.com staff writer , Saturday, 01 December 2007, ArabianBusiness/News
The talking point of 2007 was how expensive life in Dubai had become. Will 2008 be the same? Our team of financial experts have the answers.
ArabianBusiness.com staff writer , Wednesday, 02 January 2008, ArabianBusiness/Features
Dubai real-estate company Better Homes is entering the hotel market with a 58-apartment property near Dubai Healthcare City.
ArabianBusiness.com staff writer , Saturday, 16 February 2008, ArabianBusiness/News
Better Homes has gone from a one-woman business venture to one of the top names in real estate in the UAE.
Holly Sands, Monday, 14 April 2008, ArabianBusiness/Interviews
ESET anti-virus protects Better Homes against online threats
Female executives are now playing a bigger role in the future development of the nation's landscape. Kim Latham and Holly Sands talk to leading female business players to find out their views on being a woman in an industry pre-dominantly headed by men.
Kim Latham and Holly Sands, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, ArabianBusiness/Features
Our million dollar women feature this month is a must-read for all business women and men contemplating the next step in the corporate world of property development and real estate.
Kim Latham, Tuesday, 02 September 2008, ArabianBusiness/Comment
Dubai and Abu Dhabi both witness slight drop in activity during Q3, Better Homes says.
Dylan Bowman, Wednesday, 08 October 2008, ArabianBusiness/News
EXCLUSIVE: Arabian Business research reveals 11% increase in just four months.
Better Homes says last three months a 'reality check', denies reports of big redundancies.
Dubai developers are being forced to explore innovative ways to entice buyers amid the credit squeeze.
EXCLUSIVE: New era begins in emirate's real estate rental sector amid slowdown.
New report says that leasing rates could fall in next two years as supply rises by 50%.
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Comments 1-10 of 10
Posted by Arms Length? on 5 May 2009 at 14:21 UAE time
it is also worth noting that Investment Boutique largely rely on a database provided to them by Shareholder BetterHomes for their market data.
The motivation for this report from BetterHomes' side is clear but what is not evident is why Investment Boutique would want to damage any reputation it has for being an 'impartial' party by taking part in such an excercise. Any one want to predict the findings?????
Posted by Roman, Richmond Hill, Canada on 26 April 2009 at 04:09 UAE time
It is clear that Skeptic understands the basics of investing just fine; maybe even better than you. I can't imagine why anyone with a lick of sense would invest in such a, "shifting sands", environment, when there are so many other excellent opportunities out there; due to the global meltdown. I won't be putting any of my millions into ,"houses built on sand". Good Luck!!!
Posted by Off to greener pastures on 15 April 2009 at 12:08 UAE time
Just to add my bit to the lively debate;
No Job = No Visa = No Demand. Not sure where the people are going to come from to drive your prices or rent up Paul?
Posted by Skeptic on 15 April 2009 at 11:39 UAE time
Paul,
I AM an investor in Property and I do understand the property market, only it's not here in the UAE !!
Why ? - You said it right - RISK !! Higher the RISK, higher the GAIN potential BUT also higher is the LOSS potential.
I was also forced to lower my rental income due to the downturn but I gladly did it not only because I wanted to keep my tenant happy but because I knew I would probably not get a new tenant quickly - thus having months to go without rentals but still having to pay mortgage. That's how the property game is to be played - don't take your tenants for granted, treat them well, coz they are the ones actually paying for 'your' property at the end of the day !!!
Posted by Rent Happy, Dubai on 15 April 2009 at 10:38 UAE time
Paul,
I am certainly capable of investing in property in the UAE. However, I decided not to risk my money due to the unsustainable nature of the Dubai property market and the numerous external factors i.e. change in rental laws at the drop of a hat, over which you have no control.
I don't invest for charity either. If you decide to jump in with both feet in a high risk market that is your decision, don't expect any charity from anyone else. The rental and housing market in Dubai was massively over inflated, required a huge correction and has done so. With a reduction in professional population over the last 6 months (demand) and increase in number of units still being built and about to come on stream (supply), page 1 of your economics for beginners book will tell you prices will continue to fall. Good.
Posted by Paul, Dubai, UAE on 15 April 2009 at 10:26 UAE time
We are not talking about speculators here - this is pure investment although from your reply i don't think you understand the basics of investments. I would ask you to put yourself in the investor's shoes and maybe you can then understand how it works. When one buys property at a certain price for investment purposes then you expect a return on investment and the higher the risks, the higher the returns otherwise it is not worthed. However, I am sure that you will not understand these basics fundamentals - all you are worried about is speculations which is a total different issue. I agree that the government should control the speculators but they should also encourage investors who keep the ball rolling. Finally, we don't need anyone's sympathy - again, we go back to the basics of investment where when you take a risk, you have to bear with the consequences. The property curve is down right now and will definitely go up again so enjoy the present rent prices as they will not last for long my friend - take my word for it!
Posted by SR, Dubai on 15 April 2009 at 10:08 UAE time
Of course you don't do it for charity, none of us will!! But the fact is that the risk was factored in to your expected return at the time you invested. This is a basic investment principle; the risk that you can not diversify (the type you are talking of) is factored in to your expected return at the time of investment. BUT remember, it was always an expected return, not guaranteed! If you took it as guaranteed return, then you were never taking a risk!!!
Posted by Skeptic on 15 April 2009 at 09:43 UAE time
Could not help but to respond to Paul comments that imply that in some way, we should be all be collectively 'indebted' to his tribe of greedy speculators who 'took huge risks' for the 'poor non-investors' like us - however, they were not complaining one bit when prices were climbing 10% every day (in fact they used to brag about it ad nauseum at every party or social event) but now somehow feel they should be compensated or shown sympathy for falling rentals and property prices ???
Everyone, even taxi drivers, even the tea boy in my office knew that the fall was imminent - although no one knew it would come so soon and so hard !!
Posted by Paul, Dubai, UAE on 15 April 2009 at 09:10 UAE time
I am an investor in the UAE with three properites. It is easy for anyone to say that rental prices should go down and should keep going down when you are not investing and risking your money! People like me took huge risks to invest in Dubai and help the property market so that non-investors can have the choice of living in medium to high end properties. However my friends, we don't do it for charity. The Middle East is not the most stable when it comes to investments and if prices keep going down, who is going to invest! Let's think about this before we celebrate the downfall of the property market. However, I am 100% conivnced that Dubai will be the first country to come out of this recession since they are one of the few countries in the region who have vision.
Posted by Rent Happy on 14 April 2009 at 21:59 UAE time
Better Homes makes their money on a percentage basis on the value of the rental income or sale value of a property. The higher the value, the greater the income for Better Homes, simple. It is in Better Homes interest to have as high a property and letting price as possible.
By coming up with an "independent survey" it is solely a means to attempt to stop the free fall in the rental and sales markets.
In their latest magazine dated April 09, they price the annual rent for a 3 bedroom apartment on the Palm Jumeirah as 210k Dhs and is apparently a "great price". Yesterday I signed a contract (through Better Homes) for exactly the same apartment for 160k Dhs. I am now off to write an email to my current (soon to be ex) landlord who refused to budge an inch from last year's rental price or the 1 cheque payment. Hopefully the market will continue to drop and people will be able to start paying realistic prices for what are after all over priced and very poorly built lumps of painted concrete....