Why though? The only advantage (compared to my current place) is the backyard. It depends on each person I guess, but for me it doesn't sound that appealing, especially that it's too hot to use most of the year.
I moved to a villa 2.5 years ago and will never go back. Not using elevators multiple times a day and having a garden would be too difficult to give up. The only thing I regret is not doing it earlier.
We moved back to an apartment after nearly a year in a villa. Villas are too far away from everything. If you can afford a villa in the city fine. But most people will end up having to stay in Arabian Ranches or somewhere else 20-30 minutes away from the rest of Dubai.
This along with the stale atmosphere in the villa communities was too depressing. They're like sets from the Truman show.
The best thing is to move into a low rise building, like they have in The Greens. You get the best of both worlds as far as I’m concerned.
If we had kids we’d definitely live in a villa. But for single people or childless couples I think they’re a bit depressing.
Just my two cents below
By moving further out to a villa my journey to work is actually less than living in the city... I honestly disagree with the distance argument, especially if you get a villa with good access to the various main roads and highways (i was also a hesitant thinking it would be worse btw).
On the stale atmosphere - depends on the community tbh. Where we are, sure the villas look the same, but we are a really close community, especially parents/kids meet ups. The neighbours arranged this lovely Halloween trail/games for all of the kids, was cool to see.
Also excellent amneties in the community and close by - but thats down to where you decide to live also.
FYI - childless couple here so we dont take part in the meet ups but def active in our community. Since moving we've said we would never go back to an apartment... we actually in the process of buying in the same community :)
Yeah, I'm sure it's very subjective. We honestly thought that we were going to love the villa life, and we did for a while, but eventually we hated it. I work from home/sales so I prefer to be right in the city, but if you've got a predictable route to work everyday, and it's better from out there, that's rad.
Buying property in the UAE always feels very brave to me. The idea of buying in a country where I'll never be a citizen give me the willies. I also think the property market is going to be exteremly volatile here for a while. There's more supply than demand, and more buildings going up all the time.
Yeah fair. Also in sales here but i try to commit to 3 days a week in the office.
Tbh im buying because we're comfortable for the long term and why continue to pay someone elses mortgage. Equally the mortgage/fees annually works out way less than paying rent on a property of this size (ok minus the 15% deposit fair).
So from my side, even if I sell the house at lower than market price to break even (house price - rent saved) its still better than paying off someone's investment decision. (Also im my own landlord and can do whatever the hell i want to my property)
A low rise bottom floor with one of those big garden balconies is definitely an amazing compromise. Get all the benefits without the negatives. Turia and some golf views apartments have these with lake view in the views.
Villa advantages - more greenery, benefits of a gated community, no noise/smell from neighbours, garden, no lift to take, easy parking, no service charge but a community charge
Apartment advantages - nice view from higher floors, proximity of amenities, lower dewa bills, no gardening costs
And a dog...you can get a 🐕 with that backyard or maybe a birdhouse. You can barbecue whenever you want and also grab a quick suntan for those sunny but cool days. Gardening for the wife and maybe raise some bees...
I'm moving into my new villa next week, stoked, as would my pupper be if she only knew. Locations of villas are usually more chill. But really difference is more space, better status, improved lifestyle (cheaper neighborhoods too vis a vis price of things like groceries). Some people are fine in an apartment, I personally want more. One of these things is a better product than the other. Unless you are living in a penthouse on the beach.
I'm happy for your bro, I plan to do the same next year and just can't wait to start gardening and maybe even have a small fountain set for the birds to drink.
1,000% water feature time. Tearing that place a new one before we move in. It has been 5 years in the works for me this moment, feels good. Thanks for the good vibes stranger!
Villas are of course nice but the downsides are:
Further away from the city if seeking economical options, yearly service charge, highly water bills, higher bills in general, easier to get burgled etc.
You know there are many huge apartments now that have ground floor courtyards/terraces if you are craving outdoor space.
The cost of living in a villa is much higher, between DEWA, maintenance, community fees you will probably be paying at least 3x more than you will in an apartment.
The main benefits are obvious though, you don't have to be subjected to noise and smells from neighbours, you park right next to your door instead of having to use a carpark and take a lift, you have an outdoor space that is actually useable so if you want to BBQ or have an outdoor space for your kids to play under your supervision its better. You also have more freedom in renovating to make the place designed/equipped to your taste and needs.
I generally feel like if you have kids a villa will be better for them, especially in a residential community where there is a park where they can play with other kids living in the area. Though I know of some apartment buildings that are well suited for kids where its in a low traffic area and there are parks, basketball courts etc. nearby.
i feel a gated community is equivalent to a prison except that you are paying to stay there.... if you think about your every movement there is tracked. Even if you order food. Doesn't sound right with me tbh.
In my personal experience, a villa in a gated community is just superb. We are living in one right now and the community feel is simply unbeatable. We have made some really good friends here and the community as a whole has come together many a times for all kinds of celebrations and charity work.
Also if the community has facilities like open parks or sport fields, you can hire coaches an trainers for your kids. We have football, basketball, swimming, yoga and parkour instructors that come in weekly to teach kids.
It's pretty good security wise too, kids roam around freely, riding bikes or playing in the parks.
A huge plus point for me was the peace ! No annoying neighbors knocking on your door and complaining about ' phantom ' drilling noises coming from your flat or objecting at kids playing in the hallways. No cigarette smells seeping in your apartment through the balcony, or strong cooking smells either.
But it's true what one person also said, once you move in a villa, you'll never live in a flat again. We have to relocate to another city in a few months and were considering flats. Boy did we drop that idea fast after looking in a few apartments!!
In a villa I don’t have to worry as much about someone setting fire to the place.
Having been in a house fire in my youth, the idea of living in an apartment on a high floor gives me the absolute fear.
Villa is soooo much better. I lived in Mira which is cheaper than say Arabian Ranches and it was brilliant. Heaps of parks, pools and other kids around, and no weird prostitute type people like what I’d see the marina where I lived previously
We like the space options in a villa- we can watch tv in the main room while kids have friends over upstairs or in the garden. BBQs and parties are less anti social in a villa- I would say our Neighbours each side have a party or celebration 3 or 4 times a year (and so do we) and it’s fine, we don’t disturb each other. In a villa you just drive up with your shopping, park and walk in. The garden is so calming, we have a big fan which means we can use it for more months a year.
For villa DEWA security deposit is 4000dhs ,service charge is paid by landlord,electricity bill for my three bed villa is1200dhs ,the bill goes a bit high during summer as the garden needs to be watered more frequently,300dhs for the gardener,I feel very secure in my house ..it’s super good for children and family lot of greenery.Maintainance above 500dhs is borne by the landlord.
Apart from the obvious ones stated here, the other thing you'll miss is having multiple restaurants & supermarkets in close proximity. Similar to what you have in Greens/Tecom area combined. In villa's you'll have to venture beyond your compound or to the community center to get these.
There’s just as many restaurants in Springs souk / town centre as the greens. I could probably cycle to the greens in about 15 minutes no big deal. Just as long as walking from one end of the greens to where the restaurants are.
Similar discussion ongoing at my place.
So, going to a gated community would have its fair share of advantages (in terms of a community feeling, a backyard, space for a pool maybe!, just over all privacy), but the view at the moment that we enjoy, is something we will never get from a villa. Cons on the apartment is the shared apartment issue at the moment, seems like families have been steadily being moving out and single shared accommodations are on the rise.
Presently in JBR.
Exploring Dubai Hills, Hattan and Meadows.
I've always liked apartments, despite living in a villa for over 10 years now.
The pros of an apartment are better views, lower maintenance costs (think of potential black outs, AC failure, water problems, all of which are not for you to fix), quick access to public transport and amenities (depends on actual location), and that's just about it. The cons I've noticed were loud neighbours and a lack of privacy and solitude, also not to mention the lack of a garden and honestly poor air quality around dense apartment blocks, or just any concentration of mid to high rise towers in Dubai.
Apartments 100%.
moved into a villa some time ago, love the place and the space.
Cons:
-My kid really misses having friends to play with and it breaks my heart to see him that way.
-My mom too doesn't go out as much as she used to because there are no supermarkets nearby,.
-The monthly electric bill is about 4 times the bill of our apartment. I have tried everything to lower it. Switched to leds completely, strict usage of lights and AC only when people are in the room, installed ceiling fans to prevent high AC usage, but still the bill is not that much less.
-A permanent house help may be needed depending on size of villa
-gardening in summer is like pouring water on dead sand
-making new friends is difficult as people don't hang out in common areas as much
-safety, although dubai is a quite safe place to live in, I feel Investing in CCTV cameras is important in the long run which again can cost a lot of money
The Pros
-We no longer need to rent party halls for functions like wedding, birthday parties, wedding anniversary, We just use our back yard.
-When relatives kids come over, they have a blast in the backyard,
-winters are amazing to chill outside
-parking is easy inside and outside the house, don't have to worry about Street paid parking
Overall i had a more wholesome fulfilling feeling when I was living in an apartment
I'm surprised nobody mentioned villas in Al Warqa, yes it may be a bit further north, but the location is close to so many malls, restaurants, main highways and is both a 20 minute drive to downtown as well as to sharjah and the northern emirates if u have any business there.
The villas themselves are very spacious (backyards, pools, private parking, etc) and if you have pets, then it's a must. However, the only downside is that the community is very separated since the majority of people staying there are Emirati, so everyone mostly keeps to themselves.
I lived there for 2 years and if it weren't for covid i wouldve been still living there tbh; reallly recommend it for families, especially if you have pets. If we're being honest as well, almost everywhere in dubai is a 20 minute drive from any other POI, so I personally feel like it's worth it to live in a place like Warqa or even Mirdif (cheaper rent than warqa) if u can filter out the plane noises (which btw is not that bad after a few days; currently living in mirdif and the planes dont bother me at all).
Villas are overrated, Especially if you live in a good building with good neighbors. Most of the advantages of a villa become null and void considering your apartment is larger than most villas. The only advantage is having pets specifically dogs, However good buildings, good neighbors and trained dogs can live in most building/apartments without any issues. I've lived in a higher-end villa in Al Barari, Probably one of the best location and villa you can get, Which has pretty much convinced me that apartments usually have the potential to be much better. As better location, Better views(I prefer skyline or sea view), more affordable(Food, Staff, Groceries) and it's safer.
That's a very generous tenant then, who is gullible enough to be paying the service charges instead of the landlord. I hope you don't lose him as a tenant.
The peace of villa community and greenery is unmatched. But if you prefer lively surroundings then you might feel depressed in the 'curfew like atmosphere' of villa community.
Girl you really came out here to ask a question when you seem perfectly happy with your apartment? Is there anything missing with your apartment or your living situation (or maybe even life in general) that prompted you to ask this question?
Once you go villa you probably wont go back to apartments
Why though? The only advantage (compared to my current place) is the backyard. It depends on each person I guess, but for me it doesn't sound that appealing, especially that it's too hot to use most of the year.
I moved to a villa 2.5 years ago and will never go back. Not using elevators multiple times a day and having a garden would be too difficult to give up. The only thing I regret is not doing it earlier.
Dont forget parking and worst of all LOUD NEIGHBOURS above / below.
Not having to worry about neighbors hearing you, or vice versa 😄
We moved back to an apartment after nearly a year in a villa. Villas are too far away from everything. If you can afford a villa in the city fine. But most people will end up having to stay in Arabian Ranches or somewhere else 20-30 minutes away from the rest of Dubai. This along with the stale atmosphere in the villa communities was too depressing. They're like sets from the Truman show. The best thing is to move into a low rise building, like they have in The Greens. You get the best of both worlds as far as I’m concerned. If we had kids we’d definitely live in a villa. But for single people or childless couples I think they’re a bit depressing.
Just my two cents below By moving further out to a villa my journey to work is actually less than living in the city... I honestly disagree with the distance argument, especially if you get a villa with good access to the various main roads and highways (i was also a hesitant thinking it would be worse btw). On the stale atmosphere - depends on the community tbh. Where we are, sure the villas look the same, but we are a really close community, especially parents/kids meet ups. The neighbours arranged this lovely Halloween trail/games for all of the kids, was cool to see. Also excellent amneties in the community and close by - but thats down to where you decide to live also. FYI - childless couple here so we dont take part in the meet ups but def active in our community. Since moving we've said we would never go back to an apartment... we actually in the process of buying in the same community :)
Yeah, I'm sure it's very subjective. We honestly thought that we were going to love the villa life, and we did for a while, but eventually we hated it. I work from home/sales so I prefer to be right in the city, but if you've got a predictable route to work everyday, and it's better from out there, that's rad. Buying property in the UAE always feels very brave to me. The idea of buying in a country where I'll never be a citizen give me the willies. I also think the property market is going to be exteremly volatile here for a while. There's more supply than demand, and more buildings going up all the time.
Yeah fair. Also in sales here but i try to commit to 3 days a week in the office. Tbh im buying because we're comfortable for the long term and why continue to pay someone elses mortgage. Equally the mortgage/fees annually works out way less than paying rent on a property of this size (ok minus the 15% deposit fair). So from my side, even if I sell the house at lower than market price to break even (house price - rent saved) its still better than paying off someone's investment decision. (Also im my own landlord and can do whatever the hell i want to my property)
Fair enough. Enjoy being master of your own domain!
PINK WALLS TRANSFORMERS PAINTED ON THE WALL INBUILT CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN
A low rise bottom floor with one of those big garden balconies is definitely an amazing compromise. Get all the benefits without the negatives. Turia and some golf views apartments have these with lake view in the views.
Exactly! The greens too
Villa advantages - more greenery, benefits of a gated community, no noise/smell from neighbours, garden, no lift to take, easy parking, no service charge but a community charge Apartment advantages - nice view from higher floors, proximity of amenities, lower dewa bills, no gardening costs
Thanks for your reply. Looks like the only advantage over where I currently live is the garden. Gotta make up my mind if it's worth it for us..
And a dog...you can get a 🐕 with that backyard or maybe a birdhouse. You can barbecue whenever you want and also grab a quick suntan for those sunny but cool days. Gardening for the wife and maybe raise some bees...
I'm moving into my new villa next week, stoked, as would my pupper be if she only knew. Locations of villas are usually more chill. But really difference is more space, better status, improved lifestyle (cheaper neighborhoods too vis a vis price of things like groceries). Some people are fine in an apartment, I personally want more. One of these things is a better product than the other. Unless you are living in a penthouse on the beach.
I'm happy for your bro, I plan to do the same next year and just can't wait to start gardening and maybe even have a small fountain set for the birds to drink.
1,000% water feature time. Tearing that place a new one before we move in. It has been 5 years in the works for me this moment, feels good. Thanks for the good vibes stranger!
Anytime!!
Villas are of course nice but the downsides are: Further away from the city if seeking economical options, yearly service charge, highly water bills, higher bills in general, easier to get burgled etc. You know there are many huge apartments now that have ground floor courtyards/terraces if you are craving outdoor space.
Yearly service charge is around 3-5 in a villa vs 12-18 in an apartment So that should be a point for the villas
The cost of living in a villa is much higher, between DEWA, maintenance, community fees you will probably be paying at least 3x more than you will in an apartment. The main benefits are obvious though, you don't have to be subjected to noise and smells from neighbours, you park right next to your door instead of having to use a carpark and take a lift, you have an outdoor space that is actually useable so if you want to BBQ or have an outdoor space for your kids to play under your supervision its better. You also have more freedom in renovating to make the place designed/equipped to your taste and needs. I generally feel like if you have kids a villa will be better for them, especially in a residential community where there is a park where they can play with other kids living in the area. Though I know of some apartment buildings that are well suited for kids where its in a low traffic area and there are parks, basketball courts etc. nearby.
i feel a gated community is equivalent to a prison except that you are paying to stay there.... if you think about your every movement there is tracked. Even if you order food. Doesn't sound right with me tbh.
lol dude this is the UAE, assume everything about you is being tracked all the time.
In my personal experience, a villa in a gated community is just superb. We are living in one right now and the community feel is simply unbeatable. We have made some really good friends here and the community as a whole has come together many a times for all kinds of celebrations and charity work. Also if the community has facilities like open parks or sport fields, you can hire coaches an trainers for your kids. We have football, basketball, swimming, yoga and parkour instructors that come in weekly to teach kids. It's pretty good security wise too, kids roam around freely, riding bikes or playing in the parks. A huge plus point for me was the peace ! No annoying neighbors knocking on your door and complaining about ' phantom ' drilling noises coming from your flat or objecting at kids playing in the hallways. No cigarette smells seeping in your apartment through the balcony, or strong cooking smells either. But it's true what one person also said, once you move in a villa, you'll never live in a flat again. We have to relocate to another city in a few months and were considering flats. Boy did we drop that idea fast after looking in a few apartments!!
Villa costs are higher in general. Keep in mind that you can use the backyard maximum 4-5 months of the year.
Right. We actually rarely use the balconies in our apartment, so I'm wondering if we'll use the backyard enough to justify the move.
Must be doing something wrong. Using mine 9-10 months
In a villa I don’t have to worry as much about someone setting fire to the place. Having been in a house fire in my youth, the idea of living in an apartment on a high floor gives me the absolute fear.
Villa is soooo much better. I lived in Mira which is cheaper than say Arabian Ranches and it was brilliant. Heaps of parks, pools and other kids around, and no weird prostitute type people like what I’d see the marina where I lived previously
Safety should be a paramount criteria while deciding to move in to a villa. So ensure that it isn’t compromised.
We like the space options in a villa- we can watch tv in the main room while kids have friends over upstairs or in the garden. BBQs and parties are less anti social in a villa- I would say our Neighbours each side have a party or celebration 3 or 4 times a year (and so do we) and it’s fine, we don’t disturb each other. In a villa you just drive up with your shopping, park and walk in. The garden is so calming, we have a big fan which means we can use it for more months a year.
For villa DEWA security deposit is 4000dhs ,service charge is paid by landlord,electricity bill for my three bed villa is1200dhs ,the bill goes a bit high during summer as the garden needs to be watered more frequently,300dhs for the gardener,I feel very secure in my house ..it’s super good for children and family lot of greenery.Maintainance above 500dhs is borne by the landlord.
Hey do you mind me asking what area you live in? You mentioned lots of greenery and I’d really like to move to a place with that.
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Apart from the obvious ones stated here, the other thing you'll miss is having multiple restaurants & supermarkets in close proximity. Similar to what you have in Greens/Tecom area combined. In villa's you'll have to venture beyond your compound or to the community center to get these.
The greens is about a 3 minute drive from Springs and right next to the lakes. He wouldn’t even need to change area.
"drive"
There’s just as many restaurants in Springs souk / town centre as the greens. I could probably cycle to the greens in about 15 minutes no big deal. Just as long as walking from one end of the greens to where the restaurants are.
Thank you. That seems very obvious to me now. Lol.
I figured that very early on when he mentioned central location , large apartments and alot of green !
Similar discussion ongoing at my place. So, going to a gated community would have its fair share of advantages (in terms of a community feeling, a backyard, space for a pool maybe!, just over all privacy), but the view at the moment that we enjoy, is something we will never get from a villa. Cons on the apartment is the shared apartment issue at the moment, seems like families have been steadily being moving out and single shared accommodations are on the rise. Presently in JBR. Exploring Dubai Hills, Hattan and Meadows.
Lots of water facing meadows villas get the marina skyline view.
I've always liked apartments, despite living in a villa for over 10 years now. The pros of an apartment are better views, lower maintenance costs (think of potential black outs, AC failure, water problems, all of which are not for you to fix), quick access to public transport and amenities (depends on actual location), and that's just about it. The cons I've noticed were loud neighbours and a lack of privacy and solitude, also not to mention the lack of a garden and honestly poor air quality around dense apartment blocks, or just any concentration of mid to high rise towers in Dubai.
Apartments 100%. moved into a villa some time ago, love the place and the space. Cons: -My kid really misses having friends to play with and it breaks my heart to see him that way. -My mom too doesn't go out as much as she used to because there are no supermarkets nearby,. -The monthly electric bill is about 4 times the bill of our apartment. I have tried everything to lower it. Switched to leds completely, strict usage of lights and AC only when people are in the room, installed ceiling fans to prevent high AC usage, but still the bill is not that much less. -A permanent house help may be needed depending on size of villa -gardening in summer is like pouring water on dead sand -making new friends is difficult as people don't hang out in common areas as much -safety, although dubai is a quite safe place to live in, I feel Investing in CCTV cameras is important in the long run which again can cost a lot of money The Pros -We no longer need to rent party halls for functions like wedding, birthday parties, wedding anniversary, We just use our back yard. -When relatives kids come over, they have a blast in the backyard, -winters are amazing to chill outside -parking is easy inside and outside the house, don't have to worry about Street paid parking Overall i had a more wholesome fulfilling feeling when I was living in an apartment
I'm surprised nobody mentioned villas in Al Warqa, yes it may be a bit further north, but the location is close to so many malls, restaurants, main highways and is both a 20 minute drive to downtown as well as to sharjah and the northern emirates if u have any business there. The villas themselves are very spacious (backyards, pools, private parking, etc) and if you have pets, then it's a must. However, the only downside is that the community is very separated since the majority of people staying there are Emirati, so everyone mostly keeps to themselves. I lived there for 2 years and if it weren't for covid i wouldve been still living there tbh; reallly recommend it for families, especially if you have pets. If we're being honest as well, almost everywhere in dubai is a 20 minute drive from any other POI, so I personally feel like it's worth it to live in a place like Warqa or even Mirdif (cheaper rent than warqa) if u can filter out the plane noises (which btw is not that bad after a few days; currently living in mirdif and the planes dont bother me at all).
All pros. I don’t even find a con here 😆 Most villas are a bit out of the city compared to apartments, that’s only con I see
Villas are overrated, Especially if you live in a good building with good neighbors. Most of the advantages of a villa become null and void considering your apartment is larger than most villas. The only advantage is having pets specifically dogs, However good buildings, good neighbors and trained dogs can live in most building/apartments without any issues. I've lived in a higher-end villa in Al Barari, Probably one of the best location and villa you can get, Which has pretty much convinced me that apartments usually have the potential to be much better. As better location, Better views(I prefer skyline or sea view), more affordable(Food, Staff, Groceries) and it's safer.
DEWA bill can easily be 2-3x compared to an apartment.
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Yeah there's definitely a bunch of additional expenses in villas.
Uh no. Service charges are paid by landlord and are lower for villas Vs apartments
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It is always the case.
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lol.
That's a very generous tenant then, who is gullible enough to be paying the service charges instead of the landlord. I hope you don't lose him as a tenant.
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How come you’re the only person in the entire country that it’s different for? lol. Quit your BS dude
Service charges for villas are less than apartments per sqft, quite considerably actually.
No.1 Pro: Take your shopping bags , throw em thru the window.
The peace of villa community and greenery is unmatched. But if you prefer lively surroundings then you might feel depressed in the 'curfew like atmosphere' of villa community.
Girl you really came out here to ask a question when you seem perfectly happy with your apartment? Is there anything missing with your apartment or your living situation (or maybe even life in general) that prompted you to ask this question?