Victory Heights vs Arabian Ranches | ExpatWoman.com
 

Victory Heights vs Arabian Ranches

20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 08:38

Hi, we are looking at buying a villa and would really appriciate your views. Which area do you think is best and why? Arabian Ranches or Victory Heights(or any other in the area).
Which has best facilities/best built houses etc...
Really value your comments. Thanks in advance.

23
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2011 - 08:37
I have lived in both and you basically have to drive everywhere in Dubai if you live at the end of town so dont see it as a problem. I lived in AR when we arrived and never settled there, could not wait to hand in our notice (we are tenents). I hated the villa we had but liked the fact that the shops were a short drive away. We have moved to VH and really love it here, the shops are still a short drive away. Villa is so much nicer, bigger, newer and cleaner so you will get more for your money both for buying and renting. Landscaping near us is complete and much nicer, in my opinion, than ranches. Is VH for me!
258
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2011 - 06:25
I totally agree with Dubaistar, we have just bought in AR I would never have considered VH it's in the middle of a building site. The prices may be lower but HOA fees are higher and for what? I also think EMAAR have a safer track record and AR is a completed community.
222
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 23:24
Depends on your circumstances - are you buying to rent out or buying to live in? VH villas are lovely BUT no pools, no community facilities and only one school in the locality which at the moment is totally undersubscribed, so very easy to get your kids into, no waiting list.............., so that's a plus if you are wanting to buy with a view to renting. However, all VH residents have to drive, no question - there is no public transport whatsoever, so from that point of view AR is a better bet. AR is so easy to access MoE, good schools (JESS, etc.) so you need to look at the long term- personally I feel that AR has a far better community feel than VH - book clubs, mums and toddlers, decent shopping centre, etc. etc. - I always think that VH feels like a bunch of houses in the middle of nowhere so you basically live in your car - OK ladies shoot me down, but I would not want to live there.
1100
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 20:08
VH prices are way too much for what you get. Greedy agents just keep advertising the Villas for more and more without actually selling very many. I think one of the issues is a lot of the owners paid way too much in the first place and want to try and get some of their money back. This means there may be a shortage of Villas for sale as owners have decided to live in them as they cant afford to sell at todays prices. This doesn't mean that you should pay over the top for the Villas because the original owners did - remeber if you are taking a mortgage the valuers will not care. Look what you can get in Green Community for the same money or Motor city or Arabian Ranches. If you do decide to buy there do your research well, some houses are advertised with different agents at different prices, sometimes with as much as AED400,000 difference. You also need to take into account the SC which I believe is AED 5.6 per square foot. I would prefer to buy in VH than GCW though...
242
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 11:39
VH prices are way too much for what you get. Greedy agents just keep advertising the Villas for more and more without actually selling very many. I think one of the issues is a lot of the owners paid way too much in the first place and want to try and get some of their money back. This means there may be a shortage of Villas for sale as owners have decided to live in them as they cant afford to sell at todays prices. This doesn't mean that you should pay over the top for the Villas because the original owners did - remeber if you are taking a mortgage the valuers will not care. Look what you can get in Green Community for the same money or Motor city or Arabian Ranches. If you do decide to buy there do your research well, some houses are advertised with different agents at different prices, sometimes with as much as AED400,000 difference. You also need to take into account the SC which I believe is AED 5.6 per square foot.
587
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 10:38
As a tenant, whilst I prefer living in VH to AR (layout of the houses inside and out, size of gardens, landscaped open areas) I wouldn't buy in VH. There are problems with the build quality of the houses (although can't say if it is more than normal for Dubai), what few community facilities there are are poor, the community is unfinished and there seems to be no will by the developer to complete what was promised. Also the community service fees are extortionate (sp?) especially compared to AR. I agree 100% with Lally. Please do your research into the service charges being touted for VH. They are apparently double AR without the facilities to warrant them (no pools open, no tennis courts, no shops, incomplete golf club). Owners are disputing the service charges and many have not paid, which may see the upkeep of the community suffer (IMO). You might pick up a bargain as owners might be looking to sell but if you are planning to rent it out I think that AR is a better option. I'm currently a tenant at VH and have lived in AR in the past. edited by TwoKids on 22/09/2011 <em>edited by TwoKids on 22/09/2011</em>
159
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 10:25
Having lived in both areas i love the VH villas compared to AR. The layout is much better. HOWEVER, the pools arent open and are tiny, we only have a little portacabin shop (although it stocks basics in case you run out of anything) and the roads arent finished in some areas. With the Al Khail roundabout closed at the moment its a nightmare getting into VH! If i could take my villa and put it in AR that would be perfect!! If you are getting a villa with a pool then i think its very liveable (sp). I just miss the pool and being able to walk to a pool on a daily basis. I also love the fact that it is green. I didnt like the landscaping of AR as its too sandy especially on windy days!
152
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 10:00
As a tenant, whilst I prefer living in VH to AR (layout of the houses inside and out, size of gardens, landscaped open areas) I wouldn't buy in VH. There are problems with the build quality of the houses (although can't say if it is more than normal for Dubai), what few community facilities there are are poor, the community is unfinished and there seems to be no will by the developer to complete what was promised. Also the community service fees are extortionate (sp?) especially compared to AR.
1100
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 22 September 2011 - 09:37
I think you'd probably be able to get a cheaper villa in VH, because VH's community facilities aren't as good as AR, also the roads around VH aren't finished. Are you buying to live in yourself or to rent out? I did hear on the radio that VH has some policy about paying 10k to the developer to get the garden done, I would personally look into the developer rules of both communities and see which ones are better, like in some communities you're not even able to change your kitchen cupboards without getting permission from the developer, but i'm pretty sure thats not the case with AR as its emaar, I think you only have to get permission if you're changing the outside (don't know about VH you'd have to check with the developer). Also is VH leasehold or freehold?
 
 

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