The decision to invest in Dubai’s property market was a logical next step for the Moosa family — Rachel, Joe and six-year-old twins Catherine and Michael — and the long-term residents chose to settle in The Villa development in Dubailand.
“We were looking to invest in a property in Dubai as we found it difficult to move every year due to rental rates increasing and wanted to invest the money in our own home, rather than paying off the mortgage of another homeowner,” says Rachel.
“We were originally looking at some of the older developments such as Arabian Ranches, The Lakes and The Meadows, but a real estate agent suggested we consider The Villa, where the cost per square foot was much better compared to other developments,” she adds.
Other criteria included road accessibility for schools and work, quality of the development and resale value.
The family liked the feel of the community with its large Spanish-style detached houses and sizeable plots, but also considered the future return on investment, noting that this part of Dubai could be “a hub for major development in the coming years”.
A total of 1,811 four-, five- and six-bedroom homes make up Dubai Properties’ The Villa community and the Moosas’ five-bedroom home is at the heart of the Centro district.
Says Rachel: “This is actually our second purchase. Our first home was bought in the secondary market but the owner had never lived in it, so we were able to upgrade the property and invest in landscaping. We lived there for two years but I had my eye on a larger property opposite us, which has also never been lived in and we fell in love with it. I haven’t seen a home in Dubai with the same floor-plan configuration, which has great space both inside and out. And the size of the plot encompasses a pool plus enough play area for the children.”
The Moosas shortlisted banks before choosing one that met their mortgage needs, as Rachel explains: “We saved hard to have a down payment for the first purchase, and researched all the other fees well. We spent around five weeks looking for the right home the first time, and once we signed the MOU, the process moved quickly and we moved in about six weeks later.”
Her advice to prospective real estate investors is to get the “full cost picture” before committing on a property and ensuring that it works within one’s budget.
A Valencia villa, the Moosas’ property has an open tiled central courtyard as its focal point, with the living and dining spaces leading to it, but seamlessly connected internally as well. The house has been transformed in the three years the family has lived there, adding a lap pool and a stunning kitchen renovation that opened up the area to create a huge but welcoming, light and airy space.
“The pool was by far our biggest investment and we also had an outdoor kitchen installed, as well as a majlis for entertaining, with its fire pit,” elaborates Rachel, who as senior vice-president of human resources at Accor Hotels Middle East and Africa, has a hotelier’s eye for detail.
“Inside, we completely renovated the kitchen, installing a large central island with built-in refrigerator and storage. The kitchen opens to the dining room and interior courtyard, making it fabulous for year-round entertaining,” she continues.
The community is still developing its facilities and Rachel is looking forward to the opening of a second Spinneys supermarket closer to home, with further retail and restaurant options also under development.
“There is also a Gems school, tennis academy and the St Regis Hotel and Polo Club, located just behind The Villa and there are numerous other facilities planned for the area. We are also only 20 minutes away from the Dubai Mall,” she remarks. “We have direct access to E311 [Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road] and E611 [Emirates Road], which is great, but the best thing about the community is that it is quiet and safe.”
