We also did a bit of house hunting ~ no, we are not leaving Dubai right now {sorry, nothing that exciting!} We just need to vacate our apartment in June and find a new pad since the landlord gave us notice last year. Rents have risen considerably which has made the hunt even more complicated.
You may remember 2 years ago we were trying to decide on an apartment vs. a villa when we first moved to Dubai {read about it here}...
Well, we've been at it again! Both options definitely have their pros and cons for the same price...
Apartment
Pros: convenient location, a view, walkable for me to amenities, metro, groceries, includes pool and gym, close to my guy's office, lots of restaurants/cafes nearby, trendy city living, close to friends
Cons: small space with no storage, decent buildings are expensive, noise from neighbours above, pungent smells from neighbours, underground parking/elevator, too much traffic to bike on roads, traffic noise, tiny balcony
Villa
Pros: larger space with storage, parking at your door, a backyard with grass, no noise from anyone living upstairs, no smells from neighbours, easy to bike around the neighbourhood with bike paths, quiet neighbourhood, community pool
Cons: suburb location, not walkable to amenities or metro or groceries, no gym, further to my guy's office, few restaurants/cafes nearby, far from friends, I probably need to get a car
As you can see, it's not really an easy choice for a couple our age {40+} with no kids. There are many things we have really enjoyed about our apartment, but we have also had a lot of problems ~ endless maintenance issues, constant high heels clicking upstairs at all hours of the night and most recently, pungent cooking smells coming right into our apartment from next door despite our air purifier running 24/7. But this apartment could have just been a dud.
While we were leaning one way with our decision, this week we've completely gone the other way. Can you guess what we've decided?
lisa
5 comments:
That's tough! There are advantages to both. Can't wait to see what you decide. I know you'll make it look fabulous, no matter which!!
I am guessing an apartment with a view. (Unless you somehow found a cottage on a lake.) Take care!
~Lynne
withLove.
I know Dubai is not Germany.....and I only have my experience I thought I wanted a house and yard and neighborhood feel.....it was a long commute for my guy he hated it and I was stranded car less in the country and wished I had choose the city with everything walkable...If I did it over again I'd go for the city and act over quiet and storage. Good Luck!
I much prefer a quiet space over city life but I know how difficult the decision is. Kuwait has gotten so expensive. Even though prices on apartments have gone up, the spaces they are offering have gotten smaller. I like the location of Maureen's apartment -- access to that nice strip of cafes and next to the beach. Of course, she has a car and zooms all over the place. :) I'm curious as to what you chose. Have a great rest of the week. Tammy
Hi Lisa,
As Tammy puts it, yes I love to zoom around town, but I guess you don't so I am thinking another apartment?
Are we going to be neighbours?! Let's have that coffee soon, ok? Mxx
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