THE SKYLINE FIELD GUIDES
From first shortlist to the keys in your hand.
Write down whether this is a home, an income asset or a combination. Set a purchase budget and a separate cash reserve. Choose three non-negotiables: perhaps the school journey, an outdoor space or a minimum holding period. Compare two homes that fit and one alternative that challenges your assumptions.
Request the exact floor plan, internal and balcony areas, orientation, parking allocation and service-charge information. For a completed home, inspect noise, lifts, cooling, common areas and maintenance. For off-plan, distinguish contractual specifications from marketing renders. Visit the surrounding streets at the times you will use them.
Build a cash-flow calendar with the deposit, registration, agency terms, finance costs and each instalment. Dubai’s sale registration schedule totals 4%, with the published split and your agreed allocation to be checked. Trustee and other fees also apply. Obtain a transaction-specific statement before signing.
A ready-home mortgage depends on your circumstances, the bank’s valuation and property approval. Off-plan developer instalments are not a mortgage. Construction-stage finance is available only where the lender approves the project and borrower; do not assume a future handover mortgage is guaranteed. Emaar publicly describes off-plan and near-handover arrangements with Emirates NBD and ADCB.
Before paying, verify the recipient, broker and project through official channels. Read the reservation and sale agreement, cancellation provisions and delivery conditions. For resale, agree the finance and transfer milestones, obtain the required developer clearance, and coordinate registration. Inspect or snag before accepting handover where applicable.
Confirm the requirements for your transaction with the relevant authority, lender and professional advisor.