This villa is the show home for Emaar’s newest development in Arabian Ranches, La Avenida 2, that comprises of 34 detached villas. The villas usually sell for between Dh9.5 million and Dh12m but because of the fixtures, fittings and finishes the price will be significantly higher, and Emaar declined to announce its price.
Its show home status means, rather than having to landscape, decorate, outfit and personalise your new villa, you can just move in – although it’s very likely that most of your neighbours will know what your bathrooms, bedrooms and book cases look like.
The villa, as with all Arabian Ranches developments, is in a gated neighbourhood with faux Spanish and Portuguese styling.
It has a built up area 7,169 sq ft in a plot size of 11,000 sq ft.
The fixtures and fittings throughout the villa have been tastefully chosen in keeping with the five-star experiences many Gulf residents are used to. There are many stunning rooms , including the room which has been designated for the kids, which has been eye-catchingly, stylish, design and finish.
The first floor living area offers a sizeable master suite, two further large en-suite bedrooms, two more well proportioned bedrooms sharing a common bathroom, a good size family room and a small pantry.
La Avenida 2 is situated next door to Arabian Ranches Golf Club and two restaurants. It is within walking distance of the community mall, coffee shops and school. It would be hard to argue that there are better placed villas on the whole of the Ranches development.
This particular villa is the top spec with six bedrooms - five of which are ensuite - and Emaar has spared little expense in outfitting its bathrooms and kitchen – wooden floors, subtle tiling and marble table tops are in abundance. It also has a a state of the art barbecue area.
Emaar has also installed a beautiful swimming pool with a funky water feature that hides and protects the pool from any wayward drives into the green behind.
Apart from the private pool and backing on to the 247-acre, Ian Baker-Finch designed, golf course. It also has access to the community pool, park and kids pool and play area.
Q&A with Paul Clark, luxury sales specialist
How are prices and sales in Arabian Ranches right now?
Well I would say prices are probably down 20 per cent from 2013 but it’s a cyclical business and right now I think we are at the bottom of the cycle and it will come back. We had a record December and we were very strong in January and February.
Arabian Ranches has a lot of competition on its doorstep especially from Jumeirah Golf Estates which has not one but two Championship golf courses with newer, bigger villas that you can get great deals on right now.
It’s definitely a buyers market right now with many sitting on the fence and not too many Russian buyers out there.
So have these new villas been selling?
La Avenida 2 is probably 80 per cent sold so Emaar has done a good job.
So the Ranches is still a good place to buy?
With Emaar’s Dubai Hills development being sold off plan right now and a number of other upscale developments also coming on the market Arabian Ranches has a fight on its hands. However it will always be a great place to buy for expats because of its established community with schools, community centres, clinics and the improved access to Dubai’s major highways. The mortgage regulations of properties over Dh5 million, which catches many Arabina Ranches villas, has made it increasingly difficult to attract buyers.
ascott@thenational.ae
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