A buyer’s field guide

The 11 numbers I checkbefore anyone buys.

These are the checks Myles runs on every off-plan unit before a client signs anything. Ask for all of them in writing.

By Myles Nichols · Private Client Coordinator, Equity DXB · BRN 90685

Part 1 of 3

Before you commit

Start with the purpose of the purchase, then establish what it really asks of your cash.

01
What is this purchase actually for?
Judge every decision against your longer-term goals. A unit that suits one plan can be wrong for another, so name the goal first and run the numbers against it.
02
The service charge, in writing, per square foot
Treat this as a core ownership cost, not a footnote. Ask for the rate in writing and calculate its effect on your annual net return.
03
The true day-one cost
Add the purchase price, the 4% Dubai Land Department fee and every other applicable charge. An AED 1.5 million apartment is not an AED 1.5 million spend.
04
The payment plan, stress-tested
Map every instalment and ask whether you could still meet it if nothing sells early or your circumstances change two years from now.

Part 2 of 3

The project matters, but so do the protections around your money and the developer's record of delivery.

05
The escrow account
Confirm that the project escrow account is registered with the Dubai Land Department. If it is not, walk away.
06
The developer's delivery history
Review completed projects and compare promised handover dates with actual delivery. Delays happen; the length and pattern of them are what matter.

Part 3 of 3

Look beyond reservation day to handover, ownership, rental demand and the eventual next buyer.

07
The snagging budget
Set aside 1% of the purchase price as a prudent buffer before you receive the keys.
08
The exit
Identify the likely next buyer, compare the price per square foot with the area's own history, and test a realistic resale target against the launch price.
09
The rent reality
Use comparable rental transactions, not a brochure's guaranteed figure. Define the tenant pool and why somebody would choose this unit over the alternatives nearby.
10
The supply picture
Find out what is under construction around the project. Future oversupply can put pressure on both rental performance and resale value.
11
The mortgage-at-handover maths
Model what 50% loan-to-value finance at handover would do to your cash position and your overall return.

Before you reserve

Share the project, unit and payment plan. We can start with the questions that matter before you commit.

Education and market data only. This checklist does not advertise any property and is not financial advice.