Cancel New Years Eve!!



Yes! You read it right first time. On the 31st December the Boss has posted on his website that New years Eve is cancelled. Is money that tight that a few fireworks leftover from the Atlantis opening will be too expensive!

No, it is in respect of the troubles in Palestine where the battle between Israel and Palestine rumbles on violently. Not going any further into this political hot potato!



Still, the hotels have been unusually quiet over the November and December period with the Burj running some nights at 15% occupancy. Yesterday was the first full night as all the revellers flocked in for New Year fun! "Welcome back Mr Yuri we have saved your favourite room and cancelled the Best party of the Year. Have a wonderful stay with us!Hope to see you next year???"



For any of you with a warped sense of humour like me I recommend a trip to the Grosevenor House Lobby where all hell is breaking loose and the poor staff are probably wishing they were in Gaza where there will be at least a chance of a cease fire at midnight!



Property



Considering it is Xmas we have been blessed this year some very good activity. Sales are up on last year and the prospects are looking good for 2009.

The prices are terrible i admit but we will see these build over 2009 as the market normalises. If people want to sell at last January prices there are cash buyers out there.

We have seen shorelines sell this week and had 3 separate offers on Signature villas with a Garden home crossing the line too.

The market is quite busy and I am confident that the next level of buyers will start to enter the market and at this point the market will stabilise.
In the New Year we are going to add a stats page to the website which will show current market prices for all property areas we deal with. Most people will not believe the figures we publish but i can assure you they will be based on actual transactions so worth a look.

Finally..

2008 has been a very strange year for us all in property. With the market going crazy between January and May the big mistake was to ignore what was happening elsewhere in the world and think that we were in some safe little bubble we liked to call Dubai. Reality well and truly set in after Ramadan when it became clear that the bubble had burst and after only 8-12 weeks prices are now 35% lower and even lower if you need to sell very quickly.
Markets always fluctuate and now the initial shock is over there are people re entering at more affordable levels.
I would like to see 2009 show us a period of calm where the whole market can take stock and act more responsibly for the future.As market forces always prevail in the end you can count on the next 12 months being steady with some good opportunities to purchase some excellent real estate at discounted prices.Have a drink and come back next year for the bargains.

Happy New Year to you all!! ( those of us in Dubai tonight may have a small problem.. someone spat their dummy out this morning and the party is cancelled!)

Fore!!




Friday is Golf Day for many expats in Dubai and a day when the hard working non taxpayers let rip, and smash their little white balls down the centre of a well manicured fairway.

My course of choice is theErnie Els course at Victory Heights which i cannot say enough good about. The course is amazing, the houses will be great and the club is managed to a very high standard. It is so good i just can't believe they can make it pay. As you arrive the car park security guard salutes with so much gusto you can't help but look at your shoes and make sure their clean. Then you pull up and two attendants take your clubs out of the back of the car and wish you a 'good round Mr Mark' . I haven't even left the car yet. Then I meander up the path to the club house and the door swings open with a welcoming smile and another good morning Mr Mark through to the reception and I sign in for my round.

Two more people meet me in the changing rooms to give a locker key, towel, and as it a competition day some free gifts (more little white balls etc).

So a quick practice to loosen up and yet again every time I put my clubs down a new friend to clean my clubs and then carry them to the buggy. Little wonder I have gained the legendary Dubai Stone. All I need is roller skates and I could reduce my energy burning to zero.

After 18 holes and 7 attempts to give me drinks and food I sink my final put and yet agin another friend is at hand to replace the flag and direct us to the complimentary bbq.

This place is amazing and althouhgh it sounds a bit over the top I cannot thank the Els Club team enough for making my Friday's in 2008 very special.

Now for you investors out there who like your golf you will not make a mistake if you choose to buy at the Victory Heights which envelopes the Els course. There are some fabulous deals around which will prove to be a great little earner and you can play golf with me on a Friday. Or watch me kiss a bottle of budweiser on a friday afternoon.