Why I Bought a Villa in Masdar City

While many buyers are discussing Saadiyat and Yas, I bought a villa in Masdar City. I like those islands too. But before I buy, I always ask myself one question: how much of a district's future development is already priced into what it costs today?

For me, Masdar was a reason to look further than the usual shortlist of popular addresses. I studied the district, compared the options, and worked out what I was getting for my budget.

Why Masdar interests me

At the core of the district is a working business environment. Masdar City is developing a free economic zone and a technology cluster, and it puts the emphasis on sustainable urban development. That is part of its existing concept, as described on the official Masdar City website.

For property, an environment like that is interesting because of the demand that may come from people who work and study nearby. But the presence of companies on its own does not tell you how many tenants will choose a specific home, or what rent they will be able to pay.

So I look at the link between the district and the individual property: who the layout suits, how convenient the commute is, and what alternatives a future resident has.

What I chose for myself

I bought a large four-bedroom villa with a pool for AED 5.5 million in Fay Valley, part of Fay Hills by Taraf. The terms of my purchase were 40% during construction and 60% on handover.

For my budget, this option turned out to be more interesting than the properties on Hudayriyat I was looking at then.

What is worth comparing before you buy

When I choose a villa, I pay attention to the usable area, the position of the plot, and how well the house works for a family. For an apartment bought to rent out, other questions get added: who will rent it, how many similar apartments will appear nearby, and what costs stay with the owner.

A district's future development is only part of the decision. The property has to work on price and payment schedule at the moment you buy it. Possible capital growth I treat as a scenario that still has to materialise.

If you are considering Masdar City, get in touch with Astana Real Estate. We will compare projects and work out which option fits your objective.