Housing
By AmericanGal •
I have been looking at housing prices in Doha and was wondering whether the list prices per month are somewhat negotiable? I found a few villas in compounds asking for 12000 QR for furnished space - so is it possible to negotiate it down. I recall doing a similar search a year and a half ago, and it seems that a lot more vacancies are being advertised.
How much can I expect to spend for a 3 br, service apt near ASD? or a villa in a western compound?
Thanks Much!
We've just moved in to a 5bedroom Villa for 10,000 in Aziziya! Had to buy our furniture but still saving a lot of money! yeah... Real Estate agents - waste of time and money!
Don't let them screw you with payign a commission. Tell them you're not payign a commission....they're being paid by the landlord/owner. I recently fought my realtor about paying commission and he backed right down. Stand your ground and tell them to piss off. As Mandilulur suggests, don't EVER trust ANY locals. Make sure that EVERYTHING is in writing, no matter how much they promise you it will be taken care of, because it won't....trust me! i've only been here a year and I've found out first-hand how untrustworthy locals are with ex-pats. They should be ashamed of themselves. Although you have to actually have a conscience to feel shame.......I digress...... PM me if you have any questions. I'm happy to help.
Yes - You will have room for negotiation with some landlords, especially those, whose properties are not filled up and NO - not with ones that know their property will fill up irrespective of the fact that they command a higher rent than the norm.
The area plays an important role in deciding that. The villas around and about ASD will be higher priced than the villas elsewhere.
4 bedroom villas by ezdan (fully furnished, including maintainence) are renting for around 9K-10K, but that's in AL Wakra. Similary 2 bedroom compound villas in Al Markhiya (fully furnished) are renting for 8.5K
And like Mandi says, there are a lotta dishonest middlemen looking to make a fast buck and not deliver.
Near ASD? 12-15K. You REALLY don't want to decide sight-unseen. I'm a very nice, trusting person and I wouldn't give a realtor in Doha my chewing gum to hold! There are terrible stories of realtors renting places they don't represent and others trying to extort bribes. Even people who have been here a long time have trouble finding what they need without hassles. And don't get me started on lack of maintenance. Try Expatwoman.com, they have some good advice for compounds. I thank God every day that our employer rents our villa and that the landlord is a dear. You do need an employer with a good PRO or mandoub to do all these things for you, from getting your medical to your driver's license to residency permits. This is not a DYI kinda place. Good luck!
Mandi