Property prices fall

Cluttons, a London-based property consultant, and Jones Lang LaSalle, the second- largest publicly traded commercial property broker, forecast further declines in Dubai property value. Recently, it has been more local demand, not foreign demand that has been driving transaction activity. Moreover the volume of supply, expected to come on stream has been over magnified. 20,000 new homes are expected to be open for lease between now and 2012, with actual supply delivered to be toned downwards, given the slowdown in construction and underlying liquidity issues. Residential values may fall as much as 20 percent more by the end of 2012 if new homes are built as planned Dubai property prices may drop for the next two years, extending a decline in the emirate that’s already cut values by more than 60 percent since the 2008 peak. Residential values may fall as much as 20 percent more by the end of 2012 if new homes are built as planned, according to broker Landmark Advisory in Dubai. Within two years time a total of 48,000 homes will come on to the market according to Jesse Downs, Director of Research at Landmark. Looking ahead, rental rates are expected to decrease, a fact hard to swallow by the real estate giants. The landlords will have to adjust rates and terms for larger apartments to retain or attract potential tenants.