Luxury real estate advisory company, Montague Real Estate, is going even more global. The company, based in Mayfair, London, defines its purpose as ensuring “clients have access to a trusted advisor and an established global network, which in turn allows them an opportunity to acquire some of the finest homes on the planet.” This just became even more achievable as its Head of Residential, Luke Banks, has announced that he is permanently residing in Dubai to help solidify the market there even further.

“I am delighted to be touching down in Dubai again,” he says. “I first arrived in Dubai in 2011 and fell in love with the city and the property market there, after a 2-year stint in London (still working within the Dubai market) it's very exciting for me to have my feet on the ground again. This time I am arriving with the backing of a very exciting brand and am looking forward to a big future in the Middle East for Montague Real Estate.”

Luke Banks, Head of Residential

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

Luke Banks has been with Montague since September of 2020 and worked from the London office establishing relationships overseas, including in Dubai. With the market rising, now was the perfect time to relocate physical operations and have the Head of Residential based in Dubai. Luke’s focus will be onboarding exclusive ready properties, being on the ground for prime and super-prime transactions, and building Montague’s brand presence and team in the region.

“It's a great time to be landing as the market is extremely active with huge volumes of transactions going through, Dubai, of course, remains popular with GCC investors, as well as Indian, British and Chinese buyers topping the charts of investors from outside of the region,” Luke says.

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

Montague has hand-selected developments in the Dubai market that align with its vision and is working with key development partners including Emaar, Omniyat, Sohba, and XX11 Carat. The Dubai market offers apartments, townhouses, and penthouses, with huge signs of growth in the turnkey market as well. Dubai is a strategically located city that offers great opportunities across lifestyle, investment, and business activity, and now that more and more people are working remotely due to the pandemic, inquiries for properties in the area have risen dramatically.

With the government of Dubai encouraging international investment as well, such as with their “Invest in Dubai” platform, now is the perfect time for Montague to make the move.

“This is an incredible moment for Montague Real Estate and for Luke. Dubai is a market that has grown exponentially over the last 10 years and will only continue to grow,” echos Thomas Balashev, founder of Montague Real Estate. “This market, in particular, is one that resonates with our clients and offers both lifestyle, business, and investment opportunities so this region was the natural next step for Montague Real Estate's expansion.”

Photo Credit: Montague Real Estate

To learn more about Montague Real Estate you can visit their website here.

The post Head Of Residential At Montague Real Estate Announces Move To Dubai appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.

If you consider yourself an avid skier, winter is the perfect time to hit the slopes. For some, a winter vacation involves heading off to a ski lodge and spending time on snowy peaks. Others prefer to head for warmer shores, especially in the Middle East and North Africa where the winter climate is especially temperate. This is prime beach season in that part of the world and there are quite a few spectacular beach resorts to choose from. The Four Seasons in Sharm El Sheikh is undoubtedly one of the finest and is easily on the top of our list.

Located on the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Sharm El Sheikh is a popular seaside town that attracts travelers from all over the world. The location is the key factor here, as Sharm El Sheikh sits directly between Africa and Asia, effectively serving as a bridge between East and West. Because of this, the area is home to a number of renowned global hospitality brands.

The Four Seasons at Sharm El Sheikh, which is the fourth Four Seasons property in Egypt, opened its doors in 2002 and has since grown to be the region’s most popular resort. Modeling itself after an Egyptian village, the Four Seasons combines a traditional architectural style with modern interior design. The resort offers 143 guest villas that are divided into clusters on a beautiful hilltop. Each villa features elaborate wooden screens and window detailing with a typically Middle Eastern design aesthetic. The furnishings are very contemporary, using a mix of neutral tones and bold hues to create a lovely sense of contrast. The villas also feature large decks and terraces, enjoying breathtaking views of the Red Sea’s glistening waters.

At present, the Four Seasons at Sharm El Sheikh is in the process of expanding, adding more hotel rooms and building on its beautiful collection of Private Residences. As part of the expansion, 25 villas and 44 chalets will be added to the resort, forming a private residential enclave. On completion, this will be the largest Four Seasons property in the world and LuxuryProperty.com is the exclusive global marketing partner for this project.

The resort has a strong emphasis on health and wellness and features a Daniela Steiner spa. Other key amenities include four swimming pools, fitness and recreational facilities, and nine restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. One of the most popular facilities at the resort is its PADI dive centre, where guests can learn the basics of scuba diving and can also schedule diving trips.

The town of Sharm El Sheikh is a key diving destination, offering more than 70 prime dive spots within a day’s boat ride from the coast. These include two shipwrecks from WWII and Ras Muhammad National Park, a marine reserve that is famous for its coral formations and diverse marine life. The Four Seasons also offers tours of the Sinai Desert, which stretches out from the outer boundaries of the resort, as well as barbecues and evening entertainment along the hotel’s private beach.

LuxuryProperty.com is a dynamic digital destination for all things real estate and has built a strong presence in the Middle East with its Dubai portfolio. The firm is already marketing high-end properties in areas such as Dubai Hills Estate, Palm Jumeirah and Emirates Hills, and the Four Seasons at Sharm El Sheikh will be an excellent addition to its ever-expanding international stock.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Cummings 

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Successful Dubai realtor Andrew Cummings prides himself on being a trusted advisor and partner to his clients. His skilled approach to marketing properties, negotiating and market expertise have awarded him some of the most exclusive properties in Dubai. Cummings sat down with Haute Residence to discuss Dubai's luxury real estate market for the new year.

What are the current real estate market trends and conditions in your market?

The Dubai Real Estate Market generally is still proving to be uncertain at the moment. Rental values continue to decline across most sectors and this has a knock on effect with sales values. As such it is definitively a buyers' market with some great deals around at the moment. Despite the soft market, we continue to see strong activity in the luxury end with nearly $20m of business written last month alone.

What are the top 3 things luxury homebuyers look for? 

Quality over quantity - We are finding that buyers are looking for high-end finishing and turnkey properties rather than overly large properties.

Location - still the same adage: Location Location Location. Many buyers are currently waiting for the right property to come on the market in their chosen area, which is helping to keep demand strong for prime locations.

Services - Whether it's an apartment or a villa, the quality of services provided by the community or building can dictate a buyer's choice of purchase.

Where do you foresee the real estate market heading in the new year?

Property markets worldwide are cyclical with highs and lows. The Dubai property market is at a low ebb at the moment but it will change. Gone are the days of quick returns, investors and owner occupiers need to take a 5-year view on purchases which will put them in a good future position.

Is there a push for vertical living in your market or is it still horizontal based?

Dubai has long been home to mega skyscrapers including the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. That said, demand for low-rise remains strong and a number of new communities are coming online over the next 18 months to help meet this demand.

What do you recommend to homebuyers looking to invest in your market?

Take the advice of a professional agent who has experience in the area you are looking at. LuxuryProperty.com only employ experienced brokers who understand the market and can offer advice on all aspects. By building strong relationships you are more likely to get the very best deal.

The post 5 Questions With Andrew Cummings appeared first on Haute Residence by Haute Living.