Today Exclusive Links brings to you Episode 9 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. This month’s episode will be hosted by Managing Partner of Exclusive Links, Zarah Evans, over zoom from her home in Scotland.  Zarah is joined by Associate Director of IFX Dubai, Sarah Duthie and together the ladies chat about “The IFX Factor - International Currency Exchange.”   Sarah has a Financial & Mortgage background in the UK of 10 years and over 13 years in the UAE in similar industries.  IFX has been a long term preferred partner of Exclusive Links looking after many of our customers Foreign Exchange needs. Sarah talks through the volatility and general influencers of currency exchange and how news and data coming out of each country can have such an impact on how currency fluctuates and how forecasting can be so difficult. 

• Brexit, Trump, Covid have all had huge impacts on foreign currency exchange rates.  What other factors have influenced worldwide currency exchange over the last 5 years? 
• Zarah asks Sarah to explain the process for an individual wanting to set up a trading facility and how long funds normally take to hit your nominated bank account.    
• Did you know there are no fees to set up or maintain an account with IFX?  Sarah goes on to explain transparently how IFX recoup their fees and how they can offer exchange rates that are lower than banks.  
• Together Zarah and Sarah touch on how both the property and currency markets have witnessed UAE residents losing their jobs and being left no choice but to sell their property and transfer sales proceeds out of the UAE to their home country - a continuous negative knock-on effect of the pandemic during 2020. 

Louise will be back for the next episode of Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge and please check out our Podcast page and tune into an episode that you think you will enjoy.  

Today Exclusive Links brings to you Episode 8 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. Tune into our Podcast Page and join host Louise Heatley as she chats with our guests from Henry Wiltshire International, Andrew Covill and Jessica Gane on “The Differences between Abu Dhabi & Dubai Property Markets.”  Henry Wiltshire International was set up by Owner & Director Andrew Covill back in 2014 on the back end of their other worldwide Henry Wilshire International offices.  Not only are they established as a leading award-winning brokerage in Abu Dhabi but they offer an International Sales Network with a local dimension. In 2017 Exclusive Links and Henry Wiltshire International entered into a partnership agreement that enabled both companies to offer a comprehensive range of services to clients across both Emirates. International Property Sales are supported by their Director of International Sales, Jessica Gane who also gave us an insight into how this segment of the market has been affected by COVID.  One thing is for sure, both Exclusive Links and Henry Wiltshire International are looking forward to the long-anticipated opening of Expo 2020 on 1st October as it is perfectly situated with easy access to both Emirates and both property markets. 

• Land Registration Fees in Abu Dhabi are still only 2% compared to Dubai’s fees which are 4%? What other key differences are there between the two markets?. 
• Louise asks our Abu Dhabi partners for some direct price comparisons between the two Emirates and it is evident that prices are becoming more comparable.   
• Tune in to listen to Andrew and Jessica as they discuss the challenges that the lack of stock is presenting in the Abu Dhabi marketplace and why ‘waiting for the right property’ is not always the right answer. 
• Lack of regulations and quality assurance in Property Listings in Abu Dhabi is encouraging a more unrealistic market and false availability.  
• Through discussion it is clear that whilst Dubai is leading the way in property trends, price points and fluctuation, Abu Dhabi is not far behind.  

Today Exclusive Links goes live with Episode 7 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. Tune into our Podcast Page and join host Louise Heatley as she chats with Mortgage Finder’s Director Warren Philliskirk and Senior Mortgage Consultant, Jeffrey De Souza.  Mortgage Finder is Dubai’s leading Mortgage Broker and with a team of 20+ mortgage specialists with extensive knowledge of the entire home loan market and the UAE property transaction process, they will impartially assess each client’s unique circumstances and give an overview of all options available in the market.  Warren has more than 20 years of international residential and commercial lending experience and is one of the early pioneers of the UAE mortgage industry and is now considered one of the industry's leading authorities. Jeffrey, who is often found in and about Exclusive Links offices, has over 8 years in the UAE mortgage market and his role is to work closely with leading real estate agents to provide their clients with mortgage advice and guidance through the full buying process.

• Are interest only mortgages available in Dubai?  Warren explains what this means and how they are calculated. 
• Can you still lend in the UAE if you are over 65 years old?  How are UAE banks adapting lending products available for the local market and international investors?    
• Did you know that 4 relations can be named on a joint mortgage?  Jeffrey talks us through the criteria and what can and can’t be done. 
• Louise questions the impact that today’s price increases are having on property valuations required in calculating an LTV on a mortgage application.  
• Tune in to listen to Warren and Jeffrey as they talk through the positive and negative impacts that the world pandemic has had on the UAE mortgage market.   

At the beginning of this week, we brought you Part 1 Episode 6 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. Today we GO LIVE with Part 2 “Positive Price Movement and H1 2021 Overview”. Host Louise Heatley continues her chat with Chief Operating Officer of Property Monitor, Zhann Jochinke and our very own Dubai Marina Branch Manager, Michael Cullen. With a great foothold in the region, a passion for data and his IPAD open, Zhann explains how Property Monitor is processing, vetting and cleansing facts and figures making available data as granular as possible. As the region’s leading real estate intelligence platform, Property Monitor provides monthly real-time reporting however Zhann is happy to share his overview of H1 2021 and what he hopes for in H2.

• Transaction numbers across all asset classes in H1 2021 has increased by 71% compared to H1 2020.
• Michael explains how he and his team in Dubai Marina have seen travel and lockdown restrictions affect buying patterns and ownership transfer times. Why are buyers walking into our shop with a AED3M budget buying property at AED9M?
• So is there no stock or just a lack of desirable inventory? Villas and Townhouses are under supplied in an over saturated market. Buyers are placing a higher value on their outdoor space and lifestyle priorities.
• Why has there been such a boom in properties priced at AED10M+? There is a recorded 233% growth in this price tier H1 2021 compared to H1 2020. Speciality Markets like Palm Jumeirah are still selling well and a great buy.
• H1 2021 compared to H1 2020 has seen 148% increase in Mortgage transactions. But who is borrowing and who is lending? What are bulk mortgages?

Please join us today as Exclusive Links goes live with Episode 5 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. Tune into our Podcast Page and join host Louise Heatley as she chats with Tristen Lowe, owner and Director of Domain Conveyancing.  Tristen is a well-respected name in his own right in the Dubai property market and he shares with us through this episode his wealth of knowledge including “What you need to know about buying property in Dubai”.   

• Tristen explains the role that Domain Conveyancing plays as the non-biased party in a property transaction and why this is important and beneficial in transferring property ownership  
• Together they discuss what services can contribute towards creating a more stable market and provide more security for all stakeholders
• Did you know that the requirement of a 5 year investors visa had dropped to AED2M?  Tristen elaborates on how these government initiatives are encouraging more overseas interest
• Hear Tristen’s Tips and the advice he offers anyone buying property in Dubai
• Tune in to learn about the range of services Domain Conveyancing offer and how they can help you secure and protect assets 

Please join us today as Exclusive Links goes live with Episode 5 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. Tune into our Podcast Page and join host Louise Heatley as she chats with Tristen Lowe, owner and Director of Domain Conveyancing. Tristen is a well-respected name in his own right in the Dubai property market and he shares with us through this episode his wealth of knowledge including “What you need to know about buying property in Dubai”.

• Tristen explains the role that Domain Conveyancing plays as the non-biased party in a property transaction and why this is important and beneficial in transferring property ownership
• Together they discuss what services can contribute towards creating a more stable market and provide more security for all stakeholders
• Did you know that the requirement of a 5-year investors visa had dropped to AED2M? Tristen elaborates on how these government initiatives are encouraging more overseas interest
• Hear Tristen’s Tips and the advice he offers anyone buying property in Dubai
• Tune in to learn about the range of services Domain Conveyancing offer and how they can help you secure and protect assets

Exclusive Links invite you to join us today for Episode 4 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. Tune into our Podcast Page where host Louise Heatley will be joined on zoom from Scotland by co-owner and Managing Partner of Exclusive Links, Zarah Evans.  Together they will chat about “Ladies in Real Estate” with two other well-respected and dynamic female realtors Alessia Sheglova, Director Dacha Real Estate, and Dounia Fadi, COO Berkshire Hathaway. 

• Needing no introduction these leading ladies have all been recognised as Property Finder Female Entrepreneurs of the Year 
• Together they discuss where they all started and how they have succeeded in what is considered to be a male dominated industry 
• A common thread that they all strongly believe in is ‘where there is a will, there is a way’ as they share how they have balanced managing a growing family and business side by side  
• Alessia and Dounia offer some words of advice to any young ladies wanting to succeed as top performers in the industry 
• Hear their perspective on the unique aspects of Dubai Real Estate and what continues to drive them through day to day challenges 

Exclusive Links invite you to join us today for Episode 3 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge. Tune into our Podcast Page to listen to host Louise Heatley together with Fintan Flannelly chat on the couch with our special guest Spencer Lodge about “People before Property”.

• Far from being ‘just a sales guy’ Sales Entrepreneur, Spencer Lodge, shares even more skills, stories and even some secrets
• Together they discuss the evolution of selling but agree that the key factor has never changed; to connect and make people feel comfortable
• Fintan built his personal brand based on the back end of Spencer’s teachings; how has this enhanced his profile as a property professional?
• Louise explains how putting people over property has worked as a business model for Exclusive Links
• Is there more to selling property than just finding the solutions and when does enough become too much? 

In Episode 2 of our Podcast, Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge we have our host,  Exclusive Links Managing Director Louise Healthy, joined by our two accredited and certified Property Managers, Paul Birley and Sarah Watmore.  Together they discuss some of the stories they can share from Behind the Scenes of Property Management.  Paul and Sarah have worked with Exclusive Links for 13 and 10 years respectively – looking after owners properties as if they were their own.  They share tales of the aptly named Torch Tower - when over 200 of our managed units were affecting in some way or another by the fires that ripped through the building back in 2015 through to today’s current challenges brought about by the pandemic.  This episode is also a perfect opportunity to see the close rapport and respect between Sarah, Paul and Louise – who founded Exclusive Links Property Management services back in 2005.  

 If you would like to see some members of our Property Management team in action please watch https://youtu.be/Oq8BRR-GOZs 

You can visit our website to check out any of our services www.exclusive-links.com  and please leave a rating and review if you have enjoyed listening.  We would also be happy to hear from you on any topics you would like us to cover in the future. 

Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge is a casual chat about the Dubai property market and we hope you find it educational and entertaining.  The podcast does include opinions but all facts and figures quoted are correct at the time of recording.

In this first episode of our podcast Exclusive Links Managing Director Louise Healthy is joined by our Off Plan and Sales Manager, Fintan Flannelly and our Dubai Marina Branch Manager, Michael Cullen as they discuss the challenges and changes in the Dubai property market as we move into 2021. Buyers sentiment and comparisons of buying ready or off-plan properties and in apartment towers or villa communities. They cover where we are seeing buyer demand outstrip supply and where developers are needing to be very competitive on post-handover payment plans as they fight to retain their market share.  Also touching on how the current worldwide pandemic is having its effect on buyers’ requirements in Dubai.  This podcast is also a perfect opportunity to see a more relaxed Fintan and Michael as they talk about what they know and what they are passionate about.  

You could also read our blog on Positive moves in the Townhouse and Villa Community Property Segment  https://www.exclusive-links.com/blog/Positive-moves-in-the-Townhouse-and-Villa-Community-Property-Segment  

 You can visit our website to check out any of our services www.exclusive-links.com and please leave a rating and review if you have enjoyed listening.  We would also be happy to hear from you on any topics you would like us to cover in the future. 

Property Talk from Louise’s Lounge is a casual chat about the Dubai property market and we hope you find it educational and entertaining.  The podcast does include opinions but all facts and figures quoted are correct at the time of recording.