Where to buy a property in Hurghada

Hi the solicitors here do not have to be qualified, and Egyptian culture is that when they see a way to make money they jump on it.  So the majority of the solicitors do not have a clue, but just see the £'s sign.

Also concerning court cases, if the solicitor is paid more by the other side, i.e.  more than you the client are paying then they take the money from them and your case goes nowhere!

When you come to Hurghada if you want to get in touch with me let me know and I can share with you some tips.  I am a senior member of the legal profession in the UK, and do not worry I do not want to sell you anything or make money out of you.

I have made enough money to live without having to work, so do pro bono work in the UK when I am there, and am happy to help people out here when I can.

Rents are low at the moment, in Esplanada they used to be around 1,500 - 2,000 US$ plus bills now my neighbours are renting out a great two bedroom flat for 600 Euros plus electric and water.  My advice still is to rent, then take an option to buy when you find something that is good for you.

Hi Jeremy.  Yes you are right we both share a love of Hurghada, and whatever i hear wont put me off!

It's probably just a minority of people in Hurghada that are crooks and sharks, trouble is makes me paranoid as to who to trust.

And it's a comfort knowing  that i'm not alone.. I'm looking forward to meeting you and all the other lovely people i have become friends with on this site.

Sandra x

Shocking, absolutely dreadful behaviour.. something needs to be done about it!
I have heard some heartbreaking stories where people think they have bought an apartment only to find out they have handed money over for nothing and they have lost everything.

Thank you for your offer of help.

Sandra

Some great posts here with excellent advice. Thank you everyone!

I was over recently - I took just 4-5 days as I didn't want to take too much time off work, but I wish I'd had longer. Mostly because it was exhausting and was like a full-time job and I would have liked a proper rest before going back to work! By the end of it all, I really couldn't face looking at any more properties and I really didn't want more choice.

I have to say, everyone I met and dealt with was extremely nice. I think it's a good idea to rent first (even though I haven't gone this route myself mostly because I want to go and feel settled rather than feeling that I am still looking around; also, whenever I have moved in the past, I've maybe thought it's not the best place, but I am happy enough to stay put, and I suspect/hope that will happen here - but renting is really more logical!).

It's an emotional journey - the first day I was there, I had severe doubts, but by the time I left, I wanted to move over straight away. And I still waver between these two extremes!

If buying, I guess I would say that you need to remember the extra costs of buying furniture and all the stuff you need as well as air conditioning etc for apartments that have not yet been lived in. I would definitely not go for anything that is not FULLY completed (as I think everyone here has said) as I can see that many things do not get quite finished off.

I went for a resale because I could basically just move in with no extra work.

I think you (one) have to prioritise what you want or what it is you want to achieve. For me, a keen swimmer, I wanted to prioritise somewhere where I could swim every day and I wanted to live somewhere where I could feel safe if I went outside and where I could wander around at my leisure. I can cope with the idea of going into a hectic city and running the risk of getting hassled, but I would want some quiet time where I can get away from that and just pop into a cafe or something for a coffee or a bite to eat.

I wanted somewhere with good public transport. I hear the nightlife in Hurghada goes on into the early hours - not my scene, but it is nice to know it is there. WHen I lived in the UK, it was frustrating that the local shops all closed at 5pm!

I also wanted somewhere that I could easily socialise with my neighbours, settle into the local community, feel at "home", have a bit of life around me. Somewhere with a reliable electricity and water supply.

And I wanted to think that I wasn't throwing my money away in a place that would lose value over time with all the political and economic uncertainties.

The problem, of course, is getting everything you want at the budget you want - and perfection does not exist and compromises have to be made. I think if you rent, you will have a wider choice of where you could live (financially) than if you bought. And maybe once you've lived there a while, you will know better what actually turns out to be important for you.

I was hoping to have more useful feedback when I got back, but really I just think it is all very subjective and personal in the end as to what you want to prioritise and I do wonder whether you just have to go over there and live there for a while to find out the true answer to those questions. How annoying it is to have to get taxis rather than buses, how annoying is it to live out of the city rather than in the city, how unnerving is it to live somewhere that is "too" quiet... etc. The answers will be different for everyone.

i advice to stay in kawthar area in hurghada

i am buying in tiba rose in

Hadaba" is located in the silent, cozy center, in three minutes of slow walking from noisy and vigorous life of our favourite city. Near to a complex there are beaches for all tastes – from city which stand no more than ten pounds from the person for visiting, to luxurious hotel beaches. It is necessary to note and affinity to discos, restaurants, cafe, to supermarkets, laundries and all other places favourite among foreigners.

[Moderated: Please post in Housing section]

hi sandra , we have bought in  hurghada tiba paradise and are very pleased with it , we are moving over there next feb . go to red sea way offices ( behind h.s.b.c bank on sheraden st and they with show you all the ones they have . if you would like to see ours , we are over here in june . they only cost about £17.000 any way , not a lot to spend .

tim and alyson wrote:

hi sandra , we have bought in  hurghada tiba paradise and are very pleased with it , we are moving over there next feb . go to red sea way offices ( behind h.s.b.c bank on sheraden st and they with show you all the ones they have . if you would like to see ours , we are over here in june . they only cost about £17.000 any way , not a lot to spend .

i am also with red sea way and am hoping to move over next year to one of there new builds at the back of this office called tiba rose

Hello Tim and Alyson.. thank you for your message.. I have sold my house ( That is what i was waiting for ) I didn't want to keep any options open.. Just move over to Hurghada and make my life there.. too old to be moving back and forth.. Stress etc!!!! Hahaha!!

I should be moving over possibly the end of July this year.. I will be renting on a short term basis whilst having a look at properties.

It does help having recommendations.

Kindest regards.
Sandra

Congratulations on selling your house!

Thankyou.. Just the waiting game now.. and yet there is so much to do.  Packing my whole life up to move to Hurghada!!!!

Yes, I'm moving over in September. It's quite scary having to sell everything (my flat is fully furnished and I've heard if you ship stuff over, you pay a load of tax and/or it goes missing). Still not sure how to do that at the moment. I will probbly ship at least one teachest full of stuff that isn't worth anything (eg, old notes I want to take over, some books, a few winter clothes, etc).

Have you got a flat to rent already?

I will stay with my daughter and son-in-law to start with, hopefully for no longer than a month while i look for somewhere to buy.

Even though i have sold my house ( Subject to contract ) and i only have roughly 8 weeks before the sale goes through i still have keep most of the furniture and belongings to live!!!

I will be going over with little more than clothes in 2 suitcases.

I too have heard some terrible stories about shipping furniture etc.. costs, taxes, and also once in Hurghada the security or whoever have even held the goods, pets to ransom until you pay more money for reasons they make up ( always untrue )

I also have a few very sentimental personal items i would love to take with me but a little unsure what to do!

Sandra

Hi  Sandra

I see that you are thinking about buying a property in Hurghada.  I dont know if you have found anything yet but I have owned a half villa on Mubarak 7 since 2007.  I am British and the sole owner with only my name on the Deeds and am thinking of selling.   Please let me know if you are interested.  I am going to Hurghada in october just to check everything is okay and I will make a decision then. 

Denise from England

Hi Denise,

Please feel free to post an advert in the Houses for sale in Hurghada, this might be helpful.

Thank you,

David.

Hi  David

Many thanks for that suggestion.  I will do that after my next visit to Hurghada and if I decide to sell

Denise

Hi ya,
I have recently bought a place in Hurghada, one of the Redseaway projects (Tiba Palace) and I have had nothing but problems.

Although the 1 bed apartment was small at 44 m2 it is a comfortable size for a quick break and was to be used as a holiday home.

On paying all the monies in advance, I was then allowed to send someone in to snag the premises but when I received pictures of the apartment it was quite evident that the size was a lot smaller then I was expecting.
In fact the living room is so small I can not get a sofa in there properley!

After numerous emails and arguments it transpired that a percentage of your build can be dedicated to common areas.

So if you decide to buy of plan, beware, as you may not get the size property you thought you was getting or paying for!

In my case my 44m2 apartment ended up being around 37m2.

The other problem I encountered was the contract saying it would include a fitted kitchen sink but what it doesn't say is that you have to supply the unit first, so don't assume anything.

Getting a good solicitor is paramount as the one I used EDGEBRIDGE Law Firm very rarely replies to my emails and it appears that once they have your money the service goes out the window.

IF possible, try and find a UK based solicitors firm that handles Egyptian purchases, they will probably have partners in Egypt dealing with this on their behalf but at least you have a door to knock on when stuff goes wrong.

You do have the added bonus of your daughters husband being able to deal with the locals on your behalf.

Good luck with your endeavours

Hi Terry.  How awful!!  It could very nearly have happened to me.. But i am a person that obsesses over everything, so decided to, really do my homework and research, thank goodness i did! The horror stories i have read, i wouldn't have believed possible, but are real!  Hence my decision to go over first and rent whilst looking around.  I know exactly what you mean about the solicitors,  I know who i will be dealing with when the time comes.

My daughters husband will be a huge help, like you say, dealing with the locals on my behalf.  It makes all the difference when it comes to prices too!  locals prices v egyptians prices hahaha!!

I wish you luck with your new apartment, i hope all works out well in the end.

I did the same when I bought in Tiba heights
44 m2 turned out go be 31 m2
Unbelievable if I wanted to buy 31 m2 I would have, 44 m2  was just about big enough,
The way they portray there property's you are buying 44 m2, totally wrong, after many emails I got my money back minus 25 %
Just beware anyone who buys in the tibas you are not getting any where near the size you think you are getting
Mark

mee1966 wrote:

I did the same when I bought in Tiba heights
44 m2 turned out go be 31 m2
Unbelievable if I wanted to buy 31 m2 I would have, 44 m2  was just about big enough,
The way they portray there property's you are buying 44 m2, totally wrong, after many emails I got my money back minus 25 %
Just beware anyone who buys in the tibas you are not getting any where near the size you think you are getting
Mark

Absolutely shocking!

there is no kitchen with any of the tiba apartments you only get the sink and go and look at the size of apartments before you pay so you know what you are getting

Difficult to look if you are buying off plan and  hasn't been built
So in this case you look at the size of the apartment  on a plan and when it says apartment size 44 m2 you don't expect 31 m2

so what size will your new place in the jungle be as you have done the same again

54 m2

mee1966 wrote:

54 m2

but as its not built yet and is two years down the line that you gave up the place in tiba heights how do you know what your getting

Because I've been to the site and have actually been in the footprint of the apartment

It really is a question of if you can get over there to view the apartments first or should I say the shell of the apartment in some cases then this is the best route to go.

We are all trying to get the best deal by buying of plan but I have been told to expect at least 15% less on build size compared to the plans.

As mentioned the Tiba projects do not have kitchens but most of the contracts state they have fitted sinks which leads you to believe it will be fitted when you move in and all you have to do is buy the remaining units and white goods, which isn't the case.

The Tiba properties are still cheap but don't expect a large living space as it just wont happen.

But at least you get a place for them and sometimes months before the date they say will be ready I have payed money for places in Hurghada 5 years ago and still have no apartment from a company so bought one from red sea that was finished and moved in that month and now am getting a 2nd place in Sekala from them off plan and I know I will be moving there when it's finished at the end of the year or sooner

Hello

I read your message on this site.  I am a new member and own a villa in Hurghada.  I was wondering if you could mail me please as I have some questions to ask you and would like to  know if you could help me.

Many thanks

Denise

Moon Goddess58 wrote:

Hello

I read your message on this site.  I am a new member and own a villa in Hurghada.  I was wondering if you could mail me please as I have some questions to ask you and would like to  know if you could help me.

Many thanks

Denise

ask them on the forum as can help others

Hi Denise. Anything we can help you with?

There is a very good reason for this and it is pretty much standard practice here. It is because you also own a share of all the communal areas within the building. I do agree that buyers should be made aware of this prior to purchase and I certainly have it displayed on my website.

Has anyone had dealings with 1st Choice Global properties? How reputable are they and are there any hidden dangers in buying in Egypt, particularly Hurghada?

The place I'm looking at has been built but isn't finished so the size should be as stated.

Also, can anyone recommend a decent lawyer?

Cheers,

AP

Did you find any useful info, Sandra? Any advice?

andypac wrote:

Has anyone had dealings with 1st Choice Global properties? How reputable are they and are there any hidden dangers in buying in Egypt, particularly Hurghada?

The place I'm looking at has been built but isn't finished so the size should be as stated.

Also, can anyone recommend a decent lawyer?

Cheers,

AP

what is the development called

Hi Jeremy,

It's the Amalfi Residence. The pics look like it's almost complete and the floor plan looks decent enough.

Cheers,

AP

Hi Denise,

Have you sold your villa yet in Mubarak 7?  I am going to Hurghada again in December to look at villas.  Mubarak 7 is my preferred area.

Thanks

Jackie

Hi  Jackie

Just read your post on the forum.  I am going to Hurghada next Monday 11th to check all is okay and will then decide what to do with it. 

Thanks for your enquiry though andwill keep in touch.  Mail me if you wish to ask any questions

Good to hear from you

take care

Denise