American Compound Housing

Jswwjw - Welcome back to the forum!   I spent a good part of my life in your neck of the woods back in the early '80s!  Even got married down there! 

Hmmm, Im not aware of an 'American' Compound here in the city.  But you can bet that your wait is going to be a good one - some say 6 - 18 months depending on your needs.  Are you coming alone or with family?   PM me with some details.  Be sure to check out the Compound list on the forum Guide.  Allie & company has put together a ton of info.

I guess when I meant "American" I meant ex-pat housing.  My first offer of employment had everything arranged. This offer gives me a housing allowance and supposedly finds housing in a compound for me. I do not know what I would do or where I would live if I did not have housing arranged for me.  I am coming alone at first and then, if it works out, will have my wife come out and visit periodically.

Good to be back as well.  Wish me luck this time!!

Perhaps some of you who live in compounds can give me an idea of which are nice or not.  I am a non-smoker (and of course there) non drinker who will be working a lot. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Hope to see (talk at least) to you all soon.

John

John, if your company is going to arrange housing, then ask them what compounds you might be placed in and see if there is any way to see them online. 

Most of the foreigner (read Western) compounds here are fairly decent...I say, after having lived in the developing world for more than a decade.

Depending on your employer, they may already have reserved spaces in a compound (or more than one).  Ask what compounds they currently have employees in and where you would be housed.

Thanks everyone for the help.  I was contacted (via email) by one of your property managers who gave me a few options.  WOW it appears to be very expensive to live over there in a compound.  I think the least expensive furnished place was 47,000.00 USD per year. Although these were all 4 bedroom, two and three bath (I do not need housing that large) I would hate to have to buy something over there.

I will keep trying.  Thanks Y'all for the help.

It does appear that the Saudi housing compound property developers have set their sites on one segment of the expat community - families.

The same is true in my company.  There are twenty of us.  18 of us are on "single status" contracts, so no family benefits but are in two, three and four bedroom villas.

In my last job I was in a 4,000 sq. ft. villa by myself.  I loved the giant kitchen but the house took me a long time to clean.

There are some apartments that cater to foreigners, John, and maybe that should be the way you are heading.  You can actually see some of these online with a little internet searching.

Thanks "misterstretch" I know I just received an email releasing a letter on me to the consulate so it looks like I will be heading to KSA.  I will keep you all in the loop. thanks.