How many bathrooms / balconies etc

[dave99]

Originally Posted by BobandJacq

Hi there

I meant what is the difference between a two bed in Sahl costing £74k and a two bed in Hurghada costing half that? Is it just the location or do you get a larger apartment /higher quality finish tiles kitchens/ more hotel like facilities etc.

The two locations generally are very difficult to compare.

Not sure there are any 2 beds in Sahl still at £74K - not near a beach anyway.

Not all blocks in Sahl are beach front but they ALL cost lots more than even the best in Hurghada.

It is not likely that the general standard in Sahl is any better then the better ones in Hurghada, although you will NOT find any bad ones in Sahl.

In my opinion you are paying for the whole of Sahl, not just your apartment, and for that reason only YOU can decide if you want to pay something like £50K to support a new "town" - it is a great place, all new purpose built with lots of facilities, but VERY different to Hurghada.

If you compared the bigger developments in Hurghada that have HOTEL like faciltities, with Sahl then the apartments themselves are probably not that much different. You will pay more for beach front anywhere so that is always of value, but only YOU can decide if it's worth all the extra cost.

If you wish to rent out then Sahl, beach front will win hands down as somewhere that I would wish to stay, but if the rent is 3 times as much as a good block in Hurghada I would not pay it, and I doubt that many people will.

If you buy to use for yourself for a substantial part of the year, and are happy with the capital appreciation (which should be good) then it's a simple matter of how much you can afford - for the price of a 3 bed apartment in Sahl I can show you a 5 bed, 3 bath, two reception, garden, private villa with garage, own security, pool etc, near a very good semi private beach, between El Gouna and Hurghada, but without with much infrastructure yet.

There is a whole list of things that every buyer should write down to consider before even looking at a potential purchase.

Do NOT get caught in a mad rush for something based on some romantic idea of a perfect location. In the premium resort areas like Sahl and El Gouna you will be paying a lot of money - whether it is a unit in Hurghada at £30k, or £150K somewhere else, this exercise should merit a serious lot of research.


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[dave99]

Originally Posted by BobandJacq

Hi there

I meant what is the difference between a two bed in Sahl costing £74k and a two bed in Hurghada costing half that? Is it just the location or do you get a larger apartment /higher quality finish tiles kitchens/ more hotel like facilities etc.

The 2 locations are not directly comparable
- one is an old town with lots of newly developed areas (and some not so nice parts)
- the other is an area of land on the sea front being built as a holiday resort with lots of really good facilities as part of a package.

If you only compare the quality of apartments in isolation there will be virtually no difference between a good block in Hurghada and the same size unit in Sahl.

In both locations you pay a much higher price for a beach front position.

In the better, established areas of Hurghada you will pay more than in out of the town locations until you get to Sahl or El Gouna.

The main difference in Sahl and El Gouna is that you are also making a large contribution to infrastructure costs.

There is no doubt that if you were being asked to pay the same price in Sahl or El Gouna as you are in Hurghada then I'd say that Sahl would be my choice.

You have to see for yourself & decide if the "feel" of any of these areas suits what you have in mind, and whether or not the extra cost is really worth it.

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[BobandJacq]

Dave

Thanks for your replies - very informative and has given us lots to think about.

We have only been to El Gouna in the past and absolutely loved it. Kicked ourselves for not buying an apartment a few years ago.

To follow up one of your earlier posts in this thread two bathrooms in a three bed apartment would probably be adequate for most people. If we were to get one like that we would use the third bedroom as a secure storage area and rent it out as a two bed (if the rental market were to take off of course).

The chance for a buyer to adapt a large two bedroom apartment to suit their needs is also very appealing.

Bob and Jacqui

[dave99]

Originally Posted by dave99

The 2 locations are not directly comparable
- one is an old town with lots of newly developed areas (and some not so nice parts)
- the other is an area of land on the sea front being built as a holiday resort with lots of really good facilities as part of a package.

If you only compare the quality of apartments in isolation there will be virtually no difference between a good block in Hurghada and the same size unit in Sahl.

In both locations you pay a much higher price for a beach front position.

In the better, established areas of Hurghada you will pay more than in out of the town locations until you get to Sahl or El Gouna.

The main difference in Sahl and El Gouna is that you are also making a large contribution to infrastructure costs.

There is no doubt that if you were being asked to pay the same price in Sahl or El Gouna as you are in Hurghada then I'd say that Sahl would be my choice.

You have to see for yourself & decide if the "feel" of any of these areas suits what you have in mind, and whether or not the extra cost is really worth it.

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Interesting what you say about El Gouna - that is where we stayed the first time in Egypt.

Changing room layouts is one of the advantages of the normal building style in apartments - we have 2 & 3 bed units where it would be possible to modify say a 2 bed 1 bath into 2 bed 1 bath 1 shower by reducing the space in another room. The 3 beds could become 2 bed 2 bath with sep kitchen and extra large living area.
The brick walls are not supporting anything, therefore as long the total space is the same the interior walls can be knocked down, or more sensiblily built from the start, in different places.
The planning permsision does not specify any details about each apartment, but does state how many in total.

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[dave99]

Originally Posted by dave99

A bit of a marketing question for the benefit of buyers and developers

Assuming that you are looking to buy a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment would you feel that you needed:

1. for 2 bedroom apartment:
- 2 bathrooms or shower rooms or just one
- 1 balcony, or 2, or none

2. for 3 bedroom apartment:
- 2 bathrooms or shower rooms or just one
- 1 balcony, or 2 or 3, or none

3. do you need only a shower, or a bath, or a combined bath / shower


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Thanks for comment on bathroom, now what about balconies in apartments.


Do people really need a balcony, if so why,
- would you like to one, or two, or three,
- big ones, little ones,
- with furniture, with a sun blind
- or what??


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[awahee123]

I think one large balcony would be ok or 2 smaller ones,there's no doubt in my mind about, having one especially in a hot climate

[distant dreamer]

We purchased our apartment in El Gouna purely because of the view and the balcony. The balcony is large, with plenty of room for two large sunbeds plus a big table and numerous chairs plus a couple of big plants - and still room to move around. The balcony/view sold it to us. The apartment itself is really small and very basic, but the hours we spend on the balcony are the best!!
Having said that the apartment we are purchasing in Sahl Hasheesh is actually the opposite. A large apartment with an OK size balcony, but very restricted views! The reason for this was that at the time of buying it was only seen as an investment, never as a holiday home. However, as time has gone on, and I've seen the fabulous resort of Sahl Hasheesh develop, I rather wish I'd spent more and got a fabulous view also as I think we want to be a part of Sahl Hasheesh for the foreseeable future!

[Peter Mitry]

I think you are right; I generally only invest in front line beach properties and will always try to get the best possible view. There will ALWAYS be people willing to pay for the best locations even when a Developer has other units to sell.

[awahee123]

It would be nice to invest only on the beachfront, it also makes very good sense,however not everyone can afford the prices tagged to such developments.
It all depends on how far you are prepared to reach financially.

[Peter Mitry]

Of course you are right; that is why central Hurghada and the five star beach resorts are two totally different markets. There never will be a 'one product suits all' scenario.