If you are about to go house-hunting in Saudi Arabia soon, we can help you! We asked a realtor for help and we will show you the answers we got. Don’t worry, even though you are on a whole different continent, this can be easy. All you need to do is take the tips we show you and continue the research after. When the time comes to relocate to Saudi Arabia you will just need a helping hand from professionals, but you will read all about that later on in the text. For now, let’s focus on house-hunting.
The most common question
People often ask if foreigners are even allowed to own a house in Saudi Arabia. Some time ago – they weren’t. Nowadays it’s a completely different situation. Foreigners are allowed to buy and own any property in Saudi Arabia but are subject to the approval of the licensing authority. That means you can buy or build any property but you simply need to have that special license and it is not so hard to get it. The only two places where you cannot buy anything are Mecca and Medina. Those two holy places are off-limits for foreigners. Since you will be living here, you will be close to some of the world’s most impressive architecture.
House-hunting in Saudi Arabia – where to begin
House-hunting in Saudi Arabia should start as soon as you are sure of your decision in moving there. It takes time to find a good place remotely. Before we start, you should know that you can live there as an American citizen. Now, as to where to begin, you can start by exploring the great cities in Saudi Arabia and see which one looks best for you. Of course, you may very well know this already, especially if you are moving for a job.
Choosing a place to live in Saudi Arabia
This one won’t be so easy but yet this will be your first step. You will need to research all the cities and then you will be able to make a decision. We won’t try to impact your opinion because it is important to make such a huge decision for yourself. In case you already know where you want to live we can skip this part entirely. After all, some of the richest companies in the world are here and many come here for a job.
Hiring a realtor
You need to find a local realtor. This is the only way. You do not know the city you chose and this is not your home country. You need a local who knows everything. In case you do not know the language, you will need someone who speaks English or you will need someone to translate. When interviewing a realtor, you should be honest from the very beginning and tell them exactly what you want from your house and your budget. This is the only way your realtor can help you. Don’t worry, they know how to deal with ex-pats after all many USA companies are expanding their companies to the Middle East.
House-hunting in Saudi Arabia online
If you have previously bought a house in the States, chances are you used real estate websites like Zillow or such. When buying a house in the USA that is a completely good way of doing things but this is not a way to buy a house so far away. You simply need a person to go and see the place in real life. Pictures can be deceiving. Just look at Instagram. That’s why the realtor is the key person here just like reliable movers at fourwinds-ksa.com have a key role in relocation.
Your realtor won’t fall for realtor tricks
No matter where in the world you are buying a house you will encounter some kind of dishonesty. Covering bad areas, masking problems, and making you overlook some things is a very common thing when selling a house. This is why people often hire home inspectors to come with. They are the ones that have trained eyes and can spot problematic areas even if they are carefully hidden. Your realtor already knows this and will be extra careful. You can always go on a house hunt with your realtor. Some apps can allow you this – Skype is one of them.
After you find that perfect place for you
Relocation will be the next logical step of course. You will need movers mainly because they have different types of help available and you can choose which one you need. That way they can assist you with pretty much anything you might need that involves your relocation. If you are having a hard time packing your household items – they can do it for you. Logistics and planning are what they do best, you can always let them deal with customs and such. This is the only way you can achieve that easy and stress-free relocation so why not use it if you can?
Things you should know before you relocate to Saudi Arabia
You are moving to a whole different continent where culture is completely different from your own. You don’t speak the same language and chances are you are not of the same religion and the laws are completely different. What is pretty customary in your country – like drinking alcohol after the age of 21 is against the law here. That’s why it is very important that you do some serious research or should we say the investigation and find all the differences. People here are pretty understanding and know that you cannot know all their rules but you should still make an effort and learn what you can. That will show them that you are trying to fit in and they will gladly help you out. Luckily you can find out pretty much everything with your phone nowadays. Thank God for the internet, right? Whenever you have some time to spare check the city you will be living in soon and learn about their culture.
