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My husband will be going, insha Allah to Egypt in the summer to find us an apartment. Any good advice on apartment hunting in Cairo would be appreciated. How long should he expect to stay to find something? Where should he start and he should he talk too? Any kind of homework, we can do while in the US besides looking at E-dar which I find totally useless.
Anybody, been in a similar situation and can give some good advice. My husband is Egyptian but been away toooooo long to know the tricks of the trade!!!!!
Thanks.
Zenya Member # 2915
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Dont give up your place where you are now your husband will be surprised in the difference Egypt is now. the apartments are over priced and the ecomony is almost dead, food prices have gone up 70percent in 6 months and they are going up all the time, the dollar has nothing to do with it, the dollar is losing value however the prices keep raising. If you're looking to strike it rich here stay where you are.
hafsa Member # 1890
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Zenya-
We are not looking to strike it rich in Egypt. We are doing well in Texas, USA, however we are Muslims and want to raise our children in a Muslim country(at least by name!). So, some of the good in Egypt outweighs the bad.
We are planning to do it in stages. Thought to buy the apartment first, then gradually move there. Things don't stay the same and hopefully within the next few years, it will get better in Egypt, insha Allah.
The US is a bit better but it is also hard here. Most Americans live from paycheck to paycheck just to get by.
ExptinCAI Member # 1439
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i know someone who used edar (once in egypt) and she highly recommended it. not many places can deliver the type of service you are accustomed to, when it comes to real estate.
best true and tried method everyone will tell you is to figure out where you want to live, then start talking to the great and almightly bawab network. they usually know what's what. they'll charge anywhere from a full month's rent (as to most real estate agencies) to a percentage of the rent for their work. (depends on the rent). if your hubby is egyptian, he should have no problem.
also if he's egyptian, he's got to have SOME family, however distant, still in egypt. best to ask for their help..that's what so great about the family network in egypt
strangelookingnegro Member # 151
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Yes, Expat has the right idea suggesting family first. That is the place to start. Other than that, get hold of the newspapers and read the ads. There are flats for sale listed and once you start to talk to people they will make other suggestions.
Primarily, what you HAVE to do first is decide where in Cairo or outside of Cairo you want to live. Where will your children go to school? This will be the first decision to make then start to get references for flats for sale from there.
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