Why You Shouldn't Wait For a Buyer's Market

Jaime Platt
Nov 4
3 min read

There’s a certain kind of buyer that every real estate agent in Dubai will come across at some point in their career - the one waiting for the perfect moment. They’ve been “watching the market” for months, sometimes years, reading all the reports even though most of the time report coming from the US have no idea what is actually going on in Dubai (yes including the Fitch report) and they are convinced that prices will dip, that the “buyer’s market” is around the corner, that patience will pay off.

But in Dubai, that strategy has become the one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. Here is what I believe on why you shouldn't wait for a buyer's market.

The Market Doesn’t Repeat, It Evolves

Many buyers still say Dubai’s market will “correct” the way it did years ago. But what they’re really waiting for is a version of the market that no longer exists. Dubai today isn’t defined by oversupply or speculative flipping. It’s driven by end users, new inventory, and genuine global demand for quality housing. Every new launch sells faster, and every resale window tightens. Yes, there maybe some price alterations in areas where a large number of units handover at the same time, for example in JVC, but this is isolated, not guaranteed and most certainly not city wide. Dubai real estate is no longer a bubble, it’s a market that has matured. So when buyers hold off “waiting for a drop,” they’re not being cautious, they’re betting against a city that’s still growing and with one of the world's best strategies for growth behind it. And history shows: that’s not a bet that pays off for long.

Inflation, Rents, and Opportunity Cost

While buyers wait, rents rise. Inflation rises. And developers quietly roll out higher launch prices. The AED 2M waterfront apartment you could have owned is now AED 2.3M, and you’ve paid AED 120,000 in rent waiting for it to drop. That’s not saving money, that’s funding someone else’s yield. Real estate rewards action backed by insight, not hesitation disguised as prudence.

Hesitation costs more than risk. The ones who bought 2 years ago are about to be collecting rent while new buyers are still refreshing the portals. If you’re waiting for a sign, it’s the rising price tag on the unit you wanted.

The Real “Buyer’s Market” Is Knowledge

The buyers who win now aren’t the ones waiting for a price dip, they’re the ones learning how to buy smart in the market that exists today. They study resale performance. They understand the market data. They identify undervalued stock. Because in the end, wealth in real estate isn’t built on timing the market, it’s built on getting in, holding smart, and letting time do the work.

“Waiting” Isn’t a Strategy, It’s a Position

There’s a difference between timing the market and understanding the market. The first is emotional. The second is strategic. Buyers who chase the perfect price often miss the perfect opportunity, the right launch, the right layout, the right handover phase. Meanwhile, seasoned investors look for value within the current market, not outside of it. They know that good assets rarely get cheaper, they just move to someone else’s portfolio.