WE'RE MOVING IN!

Families are starting to move into their new homes at Riffa Views - the prestigious residential signature golf course development which has started to bloom in the Bahrain desert.

After months of delays, mostly caused by a cement crisis that crippled many projects in the kingdom, the developer is now able to instigate its main villa handover phase.

"We want to reiterate to all our homeowners, that we are continuing to work diligently with the aim of ensuring that key elements of the project, including the villas and the world-class facilities, get completed efficiently, but without compromising on the quality that was set at the outset of this exceptional project," said Alfredo Laffitte, CEO of Riffa Views.

The project spans 270 hectares and its completion has been eagerly awaited by hundreds of Bahrainis and expats who bought into the Bahrain dream and were hit by a double blow.

Some were faced with covering mortgage loans without being able to rent out their investment properties and others, also left with loan payments, had to sign short-term rental agreements elsewhere because their homes were not ready.

Bahrain's construction industry had been hit by export restrictions on cement imposed by its neighbour, Saudi Arabia. A weekly quota of 25,000 tonnes was imposed which barely fulfilled half of Bahrain's needs.

As reported in GulfWeekly, despite the basic infrastructure deadlines like electricity, sewage treatment, domestic and irrigation water and the first phase of Riffa Views International School being met, the villa completion dates were adversely affected.

The overall completion date of the entire project slipped from July to the end of 2009 and early 2010. At present the project completion date stands at mid-2010.

Early this summer, the BD300 million development suffered worker strife due to a non-payment row involving contractors.

Hundreds of labourers went on a wildcat strike at a contracting company employed by Riffa Views while another contracting company served a contractual notice of termination to the developer. However, the row was resolved after a pledge was made to meet all outstanding payments.

Despite the setbacks, Riffa Views' management says it is committed to delivering the promise of a 'lifestyle par excellence' and will be handing over 50 villas to homeowners in the coming weeks.

Last year a star-studded golf event marked the opening of the Colin Montgomerie designed 18-hole PGA golf course and a country club and a list of other amenities are said to be close to completion.

At present villa hand-overs are taking place weekly and the Riffa Views community is becoming more of a reality than a distant mirage. Despite the frustration over the long delays homeowners are thrilled to be settling into their new community.

Anne-Laure Renard, from Belgium, and Mostafa Pajouyan, from Iran, along with their three-year-old son, Niousha, moved into their home in August within a week of receiving the keys to their property.

"The utter pleasure of living in our own house instead of a rented place was overwhelming and the first night we spent in our house was an amazing feeling.

"We waited for our house for a long time and we are very happy now," said Mostafa, 37, an IT professional at Saudi Aramco.

And, golf-loving Carlos Riera, 43, and Sonsoles Ripoll, 40, from Spain, and their three children, are also delighted to be living the Bahrain dream.

The Riffa Views dream is finally coming true for people who bought homes on the development. GulfWeekly reporter Asma Salman meets two families who are busy settling down close to the kingdom's first signature-designed golf course

The Riera family

The Riera family home in Riffa Views overlooks the verdant golf course and is situated opposite the fifth hole.

Their five bedroom villa is situated in the Arabian-inspired architecture of the Oasis estate.

Carlos and Sonsoles are avid golfers. Having lived on the island for five years the prospect of owning their own home close by an 18-hole PGA golf course was tempting to say the least.

The Spanish couple looked into the Bahraini real estate market at the time of investing and decided that Riffa Views was the best available option on the island at the time. They bought their home off plan in October 2007 with delivery due after a year.

"We moved into our home in April. We were the second family to move into Riffa Views and although our house was complete the infrastructure wasn't completely ready.

"Our children were not allowed to go outside as there were holes on the side of the road and trucks were moving back and forth. It was as though we were living on a construction site," said Carlos, a telecoms advisory consultant.

"It did not make financial sense to live in a rented villa while having our own place lying vacant. We had already waited for seven months to receive our house and were not prepared to wait any longer."

The Riera family and their three children - Gonzalo, eight, Patricia, six and Olivia, four - who are pupils at St Christopher's School in Saar had to get used to living in a community without any friends residing in the vicinity. But the situation is improving as more and more families are moving in.

"The first two months were a nightmare - right from wiping the floors, to getting rid of the dust, to settling-in issues. But Riffa Views' management has been very co-operative and every day we see an improvement around us," said Sonsoles.

The family is a member of The Royal Golf Club and play 9 holes on most nights during the week. "The floodlit golf course looks stunning at night. We have played golf on different golf courses around the world but playing here, although challenging, is a real pleasure," said Carlos.

"Trappings of a luxurious lifestyle on a fabulous golf course are very much here. No doubt once the entire project is complete it will be fantastic.

"The previous management took care of the commercial side of the project but, in my opinion, there was a lack of co-ordination in terms of delivering homes.

"The present management is dealing with disgruntled homeowners and making the delivery of homes its priority," said Carlos.

Anne and Mostafa's story

Anne and Mostafa's house is situated on the Oasis Estate with a view of the golf course.

They bought their four bedroom house in November 2007 and were due to receive their completed home in August 2008.

"The delay has been frustrating. There was a complete lack of information and communication during the last 12 months but when we moved in our house all the frustration and distress that I had previously felt just melted away," said Mostafa.

They spotted a golf ball in their still sandy garden when they moved in. Both agree that the move has been hectic and they are still in the midst of opening cartons and issues like telephone and internet connection, landscaping their garden haven't been sorted out yet.

"At the moment we don't have street lights and our garbage is collected once a week but that will only improve as more residents move in.

"Presently, there are only six families living in our street and everyone is in the same boat. But our neighbours are very helpful and we meet each other, discuss our situation and share our experiences," said Anne, 37, a human resource consultant.

"Although the promise of the lifestyle is not there yet we are convinced that it will come. We have a comfortable house, a fantastic view and have bought a great product and that can only improve with time," added Mostafa.

Despite some minor scratches and bumps in the finished product, the quality of Riffa Views homes the family says is one of the best on the island; a sentiment voiced by most residents.

"We had two architect friends from Belgium visit us. They live and work in Qatar and they remarked that the quality of our house is one of the best in the Middle East and comparable, if not better, than European standards," said Anne.

Most of the houses in Anne and Mostafa's street are near completion. Although the construction trucks have moved away there is a flurry of activity during daytime when workers are putting finishing touches to the rest of the homes.

"Things are moving fast. Everyday we see prospective neighbours coming to see their homes and its great to see the community growing," said Mostafa.