Home » Real Estate Trends » Your Guide to Investing in DHA Karachi
DHA Phase 8
DHA Phase 6
DHA Phase 5
DHA Phase 7 & 7 Ext.
DHA Phase 4
DHA Phase 2
The upscale real estate project of DHA Karachi is based on seven phases (Phase 1, 2, and 4 till 8). It falls under the jurisdiction of Clifton Cantonment, Karachi, which is why the neighbourhood is jointly managed by the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC). The locality of DHA, Karachi, has always been a popular choice among property investors in the city, which is why it has also emerged as one of the top areas for property investment in Karachi in 2022.
The real estate of Defence, Karachi, is based on a plethora of property investment options located in all of its phases, which often leaves investors overwhelmed with choices. So, if you are also looking to invest in this posh residential community of Karachi, then you have made it to the right post. In this blog, we are going to list down and discuss the six most popular phases for property investment in DHA Karachi, as of August 2022.
Top Areas for Property Investment in DHA Karachi
Connected with a robust network of roads, here are some of the best areas to buy property in DHA Karachi as per the latest data fetched from Zameen.com’s search trends.
DHA Phase 8
Since Phase 8 is the newest development in all of DHA Karachi, it has become quite popular among investors and genuine buyers alike in recent years. According to Zameen.com’s search trends recorded up till August 2022, it has emerged as the most popular phase in DHA Karachi and for good reason.
Development of many high-end projects is underway in the vicinity of Phase 8. Plus it offers all the key facilities to its residents. Since it is a bit separated from all the other phases of the neighbourhood, it offers more peaceful and secure surroundings.
There are a few public transportation routes that cover some parts of the DHA Phase 8, but majorly it is a car-centric neighbourhood housing. The very famous nightspot of Do Darya Karachi is also located in DHA Phase 8. There are a variety of plots available for sale in DHA Phase 8. Most of them are sea-facing properties, which even have a higher price range.
You need to have at least a budget of over PKR 1.5 crore or more if you want to own a decent flat in DHA Phase 8. Whereas, plots and houses in the area can cost you even more. The prices of these properties are around PKR 8-40 crore on average. If you are interested in investing and learning more about this posh locality, read our detailed area guide on DHA Phase 8, Karachi.
DHA Phase 6
When compared to other subdistricts of DHA Karachi, Phase 6 is another newer development. Phase 8 and Phase 6 of Defence are separated by a single road “Khayaban-e-Ittihad”, which is one of the most important and busiest arteries of the neighbourhood.
Home to some of the most popular commercial areas in DHA Karachi including Bukhari Commercial and Shahbaz Commercial, Phase 6 is much louder and busier than Phase 8. You can find many popular outdoor tea cafes and other eateries in the area, where people usually sit till late in the evening and indulge in long chit-chats.
Apart from commercial districts, residential areas of Phase 6 are comparatively quieter and much more serene. Since it is the second-most popular area for real estate investment in DHA Karachi, properties also have high rates.
It is important to mention here that Phase 6’s Chota Bukhari Commercial is popular for hosting studio flats. These flats can be bought within a budget of PKR 1 crore. Spanning just under 500 sq ft, these properties are very small in size, which is the main reason why they are less expensive.
On the other hand, a normal 800-1000 sq ft 2-bedroom flat can cost you at least PKR 1 crore or even more, depending on the condition and age of the building. Plots and houses for sale in the area have more or less the same rates as the ones available in DHA Phase 8, costing around 6 crore to 40 crore on average.
DHA Phase 5
Besides offering sophisticated residential arrangements, DHA Phase 5 is now highly popular for hosting a wide array of recreational and commercial activities. The very famous 26th street and Saba Avenue run through the neighbourhood of Phase 5 connecting it with different phases of DHA and key areas of the city.
These roads are also famous for having different commercial and business hotspots, which naturally make them more crowded and noisy places than other parts of the neighbourhood. The best part about living in DHA Phase 5 is that you’ll always be a few-minute drive away from the very famous Sea View Beach. Also, the very popular Zamzama Commercial Area, Khadda Market, and Badar Commercial Area are all located in DHA Phase 5.
The rates of properties in DHA Phase 5 are a bit lower than Phase 6 and Phase 8 as it is an older and much more commercially active neighbourhood, a thing that is not usually preferred by a majority of residents of Defence.
A newly-built 2-bedroom flat, spanning 1000 sq ft, in most probably Badar and Tauheed Commercial areas of DHA Phase 5 can be easily bought within the range of PKR 1 crore. Likewise, investing in plots and homes in Phase 5 may also cost you a little less than newer developments in DHA Karachi, with average rates of around PKR 4 to 30 crores.
DHA Phase 7 and Phase 7 Ext.
As the name implies, DHA Phase 7 and 7 Extension are located adjacent to each other. They share almost the same vicinity. DHA Phase 7 Ext. is a mostly commercial area, situated opposite to DHA Phase 2 Extension. Both of these phases are not much developed and still have a lot of vacant land for residential, commercial, and multipurpose investments.
This is one of the main reasons why DHA Phase 7 and 7 Ext. are among the top areas for property investment in Karachi, according to Zameen.com’s search trends. Despite being a newly-developed neighbourhood, investing in DHA Phase 7 and 7 Ext. is surprisingly affordable. It is mainly because of the neighbourhood’s close proximity to the area of Qayyumabad, which is basically a squatter settlement.
Also, the infrastructure in the area isn’t as well maintained as in other phases of DHA Karachi. You can easily find a newly-built 2 bedroom flat spanning 500 sq ft within the budget of PKR 50 lakh. On the other hand, the price range of plots and houses for sale in DHA Phase 7 and 7 Ext. is between PKR 4 crore and PKR 25 crore on average.
DHA Phase 4
DHA Phase 4 is another good option if you are looking for affordable yet conveniently located accommodation in the upscale neighbourhood. It is one of the oldest phases of the housing society, which enjoys a central location. DHA Phase 4 is connected with many main roads, avenues, and major streets of the neighbourhood that runs in its surroundings.
Khayaban-e-Bahria connects Phase 4 with Phase 5. On the other hand, Commercial Avenue links the area with DHA Phase 6 and Phase 8 via Khayaban-e-Ittihad. The 9th and 10th Commercial Streets of DHA Phase 4 host one of its busiest commercial districts. Phase 4 Commercial is basically developed as a long strip of residential and commercial buildings with houses on both sides. DHA Phase 4 is also home to the very famous Nisar Shaheed Park, which is one of the largest parks in the housing society.
As discussed, Phase 4 is one of the oldest subdivisions of DHA Karachi, which is why properties here are much cheaper than in newly developed residential and commercial districts in the real estate project. A 2-bedroom flat in Phase 4 spanning 800-900 ft can cost you as low as PKR 75-90 lakh. If you want to invest in houses and plots in DHA Phase 4, you may need to set aside a budget of around PKR 4-15 crore. For complete information on DHA Phase 4, we have written a detailed guide on this well-developed and central district of Defence, Karachi.
DHA Phase 2
As the name implies, Phase 2 of DHA Karachi is even older than Phase 4. The construction of this phase of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) started somewhere in the latter half of the twentieth century. Like DHA Phase 1, it is also one of the fully developed phases of the housing society, home to some of the oldest residents in the area.
Since it’s one of the oldest parts of the real estate project, it is located a lot closer to some of the most important urban centres and business districts in the city including Clifton, I.I. Chundrigar Road and Shahrah-e-Faisal. Some of the most iconic landmarks of DHA including Defence Central Library and Tooba Masjid are located in the vicinity. Read our detailed guide on DHA Phase 2, Karachi, if you want to learn more about the area and its surroundings.
A majority of properties here are part of the older constructions, which is why they are reasonably priced. A 2-bedroom fully furnished studio apartment in Phase 2, spanning 450 sq ft, can be available for around PKR 50 lakh. Even, the prices of houses are lower than in the other phases here.
A property as big as a 1300 sq yd house may just cost you around PKR 25 crore. You can also find some west open houses, properties located on corner lots and main roads in the same price range in DHA Phase 2.
On a side note, you may also like reading our detailed guide on the pros and cons of living in west open homes in Karachi. Since the neighbourhood is fully developed, you’ll rarely come across any vacant land in the area for new construction. This means there are not many investment options available in the form of plots here.
There you have it — a complete property investment guide on DHA Karachi. We hope the information we have shared with you will help you with your real estate investing in one of Karachi’s most sought-after neighbourhoods.
On a side note, if you are looking to buy an ideal apartment home in Karachi, then this handy guide will help you out. You may also want to check out our detailed post on the best areas with affordable rental flats in the City of Lights.
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