In this episode of Sobha The Living Room, host Nimi Mehta sits down with Michael Hunter, Co-Founder & CEO of Holo, to break down the real truth about mortgages in the UAE and why “smarter borrowing” is often what helps people build wealth faster, not slower.

Michael shares what he’s learned from a decade in the UAE mortgage market, the biggest misconceptions first-time buyers still believe, and why many cash-rich buyers still choose mortgages when the numbers make sense. They also get into fixed vs variable rates, what banks actually look for, and how to think about affordability before you fall in love with a property.

The conversation also covers how investors can “make money on borrowed money” when rental returns outpace borrowing costs, how easy it is to switch lenders in the UAE compared to markets like the UK, and why the region remains attractive for long-term, tax-efficient property wealth building.

Highlights include

✔️ Why mortgages aren’t only for people who “can’t afford cash”
✔️ How leverage can help investors scale from 1 property to a portfolio
✔️ Fixed vs variable rates and how to choose based on your life plans
✔️ The UAE rule that makes switching lenders far more flexible than most markets
✔️ Why some cash buyers still take mortgages (and invest their cash elsewhere)
✔️ What’s changing in the region, including more access for non-residents
✔️ What tech and AI will realistically change in mortgage journeys (and what won’t)

Know more about us
Sobha Realty: https://sobharealty.com/

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sobharealty/

Follow the host & guest
Nimi Mehta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimimmehta/

Michael Hunter (Holo): https://ae.linkedin.com/in/michael-hunter-461666a5

Holo: https://www.useholo.com/