The Portofino Legacy

Ask any financial adviser and the answer would be the same. Real estate is still the best and most enduring investment one could ever hope to make. Land ownership answers to one of the most fundamental necessities of man — the need for shelter. Its value will never falter since the supply remains constant while the demand, especially with a growing population, is always on the rise.

As years pass, the investment pays for itself as well. After one had lived a full life, the property can be bequeathed to the next generation, ensuring a roof for shelter. Or if the need arises, it can be sold with a tidy profit to meet the owner’s financial requirements.

But not all property are equal in value — a fact that many unsuspecting investors found out the hard way at the height of the Asian crisis in the mid ‘90s when many real estate development came to a halt.

While some guarantee a shelter for today, there are others that make certain a legacy for the future. An investment, after all, is about putting a little away in the present to ensure a comfortable retirement. For the more forward-looking, it is also meant to secure the succeeding generations.

Sustainable Investment

To ascertain a legacy and secure the future is largely a part of the driving force that powered the creation of Courtyards of Portofino by Brittany Corp. Sprawled over an area of over 200 hectares along the Las Pinas-Cavite-Laguna-Muntinlupa Link Road is a sanctuary meant to be enjoyed in the present while protecting the interests of the next generation.

A unique property, its value has been steadily on the rise. This, however, does not come as surprise to Brittany Corp. president Jing Serrano. The secret, she revealed, lies in how the property is developed.

"Property will always have its highs and its lows. But a good developer is rated not only by the quality of its projects but also by its ability to sustain its operations despite the crisis," Serrano confided. "But how we were able to cope with that difficulty and sustain operations and still have very good projects — I think that is something we can be very proud of," she added.

A Property Like No Other

The Courtyards of Portofino is a themed development inspired by the romance of the Italian lifestyle. As the name suggests, it is the courtyard that serves as its most distinctive feature. These clusters of homes are configured to surround a central courtyard. Thus, the houses form pocket communities that make up the development.

But the more unique feature is the inner courtyard found within each of the homes. There is an open space — either at the center or at the side of the residence — that can be accessed from the surrounding hallways. This particular configuration encourages more family interaction by providing a specific area where members of the household are bound to run into each other. The open lay-out also allows more sunshine and fresh air to circulate within the structure.

For the master of the household, casitas were integrated in the design with their needs especially in mind. Each home has a room that is slightly set apart from the main house. While ideal for staying guests, it is primarily meant to be a quiet space that would allow the homeowner to indulge in his personal business without being disrupted by the rest of the family.

A finishing touch to these residences is the porticos. These arches that rest elegantly above the columns accent the courtyard design and serve to complete the charming Italian motif.

This exclusive enclave will accommodate only 98 courtyard homes when completed. It offers four model homes namely Cezanne, Monet, Raphael and Rembrandt — after European art masters.

When completed, the Courtyards of Portofino will be at the heart of the massive Portofino development in between two other enclaves namely Portofino Heights and Portofino South — each with its distinctive character though inspired by the same Italian ideals of la dolce vita.

Value Added

It is this careful attention to details that has made the Courtyards of Portofino and, indeed, all other Brittany Corp. developments worth every single centavo invested in it and perhaps, even more. But this hardly comes as surprise given its dedication to its clients and a firm belief that they always deserve more.

"We were not exactly small but when we started in this business, we were a David. The only way we could compete was to give value-added services. We had to overdo things. If you want to cater to a market with a more refined taste, you must be able to capture the littlest details that would catch their attention even if it was more expensive. We had to dish out more," Nova Noval, head of Corporate Communications explained.

In a cutthroat industry, she added, they had to figure out what would make them unique from their competitors and this included employing a theme, the use of quality materials, the attention to details, and service. In addition, every Brittany property offers premium utilities for its residents. To ensure an unobstructed view of the landscape, cables for power and communication were buried underground. Perimeter fences and buffer trees line the boundary lots to ensure security apart from the 24-hour system that safeguards the entire community. Deep wells and water reservoirs ensure a round the clock water service.

The Courtyards of Portofino is along the Las Pinas-Muntinlupa-Laguna-Cavite link road. Property previews may be arranged at 850-6986, 850-2868, 850-3084.