Value-for-money deals

MANILA, Philippines - The record downpour brought about by recent tropical disturbances that wreaked havoc in the metros revealed a weak, if not, lack of urban and flood control planning. It also left hundreds of thousands of urban dwellers scampering to safer grounds and rooftops because of the unprecedented flooding and mud-soaking in the most modern cities in the Philippines. Billions of real estate investments literally went down the drain.

This phenomenon compelled urban developers and real estate buyers and investors to go back to their drawing boards and trusted advisers to seek answers to this new dilemma. After the metro calamities, condominium and residence development and investing will never be the same.

However, there are three current urban development projects that may be considered as real estate investment havens as they already have incorporated flood and urban planning assessment into their preparations long before Typhoon Ondoy dumped the sea into the city. Phinma Property Holdings Corporation (Phinma Properties) has already been taking steps to protect its development sites from flooding and other natural calamities. The Fountain Breeze in Sucat, Parañaque, the Sofia Bellevue and the Flora Vista in Capitol Hills and Commonwealth in Quezon City, respectively, boast of a meticulous review component in their site selection process that considers natural calamities and other urban-living factors.

All three projects under the Phinma Properties, known for its award-winning medium rise condominium projects, comply with a stringent in-house design and development assessment. Phinma Properties have always taken the extra mile to ensure that their buyers are not just getting a top quality unit within a classy compound, but also a top quality way of life brought about by the conditions of their communities and surroundings.

“We know that condominium living is just a transition phase that many modern city dwellers have to go through because, deep inside, they still long for a bigger, more spacious traditional house of their own. Despite this buyers’ outlook, we still develop the best value-for-money condominium projects available in the city today; offering them the convenience of comfortable living within the metropolis, “low-priced, big-sized” unit, and a premium on security and safety,” Willie Uy, president and chief executive officer of Phinma Properties, said.

He added, “To be able to do that, we always consider possible untoward scenarios of city living: traffic, floods, crime, garbage disposal and others, whenever we select sites for development. We have committed to offer residential units that doubles as valuable investments for our buyers.”

Uy also recalled the numerous manhours spent in consulting with city engineering and engineering consultants before they even break ground for a project. Currently, city home buyers are looking at condominium developments with much consideration on time conservation, ease of maintenance, and freedom from city-living-inconvenience. Condominium living has also become an answer to the flood predicament that the city managers are trying to solve.

Thus, buyers now flock to the three Phinma Properties projects as trends of condominium living continues on the upswing and with good reason.

The Fountain Breeze in Parañaque offers a hefty 50% extra floor area for 20 to 30% less the average selling price compared to other developments. “No other development project in the area can present a better deal” adds Grant Orbeta, vice president for marketing & sales. “Phase 4 of Fountain Breeze offers studio units for as low as P650,000. This pricing strategy provides Fountain Breeze buyers opportunities to avail of easy financing terms for as low as 4,900/month thru PAG-IBIG”, says Orbeta. And with astounding amenities, such as a swimming pool, kiddie pool, a clubhouse, a fitness hub, playground, comfortable units, and a 24-hour security, it is a very difficult deal to match.

Its strategic location also gives one the versatility to either mix it up in the hustle and bustle of the Makati Central Business District or relax in the calm and supple atmosphere of the Alabang area in just 15 minutes; a very attractive city-to-countryside-and-back versatility that is very hard to resist.

Versatility is also one of the highlights of Flora Vista, a midrise condominium project that caters to the mid-market segment. It is situated in one of the most beautiful areas in Quezon City: the Commonwealth area. Flora Vista is conveniently located near transportation, education and commercial hubs. With the commercial and shopping havens Trinoma and SM North Edsa, plus the Techno Hub and many other office buildings nearby, Flora Vista is ideal for young urban professionals and for couples starting a life together who plan to invest in the most convenient city dwelling possible.

With the best schools in the land just minutes away, parents buying a spacious, safe and secured place to stay for their children still studying are in for one of the best investments of their lives with Flora Vista, as prices start at P877,000 only. The 1.8 hectare Flora Vista development will have nine five-storey walk-up buildings that feature units having a standard size of 30 square meters which can be expanded to 60 or 90 sqm depending on the buyers’ needs and budget.