Get the Right High Rise Home Right Now

MANILA, Philippines - In a fast-paced city where a premium is placed on accessibility, Vista Residences develops high rise condominiums in the best locations. The developer offers difficult- to- resist pre-selling packages for their well- planned projects, so that more people are convinced into investing in property.

Still, there are those who would prefer to occupy their new homes right away. Eager to immediately enjoy the conveniences that come with living in well- built homes in prime locations, they consider the price difference between a pre-sold unit versus a ready-for-occupancy (RFO) home an investment in quality of life. Certainly, when one takes into consideration particular factors (such as the peace of mind that comes with owning a home built by a reputable developer, amenities, accessibility to workplaces, and more time to enjoy activities that matter) the cost difference is really money well spent.

“But is the price difference between a pre-sold home and an RFO unit really substantial?” we asked Beth Kalaw, High Rise Division head of Vista Residences, a significant player in the Philippine condominium development scene. She tells us, “Part of the benefit for those who buy pre-selling properties is that they get to acquire properties at a bigger discount and lower base price. Ready units are priced at current market value which is about 30 percent to 40 percent higher than the original pre-selling price. Therefore those who had the foresight to invest early on have greatly benefitted from the increase in property value.” However, she has observed that the investors do not seem to mind. “Buyers understand that a ‘ready for move-in unit’ would entail buying at current rates.”

For her part, Nova Noval, marketing head of Vista Residences debunks the perception that units sold after completion of a development are the less desirable leftovers of pre-selling. “Most developers, in fact, would hold on to certain units because margins would be higher if the units are sold upon or after turnover,” she says. “As to desirability, you could say that this is largely dependent on personal aesthetic preferences and the current needs of the buyer. There is never a ‘less or more’ desirable unit. Rather, the more important consideration is to find the perfect unit that fits your condo- living requirements.”

Definitely, Vista Residences offers many choices for those seeking to invest in condominium properties. Since 2006, the respected developer has set new standards for city living by redesigning the country›s landscape with its elegant multi-level, and multi-use developments. Notable among these are Trevi Towers in Makati which features energy efficient design; the luxurious and modern Mosaic at Greenbelt; Avant which is at a prime, central location at The Fort; and Symphony Towers which is a mixed-use building complex in Scout Esguerra, Timog Avenue, Quezon City.

But for the RFO units in its various developments, Vista Residences takes its expertise in space planning a notch higher by individually furnishing these. “We at Vista try to constantly find ways to delight our customers,” says Noval. “We often find model units made up for pre-selling purposes, but it is very rare to have actual units dressed up and ready for you to move-in.”

Thus, the developers have readied furnished units designed “to be as livable as possible. They are functional and have no useless frills.” With expert interior design, ‘a sense of space’ is achieved, while opening up new design possibilities. Noval tells us that in the Avant development, for example, their interior designers fixed up a unit inspired by the modern male. “A steel divider was placed in the middle of a 36sqm studio to give the unit a more masculine feel and to give some sense of privacy.”

“Of course you can get a bare unit and furnish it to your liking,” says Noval. “But opting for a dressed up unit means time saved in shopping for interior fit-outs. We tried to think of everything, even the beddings, so that all you have to do is pack your bags and bring in your basics.”

As the forecast for the Philippine economy continues to be positive with the experts predicting strong and sustained growth, now is a good time to invest in property. “It is currently a buyer’s market,” confirms Nova Noval. “Property will always be a good investment, more so if the developers are like us at Vista where there is an extra effort to create living spaces that will continuously appreciate in value.”