Foreclosures: Path to Homeownership for Filipinos

As the Philippine real estate industry continues to flourish, more and more properties are being developed especially in all vibrant and emerging cities of the country. Although this progress means success to the sector and to the economy, it affects the purchasing power of common Filipinos toward home ownership, as it means more expensive homes.

To address this problem, other viable means to own a property are being explored. One option that continues to gain popularity is the acquisition of foreclosed properties. Lamudi Philippines and partner My Saving Grace Realty & Development Corporation (MSGRDC) will showcase some of the 15,000 foreclosed properties that they manage and will offer it for auction to the public at the Lamudi Housing Fair on November 18–20 at the SM Megamall. MSGRDC is a brokerage owned by Ramil Alquileta that specializes in foreclosed properties. In the process, the real estate firm also educates Filipinos about the advantages of foreclosures.

The foreclosed properties handled by MSGRDC are owned by different banks and Special Purpose Asset Vehicles Companies (SPAV). Alquileta believes that with proper education, foreclosures can indeed be a smart way to put a real estate asset under your name. To further help people who are eyeing their first investment, Alquileta also enumerated some of the advantages of buying foreclosed properties: (a) Buyers can use regular mortgage financing; (b) Properties are clean and named under reputable owners such as banks; (c) and most especially, property is sold for outstanding mortgage balance, which means it is priced way lower than the market standard.

Know more about foreclosed properties acquisition and take advantage of the property auction only at the biggest housing event in the country this 2016. Apart from the auction, the Lamudi fair will also feature the widest selection of properties and offer exclusive discounts to home buyers and property investors. Investment and homebuying seminars and virtual reality application in real estate can also be learned and enjoyed at the fair.

For more information visit www.lamudi.com.ph/housing_fair/

Properties for Auction at the Lamudi Housing Fair

One of the most recommended ways to acquire real estate when you do not really have a particularly large budget is to attend a property auction. Recently gaining more popularity in the Philippines, a property auction is a great way to learn more about real estate and to get your dream home -- most of the time, at hefty discounts.

The common misconception in a property auction is that you have to allocate a big sum in order to compete for a lucrative investment, but in truth you can get a decent, value-for-money property that is not readily available elsewhere. In the Philippines, these events are organized by banks, government agencies, financial institutions and real estate brokerage firms and the properties they offer are often priced below market value.

This year, Lamudi Philippines and partner banks RCBC Savings Bank and Philippine National Bank are opening up the chance for the public to participate in a property auction at the Lamudi Housing Fair.

RCBC and PNB will offer various foreclosed properties for auction at the biggest housing fair to happen in the country. The event is scheduled on November 18 to 20, 2016, at Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Attendees of the fair can take part in the auction and some will be fortunate enough to go home with his dream investment under his name.

Some of the bank properties that are up for grabs at the Lamudi Housing Fair are townhouses and house and lots with land sizes ranging from 80 to more than 2,000 square meters. Some of the featured property locations are Cavite, Laguna, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bacolod, and myriad others.

One property up for auction at the fair is the 183 square meter, two-storey house and lot in Sta. Rosa, Laguna by RCBC. This property is perfect for families who are looking for ample space for their growing needs and a good neighborhood near the metro but do not have a hefty amount to spare.

Apart from the auction, the Lamudi fair will also feature the widest selection of properties and offer exclusive discounts to home buyers and property investors. Investment and homebuying seminars and virtual reality application in real estate can also be learned and experienced at the event.

For more information visit www.lamudi.com.ph/housing_fair/

*This is Press Release

10 Ideas for Decorating your Home for Halloween

Are you excited about the spookiest night of the year? Perhaps you are planning a party. Maybe you are just considering giving some trick-or-treat kids a fright! We are here to help you make the most of this opportunity to be gruesome. Leading real estate portal MyProperty.ph has prepared 10 spooky tips for Halloween home decoration.

1. Innovative Pumpkin Carving

Look up some unique pumpkin carving designs. There are many techniques you can use to make your pumpkins look even spookier, such as moulding and drying wax onto them to create a scary lumpy texture, or creating different surfaces for the light to fall through. The uglier and more unique your pumpkins the better. You could even hang them on chains!

2. Orange Globe String Lights

Put orange globe string lights behind white blinds to give your home a spooky, orange glow. This is also useful for creating a backdrop for your silhouettes (see the next tip).

3. Spooky Silhouettes

Either make your own or purchase some black figures to place in front of your spookily lit windows… Skeletons, witches, ghosts, and ghouls are a great choice. How about a crazy scientist? Just make sure that they are positioned in terrifying poses.

4. Ominous Green Bottles of Poison

Fill up large jars with green liquid and line the entrance of your home with these terrifying bottles of poisonous doom. Place a cauldron in your kitchen and fill it with water and red food colouring to make it look like a witch’s cauldron of blood… Invite guests to stir the cauldron with an ominous wooden spoon; don’t forget to cackle (and to protect your surfaces!).

5. Ghosts Dancing Around a Campfire

Create some scarecrow-like figures for the garden and wrap them in white sheets… Stuff their heads so that they look like people. People will think they are ghosts! Place them in a circle, hand in hand. In the center of the circle, place a messy pile of orange and red LED lights, which are suitable for the outdoors. This will look like a bonfire. Enjoy the look on the faces of passers-by as they walk past a circle of dancing ghouls.

6. Front Garden Graveyard

Invest in some plastic headstones for Halloween… This is a fantastic way to decorate your outdoor space, and it does not cause too much mess.

7. Poison Ivy

How about draping artificial ivy around your dinner table, doorways, or mantle piece? Not only does this add greenery to your space during this fun holiday, it will also create a fun and poisonous look for your home.

8. Creepy Halloween Mirror

This one is a fantastic DIY tip to create a creepy home. Buy an old mirror from a garage sale or take a look in your own basement for an old creepy looking mirror that nobody uses. Find an old photograph or a printout of a scary face that is about the same size as your own. Purchase some steel wool, some transparent tape, some acetone, and find some paper towels. You will also probably need gloves, a screwdriver, and a cloth. With the steel wool, make the mirror look aged by scratching it. Take care not to strip off all the material. Fix the photo behind the glass, and you will have an eerie wall piece to scare all your indoor guests.

9. Spider Web Doorways

Either use cotton wool or a specially made spider web gun to create spooky spider webs in your doorways. You can even spruce up your webs with some realistic-looking plastic creepy crawlies. Just make sure that you and your guests can still get through the door and that you do not create a fire hazard!




10. Hold “Dark Dinner Night”

Nothing says creepy better than eating in the dark… Cover your windows with dark sheets and provide each of your dinner guests with a candle and a blindfold as they walk in. As your guests make their way to their seats with candles in hand, explain that you will serve them shortly, but that before you do, they must help their neighbour put a blindfold on so that everyone in the room is drenched in darkness for the entire evening. Make your guests food with interesting and unusual textures. You will give your guests a unique dining experience and make Halloween super memorable for them!

Have a spooky ghoulish Halloween!

Resource:  Lamudi and MyProperty.Ph

ABOUT LAMUDI

Lamudi is a leading global property portal focusing exclusively on emerging markets. It offers sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure and easy-to-use platform to find or list properties online. Lamudi was established in 2013 in Berlin, Germany and it is currently available in Latin America (Mexico, Colombia and Peru), Asia (Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka) and Middle East (Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates). Within fewer than three years, Lamudi has established its presence as a key online real estate marketplace in the countries where it is operating. For more information, visit Lamudi Philippines on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

ABOUT MYPROPERTY

Established in September 2010, MyProperty.ph is one of the leading Philippine real estate online and print brand that brings property buyers and sellers together. The website’s main offerings are listings of pre-selling properties and properties for sale and for rent. Both website and magazine also provide relevant and updated industry news and information for its clients and consumers. And with the release of its mobile version, finding or selling a home is made even easier. For more information, visit MyProperty on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram.

Brand-New Cars up for grabs at the Lamudi Housing Fair

Solid Pattern Home Builders is giving away brand-new Toyota Vios 2017 units at the Lamudi Housing Fair, happening on November 18 to 20, 2016, at Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong. This exclusive offer is open to all Housing Fair attendees who will sign spot-on cash contract with Solid Pattern Home Builders worth Php4.32 million.

According to Solid Pattern Home Builders, this exciting promotion offers Filipino families, OFWs, retirees, and even companies looking for a company to build their dream home or office building, and get to own a brand new Toyota Vios in the process. A brand new Toyota Vios 2017 will be bundled when one avails of a Php4.32 million contract (terms and conditions apply) with the company during the Housing Fair.

Recognizing the boom of the construction industry in 2011, Solid Pattern Home Builders used their expertise to provide first-rate building services to Filipinos. The company since then has delivered innovative homes with modern architectural designs while still maintaining reasonable and value-for-money rates. Determined to change the unfair reality in the industry where construction and materials are substandard and interest rates are so high, the company is consistently coming up with ideas to serve their clients better.

Solid Pattern Homebuilders is a gold sponsor at the upcoming Lamudi Housing Fair. Other sponsors include Eton Properties, Lhoopa, Filinvest, and Hoppler. They will be joined by exhibitors such as Abenson, Bayan, The New Apec Development Corporation, Green Circle, DMCI Homes, Phinma Properties, HT Land, Sandari Batulao, Infinite Edge, RCBC Savings Bank, New San Jose Builders, Shang Properties, Greenfield Marketers One, Property 101 Incorporated, Data Land, Sky Residences, Castille, Damosa Land, and many others.

The Lamudi Housing Fair will be the largest housing event in the country to feature the widest selection of properties and offer exclusive discounts to home buyers and property investors. Visitors may also take advantage of investment and home-buying seminars and foreclosure property auction with partner banks and brokerages at the Housing Fair.

Other fun games, promos and activities will also be available for the whole family and exciting prizes awaits the first 100 attendees to register at the Lamudi Housing Fair Booth.

For more information, visit www.lamudi.com.ph/housing_fair/

*This is Press Release

Lamudi Launches Biggest Housing Fair this November

Slated on November 18 to 20, 2016, the Lamudi Housing Fair will be the largest housing event in the country to feature the widest selection of properties and offer exclusive discounts to home buyers and property investors. To be held in Megatrade Hall 3, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, the housing fair is expected to attract more than 5,000 attendees.

But more than just a show of various real estate projects and a shower of home-buying discounts, the Lamudi Housing Fair is also a venue to learn the latest trends in the industry. The Lamudi group will facilitate investment and home buying seminars, foreclosure property auction with partner banks and brokerages and will showcase the most modern technology application in real estate such as Virtual Reality.

The global property website is staging the event not only to highlight the different projects to choose from all around the country but to be an avenue for the public to know more about the workings of the industry. Both real estate sellers and buyers can take advantage of the offerings in store at the fair.

“The Lamudi Housing Fair will bring together the top players of the real estate landscape in one venue; property buyers can feast their eyes on various realty selections that will suit their budget and preferences best. Top of all, home buyers can finally acquire their dream house in discounted prices that they can only get here,” shared Jacqueline van den Ende, Managing Director of Lamudi Philippines and MyProperty.ph, two of the Philippines’ largest real estate portals.

Some of the sponsors and exhibitors include, Filinvest, Eton Properties Philippines Inc., Hoppler, Lhoopa, San Jose Builders, Shang Properties, Greenfield Marketers One, Property 101 Inc., Dataland, Sky Residence, Castille, Damosa Land and RCBC Savings Bank.

Fun games and activities will also be available for the whole family and exciting prizes awaits the first 100 attendees to register at the Lamudi Housing Fair Booth.

For more information visit www.lamudi.com.ph/housing_fair/

Cebu City Is Most Searched Location Outside Metro Manila for Real Estate

Helped by a significant number of searches for houses and lots for sale, Cebu City is ostensibly the most in-demand among online property-seekers looking to buy or rent properties outside of Metro Manila.

Gathering onsite search data from the first to third quarters of 2016, Lamudi Philippines, the leading real estate marketplace in the country, determined that the Visayas’ center for business and commerce is the most searched area outside Metro Manila among Lamudi users. Expectedly, the country’s third most important city (and largest in terms of land area), Davao City, comes in third as well.

The most recent data also indicated that traditional house and lots remain the most popular property type searched for among those looking outside Metro Manila, despite the rise of new apartment complexes and condominium developments in some of these areas. The latter two property types, however, were the following two most searched property types.

In Cebu City, for instance, 55% of property-hunters who visited the Lamudi website from January to September 2016 were looking for houses, followed by apartments and condos. In the cities, the proportion of those looking for houses is even much higher: almost 87% in Antipolo, 84% in Bacoor, 85% in Santa Rosa, and 78% in Imus. It is interesting to note that these cities are dubbed as “bedroom communities”—places that are home to a large number of people who commute to and work in Metro Manila.

Percentage of search volume by property type in the top 10 most searched cities outside Metro Manila

CITY	Houses	Apartments	Condominium	Land	Other property types
Cebu	55.48	20.34	14.56	7.39	2.23
Davao	73.94	7.83	4.39	13.19	0.65
Tagaytay	78.06	0.00	4.62	14.80	2.51
Antipolo	86.94	0.35	0.00	12.33	0.37
Bacoor	84.61	10.19	0.00	4.45	0.74
Baguio	72.23	5.25	4.19	17.12	1.21
Imus	78.50	18.37	0.00	2.18	0.94
Santa Rosa	85.27	1.90	2.43	8.13	2.27
Lapu-Lapu	80.70	11.77	4.33	2.35	0.84
Mandaue	24.58	57.04	9.90	5.97	2.50

Other areas that were tops among most searched areas outside Metro Manila were Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City, two places included in Metro Cebu. Baguio City, the long-time Summer Capital in the Philippines, was the area sixth most searched, where its real estate landscape resulting in houses and lots being the most looked for in the city.

While the data gathered was centered on placed outside Metro Manila most searched for property for sale or rent online, it must be noted that four of the top 10 areas are relatively a short distance away from the Philippine capital, and are places considered part of the Greater Manila area. They are Antipolo, Bacoor, Imus, and Santa Rosa. On the other hand, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue, which are both parts of Metro Cebu, generated a huge amount of search as well. In addition, traditional touristy places Baguio and Tagaytay generated plenty of online searches, most likely from people looking for vacation homes.

*This is Press Release

Mixed-use Projects That Will Soon Shape Metro Manila’s Real Estate Landscape

 
To say that Metro Manila’s real estate landscape is fast evolving is quite an understatement. For instance, no one would have guessed that Ayala Triangle was the site of the Philippines’ main and only airport—Nielsen Field—in the 1930s, before its destruction during World War II and subsequent redevelopment in the 1950s.

To give examples of more recent real estate “rebirths,” many residents of Metro Manila still remember Bonifacio Global City and McKinley Hill before they were, well, Bonifacio Global City and McKinley Hill. The 244-hectare Filinvest Alabang, in addition, was once a vast pastureland before the late 1980s, and Rockwell Center once  housed a thermal power plant operated by MERALCO.

Because the real estate industry’s appetite for new land to develop is insatiable, a growing number of master-planned, mixed-use projects are currently being constructed in many parts of Metro Manila. One can describe this building boom to be quite intense as every project that completes means more shopping malls, office towers, residential condos, and lots and lots of leisure areas add to the capital’s ever evolving real estate landscape.

Whether you call them townships, mixed-use estates, or live-work-play developments, these real estate projects have everything people need: master-planned, centrally located, transit-oriented, and are teeming with activities 24/7.

Lamudi Philippines and MyProperty.ph take a look at some of these future self-contained “mini-cities” to see their progress.

South Park District
Developer: Avida Land
Location: Alabang, Muntinlupa
Size: 6.6 hectares



A project by Ayala Land subsidiary Avida Land, South Park District will soon rise on the former site of Nestlé factory along National Road in Alabang, Muntinlupa. According to Avida Land, two high-rise residential condominiums are currently underway in South Park District: Avida Towers Altura Towers 1 and 2, with the first tower scheduled for turnover sometime during the fourth quarter of 2016, and the second during the second quarter of 2018.

Aside from these residential components, Ayala Malls will open South Park Mall during the fourth quarter of 2016, which will boast 49,000 sqm of retail space, while the South Park District Corporate Center, a 12,000-sqm office tower to be built atop the mall, will be completed during the fourth quarter of 2017.

At present, South Park District’s Central Park is now open to public, which features interesting sculptures by artist Greg Yuson, and BAGA Manila, a barbeque held from Thursdays to Sundays. According to Avida Land, prices of condo units in Avida Towers Altura Tower 1 have already increased approximately 6.03 percent since launch, indicating positive interest among property buyers.

Vista City
Developer: Vista Land
Location: Between the cities of Muntinlupa and Las Piñas and the provinces of Cavite and Laguna
Size: Approximately 1,500 hectares



Touted as Vista Land’s most expansive project to date, Vista City, situated on an area shared by the cities of Las Piñas and Muntinlupa and the provinces of Laguna and Cavite in southern Metro Manila, promises to be a complete community comprising vertical and horizontal housing, BPO offices, shopping malls, and even educational institutions.

According to Vista Land, the project’s retail component—Evia Lifestyle Center—is complete, which boasts an air-conditioned courtyard with a sky ceiling, high-end cinemas, and an indoor glass atrium.

Vista City’s residential components are also quite comprehensive, representing the company’s three brands targeting different market segments: Brittany’s Portofino Heights, Portofino South, and Amore by Portofino for upscale property buyers; Crown Asia’s Ponticelli Gardens and Ponticelli Hills for mid-end to high-end homebuyers; and Camella’s Cerritos for starting families.

Furthermore, Vista Land is developing Vista Hub situated along Daang Hari South, which is being earmarked as the south’s foremost business and IT park. Construction of its initial 10-hectare is well underway and will eventually house BPO companies. Another feature of Vista City is Palazzo Verde, one of Metro manila’s most sought after wedding venues.

The mixed-use projects future components include more office spaces, health and medical institutions, schools, sports facilities, and a hotel, while Vista Land’s residential components have already launched new phases of its residential projects.

McKinley West
Developer: Megaworld Corporation
Location: Fort Bonifacio, Taguig
Size: 34.5 hectares



Located just beside Forbes Park and the Manila Polo Club, McKinley West, in keeping with other Megaworld projects, is inspired aesthetic wise by modern and traditional European architecture.

This project, which sits on the former JUSMAG property in Fort Bonifacio, is expected to be fully developed over the next 10 years (Megaworld announced that it has earmarked Php45 billion for the project’s development), which when completed will composed of residential (condos and house and lots), IT parks and BPO offices, retail centers, and schools, among others.

The project’s first condo component—St. Moritz—was launched in 2015 and patterned after London’s One Hyde Park apartments. According to Megaworld, from Php190,000 per square meter, prices of St. Moritz units have already soared to Php215,000 per square meter in just a little over a year since its launch. The company also revealed that residential lots at McKinley West Village are now commanding prices of Php200,000 per square meter in the secondary market. Lots in this upscale project have selling prices of just Php70,000 per square meter when it was launched in 2010.

Arca South
Developer: Ayala Land
Location: Upper Bicutan, Taguig
Size: 74 hectares



At 74 hectares, Arca South is perhaps Ayala Land’s largest project inside Metro Manila since Bonifacio Global City. Soon to rise on the former FTI Complex in Taguig’s Upper Bicutan area, the estate will sit next to where East Service and C5 roads meet and will also feature a transport terminal dubbed “South Integrated Transport System.” According to Ayala Land, this section of Arca South, which is a multi-modal terminal, will facilitate organized transfers of some 4,000 buses and approximately 160,000 passengers expected to pass through the terminal daily.

Arca South’s residential components are doing quite well. In fact, according to information obtained from Ayala Land, the estate’s residential sales have already reached 70 percent, with three of the company’s real estate brands—Ayala Land Premier, Alveo Land, and Avida Land—together have sold over 1,000 units just a year after the projects’ individual launches. These Ayala subsidiaries’ residential projects in Arca South are Arbor Lanes, Veranda, and Avida Tower One Union Place, respectively.

In addition to these projects, excavation and construction have also begun for Ayala Malls, the Arca South Corporate Center, and Seda Hotel Arca South. The projects’ commercial lots are also fully sold, and according to Ayala Land, commercial land appreciated by 39 percent in less than a year since the project was launched in 2013. In addition, the company announced that it will invest Php80 billion for Arca South’s first five years, after which the estate will boast a built area of approximately 870,000 square meters.

Circuit Makati
Developer: Ayala Land
Location: Brgy. Carmona, Makati City
Size: 21 hectares



Dubbed as Makati’s newest entertainment district, Ayala Land’s 21-hectare Circuit Makati sits on the former Santa Ana Racetrack in Barangay Carmona along the southern banks of Pasig River. This mixed-use project will be anchored by the real estate giant’s various brands: Alveo Land for residential, Ayala Malls and Offices, and Ayala Hotels.

Although still under construction, several sections of Circuit Makati are now open to the public, including Circuit Lane and the 400-sqm black box theater Power Mac Center Spotlight; Globe Circuits Event Ground, a two-hectare entertainment venue that can accommodate up to 10,000 spectators; and sports facilities Mountain Dew Skate Park, Gatorade Chelsea FC Blue Pitch, and Urban CityKart Racing.

Ayala’s high-end residential subsidiary Alveo Land has already launched two high-rise condo projects in Circuit Makati: Solstice Towers 1 and 2, which are scheduled for turnover in August 2018 and January 2020, respectively. Aside from Solstice 1 and 2, structures under construction in Circuit Makati include the Stiles Enterprise Plaza, Ayala Malls Circuit, and Seda Hotel Circuit. According to Ayala Land, when completed Circuit Makati will boast approximately 9,000 condo units, 130,000 sqm of office space, and 250 hotel rooms.

Alabang West
Developer: Megaworld Corporation
Location: Brgy. Almanza Dos, Las Piñas
Size: 62 hectares



Currently being developed by Megaworld subsidiary Global Estates Resorts, Inc., Alabang West is a 62-hectare residential and commercial township (the real estate giant’s largest in Metro Manila) that is strategically located close to Alabang’s leisure and commercial districts (although the project itself is within the jurisdiction of Las Piñas City).

Alabang West’s highlight will be its Beverly Hills-themed lifestyle concept, complete with a 1.3-kilometer commercial row inspired by Rodeo Drive. According to Megaworld, almost half of the 788 lots made available during the project’s launch in 2014 were sold between October and December of that year. The company added that land prices in Alabang West rose by 25 to 30 percent in early 2015 from the township’s launch in 2014. Further, Alabang West is just one of several real estate projects in southern Metro Manila that will benefit from infrastructure developments in the area—namely, the Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway (MCX) and the Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX).

Vertis North
Developer: Ayala Land
Location: North Triangle, Brgy. Bagong Pag-Asa, Quezon City
Size: 29 hectares



Dubbed as Quezon City’s very first central business district, Vertis North is a 29-hectare prime property located between EDSA, North Avenue, and Mindanao Avenue, just across from Ayala’s TriNoma Mall. Makati Development Corporation is currently undertaking the land development of the estate, as well as construction of Avida Towers Vita, a three-tower high condo scheduled to be turned over in March 2017 (Tower 1), September 2017 (Tower 2), and February 2018 (Tower 3); High Park, a high-end two-tower condo by Alveo Land, which will be turned over in the third quarter of 2019 (Tower 1) and 2020 (Tower 2). Aside from these two residential components, Ayala Hotels is also building Seda Hotel Vertis.

Vertis North is expected to boost the city’s economic development. Ayala Land has announced that it is investing Php65 billion for the project, which when completed will have approximately 45 towers and buildings composed of offices, shopping malls, hotel, and residential condominiums. The project’s first retail component will open in late 2016.



*This is Press Release