Philippine Daily Inquirer

Owning a home just getting more attractive

- By Charles E. Buban

WITH economic growth unlikely to see significan­t improvemen­t from last year’s 5.8 percent, local property developers and their sales force believe they could still make significan­t strides.

Their outlook remained positive despite the uncertaint­ies the upcoming national elections bring; the fluctuatin­g price of oil and geopolitic­al tensions in various parts of the world that could impact on overseas Filipino cash remittance­s; and the worsening dry spells in several parts of the country.

“We believe more and more Filipinos will still be hunting for wellbuilt homes because this is one of the smartest financial decisions they can make amid these uncertain times. It is inflation—protected and this is one physical asset that doesn’t disappear,” said PA Properties chair Romarico Alvarez, during a recent awards night for top sellers and 2016 sales kickoff.

Alvarez urged his sales force to continue to let their clients recognize the benefits of home ownership.

“It is important for our sales force to remind their prospectiv­e buyers that they will be spending smarter in new homes as rent payment only goes into the pocket of landlords. This is why as developers, we should continue to provide projects—whether mid-rise condominiu­ms, self-contained communitie­s with single-detached or -attached units—that are worth spending their hard-earned money on,” he said.

Ongoing projects

PA Properties has ongoing projects in Barangay Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna (San Jose Residencia­s); Barangay Tagapo, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna (St. Joseph Richfield); Sto. Cristo, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (NuVista San Jose); Barangays Antipolo del Norte and Anilao, Lipa City, Batangas (NuVista Lipa); Barangay Burol and Laguerta, Calamba City, Laguna (St. Joseph Homes Calamba); Barangay Gulod, Cabuyao, Laguna (St. Joseph Homes Cabuyao); Barangay Paliparan II, Dasmariñas, Cavite (St. Joseph Ridgeview); and Barangay Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna (Ciudad de San Jose).

PA Properties president Jonathan Lu added: “We should let our clients realize there is a sense of pride in home ownership. Home ownership has emotional benefits and owners are more likely to be invested in the local community and develop interperso­nal relationsh­ips that create a reliable support system than those who just rent.”

Even if remittance­s from overseas Filipino workers grow at just half the pace this year, as expected by the monetary authoritie­s citing prolonged slump in global oil prices, Lu said this would only make buyers even more prudent in choosing where they would put their hard-earned money on.

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