Real estate, resilient as ever
Real estate remains one of the best investment options in the market even amid the pandemic, as it continues to be resilient, offering tangible and quantifiable benefits which are poised to get better over time.
This was the consensus among the panel of experts in last Thursday’s webinar entitled, “Real Estate: Resilient As Ever,” which was hosted by the Property Section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in partnership with SM Development Corp. (SMDC).
Enrique M. Soriano III, executive director of Wong + Bernstein Group, pointed out that real estate continues to offer attractive advantages. For one, it’s a tangible asset whose value will appreciate over time— more so for projects that are located in masterplanned developments.
“Real estate is a solid (addition) that can expand your portfolio. But make sure that when you invest, you handpick the right real estate projects for you, from which you do not only generate a recurring income stream, but also build up your equity base,” Soriano said.
Sheila Lobien, CEO of Lobien Realty Group, similarly pointed out that real estate is resilient, durable and tangible. More importantly, its value appreciates over time.
Lobien cited a case in 2009 during the global financial crisis, when many Filipinos were hesitant to invest. Those who did, however, have seen the value of their properties grow exponentially 10 years later—a growth that you may not get in any other type of investment, she added.
One, however, should take note of certain factors when investing in real estate, said Joey Roi Bondoc, associate director at Colliers Philippines.
Among the most important are the location and the proximity of the project to key infrastructure developments as these can help boost rental and reselling prospects.
“Infrastructure provides resiliency and improved connectivity. The potential for property appreciation is always present because of the proximity to infrastructure,” Bondoc added.
An example is SMDC’s Glam Residences, a 45-story tower rising along Edsa in Quezon City—in the midst of a vibrant city address that places residents near an MRT station and more importantly, the upcoming North Triangle Common Station which is set to connect three rail transits and the proposed Metro Manila Subway.
Another important consideration, which emerged during the pandemic, is that the property should be part of a masterplanned, integrated development.
SMDC has long been offering such kind of integrated lifestyle development, in which residents are given the convenience of having their essentials practically one elevator ride away. In fact, this exceptional benefit proved to be a lifesaver for many during this ongoing lockdown.
Case in point is Shore Residences, which offers not only the most ideal resort in-city lifestyle, but more importantly, an address that places you in a highly dynamic mixeduse complex that is Mall of Asia (MOA). Here, one is treated to upscale amenities and strategic location, as well as proximity to infrastructure developments, offices, one of the biggest malls in the country, key establishments and institutions.
“The good thing about SMDC is that through the years, it has (developed) more integrated lifestyle developments which means that all the socalled tangible benefits an investor or homeowner would wish for can be found in their developments,” Soriano said. “It also managed to keep up with changing times—better masterplans, more green, better spaces and efficiencies are more pronounced.”
“This integrated lifestyle puts SMDC at an advantage. The integration of all these features help provide a lot of convenience to condo buyers. The pandemic has highlighted the need to be in a condo project which offers upscale amenities and implements health and safety protocols… SMDC has provided all these perks and benefits and most of their locations are strategically located near airports, other public transportation and infrastructure projects that are completed and likely to be developed,” Bondoc explained.
“It’s the best time to buy now because the interest rates are low and there are many developers giving discounts and freebies. SMDC is one of the best developers today as (its projects are) strategically located in several parts of the metro—it’s very accessible, you have a mall practically beside you, and (it offers) very good payment terms,” Lobien added.