26 Best Developments to Live in the Philippines (3rd of a 4 part series)

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 45.45
Selling : Php 46.00

Take a tip - your $ has been steadily increasing in its value again. After the election and SONA of GMA - it looks like things are beginning to become 'normal' again. And don't look where the stock market is headed...

Now to continue our list of the 26 Best Developments to Live in the Philippines.

17. La Posada (Loc : Sucat Paranaque, Theme : Neo Victorian - like San Fran homes, Pricing :$178,000 - $345,000). Notes... A clubhouse with a full view of Laguna Lake. This is one of Brittany's flagship projects.

18. Courtyards of Portofino (Loc : Las Pinas - Cavite - Laguna - Muntinlupa link road, Theme : Italian Community, Pricing : $206,700 - $600,000) Yup its not a typo error, homes are pricey. This is the place to be if you want elegance and exclusivity. I will be posting some pictures in my upcoming posts. Portofino is conveniently located South of Manila (SOMA), it is also a flagship project of Britanny Corporation's high end communities.

19. Pelham Quadruplexes at The Legacy, Montgomery (Loc : E Rodriguez Sr. Ave Quezon City, Pricing : $238,000 - $272,000) This project by Ayala has units designed for big families. Each 3 storey unit has at least 1,937 sq ft. With 4 bedrooms, a maid's area 3 t & b's. It is only 15 minutes to Greenhills Shopping Area - one of the best places to shop in Manila.

20. Victorianne (Loc : Sucat Paranaque City, View : Laguna Bay, Pricing : $138,000 - $149,000). Inpired by the infamous SF 'postcard row.' It is strategically located between Makati and Alabang and have the Laguna Bay as its backdrop. Conveniently located South of Manila (SOMA), and is another flagship project of Britanny Corporation.

My dear readers, on the last part of this series (# 20-26 of the list) you will get to know the best places to live in Cavite, Batangas and all the way up to Bataan. Now you have the idea and certainly you can make a well informed decision where to invest your hard earned buck here in the Philippines with the help of your lens to the Philippine Real Estate - your South of Manila Real Estate Blogger (SOMAREB).

Vista Land up by 5

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 45.40
Selling : Php 45.95


From the SONA we jump over to Manny Villar. Nope I won't say that he just won convincingly the Senate presidency (huh) but his holding firm Vista Land has just experienced its first increase in share value by 5cents. (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0727&282007/headlines02.html).

Hey good news for your $ today. Buying was up by .65 cents! Hurry up on those remittances to Juan dela Cruz.

To continue on with my 26 Best Developments in the Philippine Real Estate

13. Mayfield Park Residences (Loc : Rosario, Pasig City. View : Pasig and Ortigas skyline, Pricing :$49,000 - $98,000). Notes... They have a koi pond. Here is a link to a sample koi pond (for lack of words to describe it) http://images.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=http://www.shooterdog.com/pondbridge3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.shooterdog.com/pond.htm&h=536&w=800&sz=100&tbnid=MaGqI0YyTziRiM:&tbnh=96&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkoi%2Bpond%2Bpicture%26um%3D1&start=2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2

14. Woodsville Viverde Mansions (Loc : Merville, Paranaque City, Pricing : $23,000 - $56,000) Available units : studio, 1 br and 2 br. Designed for start up families and conveniently located South of Makati (SOMA). www.robinsonsproperties.com.ph

15. One Serendra and Two Serendra (Loc : Bonifacio Global City, View : Makati skyline, Pricing : $138,000 - $435,000).

16. Ayala Westgrove Heights (Loc : Silang Cavite, lots start at $89,000). Hey these guys have a 6 hectare park with lagoon. www.ayalalandpremier.com

Next week I will be bringing more of these list of the 26 Best Developments to live in the Philippines.

Special thanks to Eric Newman (www.ericnewman.com) for his picture of a koi pond, cheers!

SOMA on SONA

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 44.75
Selling : Php 45.30

Sona lasted 56 minutes. 48 hours later, a massive brownout hit Luzon - lasting for 3 hours. The speech for the State of the Nation (SONA) It was more like, stating the names. It was a 4,600 word text with half of it being names. Enough of that.

Let us go back to Real Estate news, the National Statistical Coordination Board just revealed that the property sector has recorded one of the fastest growth among monitored industries in recent months. So high are the expectations that this coming July 26 to 29 2007, a Real Estate Festival will be held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

26 Best Developments to Live in the Philippines - part 3

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 44.55
Selling : Php 45.10

A brief moment to thank the growing reader base of this blog www.somareb.blogspot.com
Surely, I will continue to serve as your best lense for SOMA projects here in Manila by providing you with the freshest updates everytime. I have also added (as you may notice for the past week now) the key buying / selling indicative rates for your buck to the peso. That way, you get straight clean information - less the advertisement.

I will be bringing you the 9th to 12th spot (again not in any preferred order or ranking) of the 26 Best Developments to Live in the Philippines - thanks to Real Living publications.

9. One Orchard Road (Loc : Eastwood City Libis, View : Antipolo Mountain Range and Ortigas skyline, Pricing :$55,600 - $197,777)

10. The Residences at Greenbelt (Loc : Greenbelt Ayala Center Makati City, View : Makati skyline, San Lorenzo Vill and Manila Bay, Pricing : $111,200 - $667,000)

11. St. Francis Towers (Loc : Near EDSA Shang Plaza Hotel, Ortigas Center, View : Ortigas skyline, Pricing : $72,000 - $334,000)

12. WH Taft Residences (Loc : Taft Ave., Malate Manila, View : Roxas Blvd and Manila Bay, Pricing : $41,000 - 76,000)

Footnote : State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the Philippine President will be on Monday July 23, 2007 (Philippine time). Is it just coincidence or what? 1.) Kidnapped Italian priest Fr Bossi rescued today and Philippines' Human Security Act / enacted today. You tell me.

Happy weekend to all my kababayans...

26 Best Developments to Live in the Philippines - part 2

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 44.85
Selling : Php 45.35

Take note my OFW readers, your $ is going down in value for the past 2 months now excluding the pre-election months.

Getting back now to our list ...
5. Makati Executive Tower 2 (Loc : Dela Rosa St cor P. Medina St, Makati City, View : Makati skyline, Pricing :$19,200 - $24,900 for studio type units only. 1 to 3 br available too)

6. Grand Soho Makati (Loc : Buendia Ave, near Jupiter St, View : Makati skyline, Pricing : $43,000 - $280,000) www.gsmcondo.com

7. Lee Gardens (Loc : Lee St cor Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City, View : North Tower, Greenhills Shopping Center, Wack Wack Golf and country club, Ortigas skyline, Manila Bay, Makati skyline, Pricing : $41,000 - $84,500 for studio type units only, 1 to 3 br available also)

8. Mezza Residences (Loc : 1475 Aurora Blvd. corner Araneta Ave., View : Sta. Mesa area, Pricing : $22,300 to $111,112. With Zen garden and meditation area and reflexology path)

take note that Mezza Residences although quite lacking in the panoramic scheme of things, makes up for its unique Zen feature area. Wow.

Well I will stop here so that you can have time to compare these projects. Again as your lens here in the Philippines, feel free to drop me an email or comment and I will gladly send you more info as much as I can. Till then !

Vista Land beefs up in the North too

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 45.05
Selling : Php 45.55

Camella Homes (now known as Camella Homes and Communities) now has the following roster of master planned communities north of Metro Manila;

1. Grande Vita - Mediterranean (or seaside like villas, prominent in California and Florida since these are coastal regions) style homes located in Valenzuela City (right after Novaliches).
2. Siena Villa - carefully laid out townhomes with bigger lay outs of 3 bedrooms and 1 toilet and bath (t&b). Same location - in Valenzuela City.
3. Nova Romania - another Mediterranean inspired community, 2 storey homes located in Deparo - in the gut of Caloocan City.
4. El Paseo - if you want to live around tall palm trees and lush landscaping, this is the place to be. Its near SM Novaliches and the 2 top schools - UP and Ateneo.
5. Tierra del Sueno - Spanish inspired community (most exclusive project in the vicinity). Price range is from $17,000 to $36,000.00. Located in San Jose del Monte Bulacan.

This is just a view from South to North - till then ...

26 Best Developments to Live in the Philippines

As I was sipping hot choco this morning I found this article that proves very interesting for investors and homebuyers alike - enjoy!
This list by the way was compiled by Real Living Philippines (the list is not in any order of beauty or pricing)
1. One Rockwell (Loc : Rockwell Center in Makati, View: Makati, Ortigas and Fort Bonifacio, Pricing: $80,000 - $333,333)
2. A. Venue Residences (Loc : Makati Ave, View: Makati skyline, Pricing: $65,000)
3. Avida Towers (Loc : Col Boni Serrano Ave, New Manila QC, View: Ortigas, Greenhills, New Manila, Pricing : $25,000-$75,000)
4. Bay Gardens (Loc : Diosdado Macapagal Blvd Pasay City, View : Manila Bay, Makati Skyline, Pricing :$113,000 - $355,555)

Watch out for the continuation of this list in the coming days...

Buying Real Estate in the Philippines? Take this warning.

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 45.75
Selling : Php 46.25


Early this week, VP Kabayan Noli de Castro together with the Dept of Justice broke news that they were putting up a 'watchdog' task force that: (read carefully) will receive and evaluate complaints against erring subdivision and condominium owners, developers, operators and sellers engaging in unsound, criminal and unlawful practices in the real estate condominium and subdivision business. It's about time!

According to my grapevine, properties and structures being offered by these erring developers are often left unfinished and the buyers are NOT refunded their downpayment when they reject the units or when they complain to the developers.

Your lens will give you fresh updates on this task force as things develop here on my end.

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata ...

Top Philippine Schools converging in Sta. Rosa

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 45.70
Selling : Php 46.20

As we speak, Sta. Rosa Laguna is getting to be a heavyweight location as each day passes. Fast gaining prominence as the 'land of opportunity and enterprise' (Phil star, RE section Jun 22, 2007), Sta. Rosa is attracting the top schools in the Philippines. A stone throw away from the 3rd phase of Brittany Corporation's Georgia Club, a 340 plus hectare University of Sto. Tomas (college of Medicine http://www.ust.edu.ph/) will be built and (take note) operational by year 2011. About a 5 mile radius from Georgia Club you will also find the Ateneo Graduate School (Business courses http://www.admu.edu.ph/), St. Scholastica's College (an exlusive girl school), Brent International School (that big complex one can see while traversing the South Luzon Expressway), the De La Salle University (http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/)and in the future - Xavier School, Lourdes School.

Major points to consider why you should make that investment in Sta. Rosa;

1. Top schools available
2. A myriad of career opportunities (major car, telecoms, healthcare industries abound)
3. Accessibility to Premier recreational destinations (theme park, golf courses, retreat houses, scenic spots, beaches and picnic groves)
4. And - relatively affordable residential land pricing.

Before you react to my number 4 point, consider this: Georgia Club is selling its phase 1 (total of 3 phases) lots and homes and lots. Before they conclude and sell of about 90% of phase 1, expect to see another round of land value appreciation.

Lots (about 3,078 sq ft) are selling for about $21 per sq ft. House and lots (about 1,915 sq ft of floor area) fetch for $93 per sq ft. (the rate I used was $1 - Php45). And with suitable payment option plans available, this certainly is quite an investment.

OH by the way, UPLB (http://www.uplb.edu.ph/)is about 45 minutes away (about 12 miles) from Georgia Club. Its where I burned my kilays.

As your lens, feel free to comment or contact me for a more fine tuned information. Till then.

Single Property Website updates

You can now check out the updated Mosaic condominium listing website (www.somaremosaic.realivent.com). Feel free to use the email to a friend feature as well as the request more information features. As always, feel free to post or get in touch with me for your comments. Enjoy!

Brittany Corporation flexes its financial muscles

It's the 4th of july weekend over in US and everybody is on a travel mode once again. The Feds have decided to maintain federal funds rate (the rate that banks charge each other) at 5.25%, where it has been pegged for the last year.

Over here in our backyard, a mutiny leader has been proclaimed as 1 of the country's senator, not once but TWICE! And the 12th spot is been hotly contested between a son of a current senator and a congressman from Bukidnon in Mindanao.

For those watching how your hard earned dollars will fare at the exchange for the last 6 months of the 2007, our Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has estimated that the range would be around Php47-Php48 to a dollar. As I write this post, we are doing Php46.20 to a dollar, meaning things will be better for you (and our exporters) by a peso and fifty centavos by the time I hear kids sing Christmas carols in front of my home.

Before I eat my sinangag and tuyo with 3 in 1 coffee, I would like to briefly write about how Brittany Corporation plans to solidify its hold on being the largest property developer (at least geographically). First they drummed up news on their impending IPO. Then just last week they announced how their share prices were accepted very warmly by the public. Now, its the 3rd installment of my being the 'lensmaster' for my kababayans there working for Uncle Sam (as well as our relatives working in the Middle East) - Brittany Corporation's holding group, Vista Land has set aside 7B pesos in the next 2 years to fast track all its property developments outside Metro Manila - yes my dear igans, including our blog place of interest the south of Manila Real Estate (Somare). This announcement has been made by no less than Vista Land's CEO, Jing Serrano.

Here are some of the places that will see major property development from Brittany Corporation; Angeles, San Fernando in Pampanga, Baliuag in Bulacan, Batangas City, CDO, Cebu City and Davao.

I will keep you posted as Brittany Corporation flexes its financial muscle in the coming months - now let me go back to my sinangag, tuyo and 3 in 1 coffee. Happy 4th of July!