Romancing Monet

As one Filipino senator quipped at last Thursday night's hearing on the very controversial National Broadband Network project, 'I will give you a VIP treatment and not a VOIP treatment' and so today I will also give you (another) VIP treatment with our blog entry. We will continue our Italian Romance. And this time, I will be giving out my 3rd to the last installment of the Courtyards of Portofino model homes.

Let us now romance and immerse ourselves with Monet's characteristics. A Monet home offers you an unhampered view of the scenery that surrounds you, rain or shine, on its grand portico (a porch leading to the entrance of the home). Enjoy more of nature downstairs on your scenic courtyard, which then leads you to different areas in the house, every corner exuding an Italian flair (and not an affair). March to the classy casita (see inset picture of the ground floor), a luxurious resting place for your guests. Tend a little garden in the front yard and complete the puzzle of your dream home. Fabuloso!

Raphael's Vital Statistics

Nope - this is not the one who you think is part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This is Brittany Corporation's one of the four model homes for its Courtyards Portofino in Alabang (SoMA) Muntinlupa City.
Home Specifications :
Total Floor Area : 2,679 sq ft
Min Lot Area : 3,292 sq ft
Min Depth : 194 ft
Min Frontage : 183 ft
Total Contract Price range : from $271,000 - $301,000

I am including in this blog entry a typical ground floor plan so you can vividly see yourself enjoying Raphael's handsome Italian (smooth) features. Call me to know more about your payment plans and how it all adds up to your current mortgage payment. US toll free number is 877 250 8274 (from 7am to 7pm PST).

A closer look at Portofino's Courtyards

Brittany's ultra high end Portofino project in Alabang (SoMA) is divided to 3 sub projects. They are; the Masters Collection (lot area range is from 3,229-8,718 sq ft - floor area range is from 2,960-6,727 sq ft), the Courtyards (lot area range is from 2,411-3,595 sq ft - floor area range is from 2,077-2,798 sq ft) and the Amore (lot area range is from 979-2,583 sq ft - floor area range is from 1,636-2,561 sq ft).

Today we will take a closer look at the 'mid-size' lot cuts - the Courtyards of Portofino homes and lots (price range is from $252,000-$400,000 at Php45=$1).

The particular model that we will use is the Rembrandt (see the inset facade picture above). Rembrandt is the biggest model home for this project (there are 3 other model homes you can choose from). It has a minimum lot area of 3,595 sq ft with a floor area of about 2,798 sq ft. Price is about $293,336. You can choose from inner courtyards or side courtyards. Moreover, Courtyards of Portofino configures the courtyard homes within a bigger central courtyard. This courtyards within a courtyard concept is Brittany's distinctive edge.

This Courtyard project has 6 hectares of 98 courtyard home and lot packages - all situated 5 minutes from the bustling Alabang Business and Recreational Center. A sample ground floor plan and second floor plan of the Rembrandt is on the left inset pictures for your careful evaluation. If you want to know more about it, feel free to call me at my US toll free number at 877 250 8274 (from 7am to 7pm PST). More to come about this lovely Italian Romance.

How to Make an Italian Masterpiece

Portofino's homes of the Masters Collection are named after the great Italian artists. Presently, Michaelangelo is available for viewing at the Portofino site. The home features a palatial silhoutte with a stately cupola, archways, and columns. Stone cladding fortifies its regal bearing. Arched windows allow an abundance of natural light. Alongside the architectural artistry, the homes of the Masters Collection take their regal bearing from the physical dimensions. You enjoy the luxury of space. Lot areas are from 5,381 sq ft to 9,687 sq ft. The floor area ranges from 3,552 sq ft to 6,727 sq ft (inset picture was taken from the actual living room). Some of the model homes offer great rooms at the ground level. Others offer ground level casitas or guest rooms. A versatile space, the casita can also be converted into a personal den. Spacious courtyards provide a private place to enjoy the benefits of the outdoors. An atrium, a large open area on the 2nd level, provides additional living space with a splendid view of the outdoors. Ante rooms are a prelude to the generously spaced bedrooms. And each model home has a roomy walk-in-closet as well. With the Masters Collection, you have all the living space you need for a life of luxury.

Brittany's Homes of Distinction, as exemplified by the Portofino Masters Collection, leaves an indelible impression.

Size Matters

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 46.35
Selling : Php 46.80

Hey good news for our bagong bayanis (new generation heroes), buying of dollars here just increased Php1 from last week. Hey hey!

To prove that size matters - Brittany Corporation has for its grandest project so far, the Portofino.
In the gut of Alabang (that also overlaps San Pedro Laguna and a portion of Las Pinas City) we can find the sprawling Portofino Masters Collection. If you want exclusivity to the max, this is the place to be. Price wise, homes are on the $560,000 to $890,000 range. Very much like a beach side property in any Bay Area luxury setting.
With the Portofino Masters Collection (Amore, Courtyards, and Portofino South, Portofino Heights), you have a home that expresses luxury at its most grand. The first of Brittany's Homes of Distinction, the Masters Collection takes the most opulent Italian architectural design - magnificient cupolas (little dome - http://www.cupola.com/html/bldgstru/cupolas/cuppict1.htm), archways and columns - and renders everything in grand dimensions (from 2,152 sq ft to 6,727 sq ft). Live it up with size. On the coming days, we will see how size comes with a prize. More to come!

Georgia Club Sta Rosa

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 45.35
Selling : Php 45.80

At the heart of Brittany's latest Lifescape is the vision of creating a community of relaxing, secluded residential enclaves in acres upon acres of panoramic land, that is just 15 minutes away from the scenic and cool Tagaytay City.

The Georgia Club masterplan spans an impressive scale at 44 acres initially - simply a prelude to 462 acres committed to development by Brittany. You get a fantastic view of Mt. Makiling (at the foot of which is the sprawling University of the Philippines Los Banos), and the proximity of leisure facilities like Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club. The Georgia Club project is a solid undertaking between Brittany Corporation and the prominent Quiros family of Metro South.

Some of the unique characteristics of this project include;

• front porch at every home (see above picture)
• pocket gardens
• Peach tree circuit (jogging trails) and
  
• well appointed barbeque pits

Let us look at one of the models as a sample - The Ashley 240. The total floor area is 2,583 sq ft. Price is about $224,000 (@Php45 - $1). The Ashley 240 is described as an efficiently designed home for the active family - with an attic that can be used as a guestroom or a hobby room.

You can email me or call me for more information regarding the pricing terms and or availability.

Tagaytay Crosswinds - Prime Swiss life

US$ Peso exchange rate today: (Indicative rates)
Buying: Php 45.15
Selling : Php 45.70


If I can only imagine myself living in Swiss inspired homes surrounded with the cool breeze of 8,000 Pine trees (and counting!) with rolling landscapes that matches the fantastic view of the surrounding altitude, then here in the Philippines - it can only be one project that has all those fabulous superlatives. Its Britanny Corporation's (extreme) South of Manila (SOMA) Tagaytay Crosswinds.

There are actually 4 projects within the Crosswinds territory. Let us briefly look at each one of them.

Deux Pointe, its Britanny's answer to the growing demand for Swiss homes. I think the growing nurse ofw's who are working in the alps has just been given some intimate attention by Britanny's developers.

Pine Grove, if you want to build your custom homes then this is where you should buy your space. A Gourment Village is soon to rise at this specific enclave.

The Grand Quartier. They didn't call it Grand for no reason at all. It is your prime, top of the foodchain mid rise condominum nestled on the crest of Crosswinds' rolling hills. If you want a perfect view of the 3 other projects, then a unit at this condo is best suited for you. (by the way, as of this writing - units are selling like crazy. They have also built the building already which means that the hand over date is just around the corner)

The Swiss Quadrilles. Its Britanny's version of a back to back duplex. Value for your money at one of Tagaytay's most exclusive masterplanned communities.

On my next posts we will take a more closer look (I am sure my readers want some pricing details too) at each of these 4 projects within the Crosswinds project.

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).

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.

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!

We are getting there...

Today as I opened my virtual world, a couple of things came to my attention. First, I got an email notifying me that someone actually commented on this blog - I was so ecstatic only to find out that ... the guy's language was totally french (or something). I don't have anything against them actually but some sense of uniformity is already in place here. Surely, my valued audience (that is you my dear) would appreciate reading simple english and or a few tagalogs (since this is a Pinoy site) and not some tongue twisting stuff. So to that fellow writer who posted a comment, I just had to moderate that one and keep it away for good.

The other item that I wanted to inform everyone is actually a modest milestone for this Real estate blogsite. Technorati is a site that has a daily traffic of about ... a million. Its actually a site that monitors blogsites and nothing more. And here is the good news, if you actually type in the search bar Brittany Corporation, this site (www.somareb.blogspot.com) will come out as the 3rd or 4th (its a daily random phenomenon) place in the search engine results (SER). Beautiful. Just shows that we are getting some great online ranking.

Let's not forget though, this blog is for you my fellow homo sapiens and not for these search engine robots.

Cheers. (here is the link where the Somareb blogsite comes up)

http://technorati.com/posts/tag/Brittany+Corporation

Single Property Website now out

Its another great milestone for your local online Real Estate agent Lescab. Today your online listing website is launched.

Click this link www.somaremosaic.realivent.com

True to my mission, this tool is another open and free program that delivers high quality features (like property photos, description and email to a friend). This new website will be up 24 x 7 x 365 for all to see and be informed of the latest updates on their favorite Brittany Corporation projects.

I'd love to hear your comments. Also for other real estate agents who would like the same tools working for them, let me know and I would be glad to give you a lift! Oh and by the way, this website is intended initially for Mosaic Condominium (studio type) project of Brittany Corporation.
Enjoy!

Vista Land, largest homebuilder...

Here is another juicy article that I scanned today at one of Philippine's broadsheets; Vista Land is now the biggest homebuilder in Asia. Such a bold and dangerous claim. Let us quickly look why the daring claim. Vista Land being the holding arm of Brittany Corporation, Crown Asia, Camella Homes and Communities Philippines has a total combined area projects of ... 1,077 hectares generously scattered all over the Philippine Real Estate archipelago. The other major reason is how Vista Land has a complete spectrum of projects for the different income classes of your average Juan dela Cruz. Take your pick - 12 master planned Brittany projects, 20 large scale themed projects from Crown Asia, 19 projects from socialized housing developer Camella Homes (which by the way debuted last year in the condominium arena with its Pacific Residences in Taguig) and 23 projects from Communities Philippines scattered over Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Batangas, Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, CDO and Davao.

The author would become your lens for these projects - let us see how Vista Land combines quality with quantity and come up with the most livable breathing space for every Juan dela Cruz wanting to have some piece of land in his native home land.

Brittany Corporation gearing up

Now the stage is set, Brittany Corporation officially joins the big boys of Ayala and Megaworld in big bucks business. Recently news articles have been regularly (for the past 1 and a half months) coming out about their holding company that was recently incorporated. This is Vista Land, and this company will take care of managing all of the Villar Group of Companies property projects.
Flagship projects include the 30 storey Mosaic Condominium in the heart of Makati Central Business District (CBD), the 42 storey Avant Condominium project in the skylines of The Fort and the Marfori Condominiums at the famous "B-bay" (Brittany Bay) in Sucat Paranaque. I think Brittany is starting to beef up its ranks and is preparing to do battle in getting a lionshare of the OFW market. Come to think of it, all projects (I've seen it first hand) of Brittany are masterplanned communities. So in effect, the commitment to develop well-planned communities is a by word for Brittany Corporation stalwarts.
Here is a tip: Vista Land will be listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on June 25, 2007. With the pace and vision of its major proponents, stocks of it will definitely appreciate sooner than one would expect.
Expect to see more positive news for Brittany and yes, you can be assured you can get the freshest updates here on this blog. Stay tuned...

Ford Sta Rosa wins South African market

As I ate dinner with my mother in law last night at a local food chain here in Sta Rosa, this was the business news headline. Indeed it is worth it. Ford Philippines has just bagged a contract to supply flexible fuel engines to the South African market - a booming 600,000 units a year average. It bested Ford factories in China, Mexico and Spain. Whoa! Now this will definitely trickle down to more jobs (steady jobs at that!) and more economic activity here for the Sta Rosa locals. Make way for the Detroit state of the Philippines! Now this again fortifies Sta Rosa as the in place to be. Brittany's Georgia Club is located at the heart of Sta Rosa - its charming South American home themes surrounded by age old trees will be a perfect home for those who want to be closer to their home with the benefits of a suburban lifestyle. Kudos to Ford Philippines.

5 Tips on Home Hunting

1. Location counts. Unless your not thinking to spend your retirement years in the home you are looking for, then you got to spend time checking out all the facilities and its accessibility for you.
2. Do your homework (about the developers). Every developer has their forte, so be pick according to your heart, and not your pocket. Remember, this will be your nest. So don't rush it honey.
3. Discuss details. Know the house specifications. Bring in an architect / engineer for second opinion. The professional fee they will charge you is nominal compared to you finding out later that you've bought a lemon.
4. While we are on the second opinion topic, bring also your spouse or a family member on your site visits. 2 heads are better than one.
5. Live big. Always be on the look out for that "extra" space. You will never know when you will need it.

Bottomline is: Never rush to buy that dream home of yours, there are tons of projects to choose from.

For Brittany projects, you have the option to live Itallian, Swiss, Carribean or plain lazy South American. Different strokes for different people.

What you want, what you need. By Design.

Let us get straight to the strong selling points here;

1. Location - heart of Makati, back of Asian Institute of Management (AIM). Its that part of makati where the street is not that busy. Makes for a peaceful immediate surrounding.
2. Customizable units for the Woman , Man and Family clientele. Its definitely built with you in mind.
3. Beacon light at the top - like Batman, you now have a light to call your own.

Name of Project : Mosaic - another master planned condo development.
Questions? I am always an email away. Comments are always encouraged.

South of Manila Communities

Building communities one after another - that is how I describe Brittany Corporation's mission these times. Itallian? Swiss? American South? Bay area? Caribbean? Its all here. When you visit their sites, you will be awed by the distinct feeling each community project will give you. Next post I will be starting to blog away their Italian community - the Portofino. Watch out for it...

Why Brittany

I totally buy the idea of master planned theme estates. It just shows you the dedication of the developer to put in money where their mouth is. In this "developing" country status, Brittany continues to lead the way (to be a maverick developer), to be innovative and to create the "finer" things in life. Indeed, the author has set his sights on one of the project that Brittany is developing - south of Manila. Where? you will soon know :)

What to Expect

Hello online world! As I sit on my favorite portion of the house, I will be regularly writing with passion and soulful content on topics that will include mainly Real estate and Filipino recipes - nothing more. If you are expecting musings, forget it. If you don't like that combination either, well this blog ain't for your eyeballs. And hey you can even call my attention if I am veering away from this declared mission of mine. You can only expect bite sized postings of all Brittany Real Estate South of Manila Projects sprinkled with posts of rich Filipino recipes. If you couldn't help contributing your own secret Filipino recipe or your version of that delectable sisig - then yes you are welcome to blog away with me.

Lastly, no advertisements on this blog too.