Buying real estate for investment purposes

Updated June 19, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - People usually buy real estate for residential purposes but there are those who wisely purchase a condominium unit, which can be rented out or sold in the future, as investment.

Buying a piece of real estate means that several factors have to be considered before even writing your first check. The first factor to be considered is location, so that transportation and communication do not pose problems. Secondly, it is best to choose a property that is easily accessible and near commercial and business districts, schools and hospitals.

Escalades at the 20th, a 1.4 hectare mid-rise housing development is located in the heart of Cubao, Quezon City, is a few minutes away from the Metro Railway Transit, Light Railway Transit 2 and EDSA. It is also very near Araneta Center, which houses Gateway Mall, Araneta Coliseum and many restaurants and shops and less than 20 minutes from schools and universities like the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College, among others.

“Property values in Quezon City, especially Cubao, are very resilient with potential for growth. Buying a unit at Escalades is definitely a good investment for the future,” says Marilu Alferez, Robinsons Land Corp. senior vice president and general manager.

“When buying real estate, always inspect the finished product to make sure that it is well made and constructed. Check if the condominium unit and building can withstand the elements and test of time,” she says.

Alferez adds: “Living at Escalades offers would-be buyers a chance to own a piece of property that’s unique in that it is like living in the suburbs in terms of open spaces and safety and security without being too far from the center of things.

A more relaxed lifestyle is attained with the family-friendly amenities available in Escalades at the 20th Avenue. These include over 70 percent of open spaces with a playground for children, a jogging path, a swimming pool for adults and kids, gym, a multi-purpose function room, picnic area with barbeque pits, Gazebo Luna, and an exterior circumferential road.

Escalades is designed by Robinsons Land with its professional design partners, following a method called green architecture where buildings are made to be energy-efficient, allowing more natural sunlight into each unit and hallway, and providing greater air ventilation. The studio units, which are well-constructed, offer 22 square meters of space, the 1-bedroom unit 32 sq m and the 2-bedroom unit 50 sq m

Each unit is hooked up to basic amenities like individual electric and water meter, cable TV line, provision for telephone line, opening for owner-supplied window-type air conditioner, sprinkler system and provision for washing machine connections.

Building facilities include a reception/security counter for every building, standby power generator for common areas and selected outlets in the residential units, automatic smoke detectors and fire alarm, drying cages on every roof deck, individual mailboxes and central garbage room.

In addition, waste water from the residential units passes through a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) which filters the water and will be used to irrigate the vast open space of the development.

You can own a unit at Escalades at the 20th Avenue for as low as P6,000 monthly. For more information, contact 397-1888, 397-0101 and 09228380888, or go to www.robinsonsproperties.com.ph