What to Look Forward to in Uptown Cagayan de Oro?

Posted by Stefan on March 6, 2015

Dubbed as ‘The Emerging City of Tomorrow’ by the UN Habitat, Cagayan de Oro is consistent in achieving its goals in sustaining the city’s economic growth and upholding sustainable expansions in property developments.

Uptown Cagayan de Oro is a developing residential township and business center. With the surge of upper class communities and commercial hubs, Uptown CdO brings another sense of the city’s residents– a sense of ownership and pride to residents living within its area. You can now hear people saying “I live in Uptown” bringing in the sense of class and wealth.

According to Lorens Ziller, CEO of Multiplata Investments, with Uptown Cagayan de Oro becoming an emergent residential and business center, it has become the Makati of Northern Mindanao. “Though Uptown CdO is still underrated but it is well-recognized by those who count and can afford to live in upper class communities like Xavier Estates and within the Pueblo de Oro Community,” he adds.

What’s next for Uptown CdO?

UN Habitat and its planned city extension (PCE) program ‘Achieving Sustainable Urban Development’ (ASUD) has paved the way to transform uptown CDO’s landscape to a highly urbanized yet sustainable district in Cagayan de Oro.

ASUD pursues its PCE program in Barangay Lumbia. ASUD aims to link the urbanized downtown to its uptown area considering it also connects the gateway to province of Bukidnon, providing an inter-provincial transport hub for the trade and commerce of agricultural goods.

With this in mind, Uptown Cagayan de Oro will soon become another district of entertainment and leisure.

Planned sustainable urbanization for CdO’s uptown

With the surge of plenty well-developed subdivisions and an expanding condo scene, from Xavier Estates to Primavera Residences, the uptown is the place to be for those who are looking for a sound real estate investment.

Uptown Cagayan de Oro has a lot in store for us. Aside from its vibrant yet peaceful scenery, the city government is planning to build a sports complex for varied sports activities of the Department of Education (DepEd) also in Barangay Lumbia.

Among the amenities will be the athlete’s quarters, swimming pool, and track and field oval, to mention some. This aims to prepare athletes to various competitions in athletics.

With these plans for the uptown, the city extension area can absorb up to 25 percent of the city’s growth over the next 30 years.

The booming city of Northern Mindanao is one of three Philippine cities being supported by the USAID under the Cities Development Initiative (CDI), which aims to empower secondary cities as engines of national growth.

Italpinas, a CDO developer

Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-development Corporation (ITPI) is a leading CDO eco-developer in the Philippines that aims to develop sustainable properties in secondary cities in the country. ITPI’s flagship condo development in Cagayan de Oro, Primavera Residences, is the first and only sustainable condominium in Northern Mindanao. Located in Uptown Cagayan de Oro, it has received numerous awards locally and internationally for commitment to build sustainable properties.

According to ITPI’s President, Atty. Jojo Leviste, “While we realize the challenge brought by this new competition, I believe we can effectively meet that challenge by retaining our development’s persona as a Cagayan de Oro original, of a company that recognized CdO before the competition did,” Atty. Jojo Leviste, ITPI President, as he proudly shares this bold move to put up Primavera Residences that made an impact to Uptown Cagayan de Oro’s growth.

To know more about Uptown CdO’s first and only sustainable condominium development, Primavera Residences, please click here.

The Debate Between Condo or House and Lot

Posted by Primavera Residences on March 3, 2015

This article originally appeared in BusinessWeek Mindanao March 2, 2015 issue in the business column Out of the Biz Box.

When it comes to choosing where to live (buy or rent doesn’t matter) I keep on assisting an apparently eternal debate between Condo and/or House/Lot. In Metro Manila, this debate has already evolved to a clear understanding about the indisputable advantages condos have compared to house and lot.

My neighbours, when I used to live in Manila, were actually from Cagayan de Oro. They were living in a gorgeous 3 bedroom unit at a higher floor and were overall a very nice couple with 3 kids. During one of our food and wine tasting evenings we used to have from time to time they shared with me reasons why they decided to buy in a condo rather than a house/lot. They explained to me that as a family the main reason was safety followed by ease of maintenance of the unit, the modern amenities and a very convenient location near to work. I realised that, compared to other parts of the world, decisions about location and type of accommodation is based on considerations that go beyond practicalities.

Interested in knowing more about people’s motivations, I started asking other Filipinos about their experiences and thoughts and so I discovered that many of those who decide to go for condos do so because they fear burglars frequently present in sub-divisions, the inconvenience of needing a car at all times even for buying a litre of milk, the damages caused by typhoons, flooding or other adverse weather conditions.

Especially those who actually live abroad like foreigners married to Filipinas or OFWs often feel abused by the continuous repairs and maintenance fund requests by their caretakers or relatives. Understandably a house has much more maintenance needs than a condo. I could relate to that since I did own houses in the past and I understand that there are water pumps that break, air-conditioning that don’t work, leakages from the roof, pipes that burst, plants that need to be watered and many more things that need continuous care and maintenance.

There was one time when I had just rented my family house in Dubai to an Arab tenant, when he rang me up complaining about the air-conditioning not working. So I sent in some repair guys and they had to replace two pumps. A week later he called again for the water pump. A week later he called again for a leakage in the bathroom. This went on for 3 or 4 months after which he even refused to pay rent until it was all replaced and fixed. It all sounded crazy to me but as the owner I had the responsibility to repair and replace defective parts. I spent nearly as much money in repairs as this guy was paying in rent. This incident convinced me that, unless I was living in the house, I would never again want to own one to rent it out to someone else. But this is only my personal experience and could have been only bad luck.

In fact there is a bright side to a house/lot though. I do miss those times where I was inviting my friends over for an outdoor BBQ party in my garden or where I enjoyed sitting outside and work looking at the palm trees, my baby banana tree and all the rest of the planted greenery. It felt nice but now, years on, I just enjoy closing the door of my condo unit behind me and relax, being able to live worry free for all the time I want to stay away. If I come back after 6 months or 1 year at least I am sure that all my things are still there and that there is no repairs and maintenance works to do. That’s just peace of mind. Priceless. On top of that most condo developers offer a property management service which could take care about the rental of the unit in my absence shall I wish to make some money while I am abroad. This is probably most convenient for OFWs or pure investors. These units are then rented out fully furnished and are completely looked after by a professional team.

Understandably everyone has different needs and dreams in life so personally I don’t have a prejudice between house/lot, condo or even hotel apartment. I can only talk about my personal experiences. It is clear though that a condo lifestyle has certain advantages and it is spreading more and more into the Filipino countryside, out of the main hubs of Manila, Cebu and Davao. Fortunately there are now additional options developers in secondary offer to its clients including in cities like Cagayan de Oro.

3 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid in Condo Hunting

Posted by Stefan on January 26, 2015

People are now looking at the financial benefits to owning an investment condominium unit which shed light on why more people are jumping on the bandwagon.

First off, real estate is a great long-term investment. Although there might be short-term fluctuations in the market, but condo prices will surely increase over time and usually at a greater rate than inflation. Also in having a rental income, it is a great way to pay down your mortgage and build equity. Even if you just break even at first, odds are you’ll end up with a monthly cash flow as the cost of your mortgage goes down and the cost of renting goes up.

Although investing in a condominium make great investment opportunities, there are potential pitfalls along the way that could seriously derail your plans. Be sure to avoid these 3 rookie mistakes:

Wrong choice of a real estate developer

When shopping around for a new condo, find out who built it. You may not be able to see its worth but this can have a surprising impact on the quality of your investment. Make sure to do a builder background check to ensure your developer has high standards for both quality and design. Look up for professional ratings, check their website, and get opinions from friends and relatives, to mention some. This will help ensure your investment stands the test of time.

Italpinas Euroasian Design and Eco-development Corporation (ITPI), an Italian-Filipino joint venture which focuses in sustainable developments, has built its locally- and internationally-acclaimed flagship development, Primavera Residences, in Cagayan de Oro. Find out more about ITPI and Primavera Residences.

Undesirable choice of location

Buying a new investment unit is about more than just the condo’s price tag. If you find a cheap condo in an undesirable area, you might have trouble finding a renter let alone reselling the place. As a good rule of thumb, only buy a new investment condo that you would be happy to live in yourself. Is it located in a good neighborhood? Is it close to public transportation? Are there good leisure and entertainment areas nearby? Are there decent restaurants near the area? If you answered yes, then you shouldn’t have a problem in renting out your unit.

In Cagayan de Oro, the uptown area is still underrated yet considered to be the “Makati City” in Northern Mindanao. According to the Chairman of Multiplata Investments, Lorens Ziller, CdO is well-recognized by those who can afford to live in upper class communities and subdivisions. Uptown Cagayan de Oro is the lifestyle you’ll need if you crave fresh air, flood-free and spacious communities, accessible shopping facilities, little-to-no traffic, and a good view of nature.

Selecting the wrong tenant

If you’re considering renting out your condo unit, do everything in your power to ensure you’re handing your unit keys to a tenant you can fully trust. A condo unit is a huge investment after all, and the point is to gain from your investment—not to spend it on unnecessary repairs. Spend time to assess the applicants to the best of your ability through credit checks, quality references from previous landlords, and by meeting them in person. To also protect your investment, it’s a good idea to draft a comprehensive lease agreement that covers for damages, and to request proof of contents insurance prior to allowing renters to move in.

The Asset Management Program of Primavera Serviced Residences gives the unit owner the hassle-free handling of their investment. Through this in-house program, your investment will be properly handled by a skilled management team from marketing your investment to eligible tenants up to monitoring your investment for you.

Do you want to know more about the project? Click here.

Property Expo: Investments in Ready-for-Occupancy Properties More Advisable

Posted by Primavera Residences on December 16, 2014

On December 5 – 7, 2014, industry leaders gathered at Property Expo Philippines 2014, highlighting industry trends and dispelling talks of a real estate bubble.

According to Mr. Alejandro Manalac, chairman of the National Real Estate Association (NREA), it is advisable to consider properties ready for occupancy or at least nearing completion for personal investments in 2015. This reduces the risk for the buyers and should give them an advantage over the next 3-5 years since there are still not too many units available in the market. Mr. Manalac spoke also about the steps for proper investing and tips on how to find the right property. He said that investing in real estate will continue to be very promising but one must be careful in their choice of properties based on their objectives and holding capacity.

Property Expo Philippines 2014 has clearly proven to be a growing event of interest within the real estate industry featuring panel discussions and seminars with tips on investing in property, on Feng Shui, for selling or buying a property, on becoming a successful real estate investor, on how to market property online, and on how to become a real estate sales champ. Nearly 100 exhibitors and numerous speakers of the market leaders in property development and many other operators of the Philippine Real Estate, Architecture and Design industry were present in this event held at SMX Convention Center Manila.

Investing in secondary cities a winning strategy

Following the path of the chairman of NREA, Mr. Lorens Ziller added that “investing in ready-for-occupancy properties in secondary cities should prove a risk-free investment and winning strategy even among fears that in 2015 we might be seeing a slight slow-down in property sales.” Also Lamudi, the official event partner, explained with Matthieu Janssen, Co-Founder of Lamudi Philippines, how increasing demand through web-search is leaving a mark in today’s real estate panorama and how Lamudi can be strategically helpful for buying/selling/renting properties in the Philippines.

The real estate sector expanded by 8.9% YoY in 2Q 2014

Colliers, one of the world’s leading international real estate services companies presented data from their latest Research & Forecast Report Philippines Q3 2014 report stating their analysis and findings. According to the report the Philippine economy relied on a strong manufacturing sector to grow by 6.4% YoY in 2Q 2014 and the real estate sector expanded by 8.9%. Retail and Commercial real estate was driven also by the demand in commercial buildings and office space for the BPO industry amid growing demand from secondary cities.

In Metro Manila we should apparently expect a lower demand in residential condominium units in 2015 while office space and retail are apparently doing better. Office rents across all grades increased 2 – 3% this quarter while land values in Makati went above peak-levels not seen since ’97. According to Mr. Chris Wells, Residential Property Consultant of Colliers International residential properties are better for keeps nowadays as re-sale might involve taxes and duties difficult to be absorbed by potential re-sale buyers.
Looking for a ready-for-occupancy investment in an alternative location? Primavera Residences in Cagayan de Oro City is your best choice. Located at the master-planned 360-hectare development of Pueblo de Oro Business Park, the eco-friendly property has been awarded as the Best Mixed-Use Development in the Philippines by the Asia Pacific Property Awards. For more information, go here.

5 Ways Young Filipinos Will Shape the Real Estate Industry

Posted by Jane on December 2, 2014

For many years, Filipino millennials—individuals aged between 20 and 34 years—have been under the radar of many brands and marketers. They are even considered a hard sell—well informed yet seen as having little spending power. They have been labeled tech-savvy yet narcissistic, liberal yet lazy, and many are even seen as perpetually holed up in their parents’ homes, saving on rent and unwilling to move out.

However, the days when millennials are perceived as such are quickly coming to an end. Recent research is showing that millennials will soon comprise a demographic that will shape the Philippines’ economic future, and that of its real estate industry.

With this new interest for millennial home-buyers, leading property platform Lamudi Philippines lists five ways millennials will shape the Philippines’ real estate sector and how the industry can effectively tap into them.

Their Number and Spending Power is Growing

Data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) show that Filipino millennials now number approximately 27 million, more than a quarter of the country’s total population and more than 50 percent of its workers, making them a key demographic with a potentially high spending power.

In fact, having a sizable disposable income places millennials in a good position to purchase the latest gadgets. Global marketing firm Publicis Manila dubbed this spending behavior “I want ergo I need.”

Despite their limited employment experience and training, Filipino millennial employees tend to be favored over their older counterparts because of their lower demands and flexible working habits, according to Publicis. This increases the sheer number of employed young people in the Philippines.

They are Tech-Savvy

Filipino millennials also now comprise more than 70 percent of Internet users in the Philippines, according to estimates from comScore. Their income also allows them to subscribe to the best Internet connections, making them the prime customers of e-commerce sites that peddle everything from shoes and airline tickets to housing loans and insurance.

People in This Age Bracket are Now Getting Married

Although the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) has noted that the number of Filipino couples getting married declined by 1.5 percent between 2001 and 2010, a great number of marriages still take place in the Philippines—476,408 registered in 2011. The average ages of brides and grooms are also increasing: 26.1 and 29.1, respectively, in 2010.

But a more intriguing statistic is how Filipino couples are opting to tie the knot. According to the NSCB, almost 44 percent of couples are choosing civil wedding rites compared to 35 percent who are opting church weddings. The latter is almost always costly, which suggests that young Filipinos’ spending patterns and priorities are shifting.

Filipino Millennials are not Burdened by Student Debt

Although average income in the Philippines is lower compared to the developed world, recent college graduates entering the workforce are not burdened by student-loan debts. This is thanks to Filipino parents’ strong emphasis on the value of education. While the Philippine government does not provide free tertiary education (save for a few state universities), parents fully shoulder their children’s college education. This allows Filipino millennials to start working virtually debt-free, increasing their spending power and savings rate.

Filipino Millennials are Happy

Perhaps the most important trait of Filipino millennials is their positive outlook. A 2013 study conducted by media giant Viacom places Filipino millennials’ happiness level at 83 percent, the highest in all countries surveyed. They also tend to always look at the bright side—although half of them see job security as a challenge, almost 80 percent of them would take a minimum-wage job rather than not to have any job at all.

In order to cope, Filipino millennials thrive on interpersonal contact with family and friends as a driving force to their stress-free lives, according to the study.

Article source: Lamudi PR

All photos courtesy of XU MRKMN 61 students

Lamudi is the Philippines’ fastest-growing online property portal and is currently available in 28 countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with more than 500,000 real estate listings across its global network. Primavera Residences, the first multi-awarded eco-friendly property in Cagayan de Oro, is one of the properties presently listed in Lamudi.

To know more about Primavera Residences, visit www.primaveraresidences.com or visit the listings on Lamudi.com.ph here.

Lamudi Shares 4 Reasons Why You Should Teach Your Kids About Real Estate

Posted by Jane on November 25, 2014

They may not be buying their first home anytime soon, but teaching kids about the value of real estate can help secure their future.

Financial advisors always say: “It’s not how much you save, but what’s important is you start saving early.”

The same goes with teaching Filipino kids about real estate: the earlier, the better. All parents want their children to succeed in life. One way to do this is to teach them to appreciate the importance of real estate. Although owning a house may not be the most crucial ingredient for being successful, it will sure help them achieve financial independence, not to mention it will provide security for their future family.

Teaching them early about real estate also allows them to understand the hard work, challenges, and compromises involved in finally affording to own a home, but most importantly the perks that come with it. So when the time comes when your kids have to spread their proverbial wings and fly out of the family nest, they will be ready.

To guide Filipino parents, Lamudi Philippines compiles a list of reasons why it is important to educate our kids about real estate.

They Learn the Value of Hard Work

Growing up in a household with baby boomers as parents who place home-ownership in high esteem, many of us learned that owning a home is not as easy as it seems, but that it is very achievable if we work hard for it. Many of my peers casually jump from one job to another—or worse, resign from their jobs just because they feel like doing it—and this has huge implications on their financial standing. Many of them take years to finally sort out their finances to get approved for a housing loan, which could have been avoided easily if they understood the importance of job stability very early on.

They Learn How to Negotiate

If one is buying real estate, he or she can seek the advice of a licensed broker or even a lawyer get good insight into fair and reasonable price. But then it will be up to the buyer to negotiate the price with the seller. Oddly, many people are not comfortable with the idea of negotiating; however, if we do not negotiate, we stand to lose a lot of our hard-earned cash. But teaching kids about real estate, you also teach them the importance of negotiating. It helps them gain confidence to walk away if a deal simply is not favorable. This will help them a great deal in life as well, as negotiating is part and parcel of our dealings every day (salary, for instance).

They Learn the Importance of Good Credit Standing

I am sure many of us saw our friends and relatives wallow to the burden of credit card debts, and how many of them were unable to get a mortgage due to dismal credit standing. This prevented many from owning homes. If children are taught real estate at an early age, they will understand how compromises will have to be made in order to remain financially stable, which is the first step up the property ladder.

They Learn to Plan for the Future

If parents teach their kids the importance of real estate, we are teaching them the importance of planning for the future. Although parental instinct pulls most parents to assist their children in any way possible to move up the property ladder, this only teaches them to be overly reliant. What parents can do is nurture their independence and teach them the value of hard-earned money.

Preparing kids with the necessary tools to help them find the road toward financial independence and home-ownership is one of the most valuable lessons any Filipino parent can give. This will in fact be more valuable than cash gifts or financial support, as it will enable them to manage their own finances and stand on their own feet well into the future.

(Article source: Lamudi PR)

To know more about Primavera Residences, visit www.primaveraresidences.com or visit the listings on Lamudi.com.ph here.

Why You Should Consider Investing in Real Estate

Posted by Stefan on November 10, 2014

Real estate cannot be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.

—Franklin D. Roosevelt

What does the future hold for the real estate market in the Philippines? Is it still valuable to invest in real estate despite all the projects that have been booming everywhere in the recent years?

Not all investments are created equal. It means money, effort and time. Before getting ready to pursue an investment, financial gurus as well as plain old common sense would advise you to think through and analyze your investment strategies.

Real estate is something that you can physically touch and feel – since it’s tangible, many investors consider it a low-risk investment that allows you a greater degree of control over your money.

Normally, a down payment of up to 20% of the purchase price can be made, and the rest can be financed by banks. This gives you leverage to invest more in different types of properties with less money down, helping to build your net worth or income that you could make off the properties.

So, why should you invest in real estate? Here are the most notable advantages:

It is income generating

If you’re investing in any real estate development such as a condominium or an apartment, make sure there is no oversupply of the same type of property in the area. Invest in a right property that has high demand, but is scarce and hard to find in the area.

If you pick the right property, you can surely enjoy the probability of a monthly rental income. Owning an investment property won’t take much of your time after you’ve set it up. The key is to find people who can help you monetize your investment.

In this case, Primavera Residences, an eco-friendly condominium in Cagayan de Oro, is an example of an investment that is new to the city. Being the first condominium that is ready for occupancy, you can surely generate income in no time, allowing for faster ROI.

The building also has its own professional in-house asset management team that manages the units for short and long term rental through the innovative ‘Serviced Apartments’ concept, the first of its kind in Cagayan de Oro. This ensures you a hassle-free, one-stop solution in overseeing your income generating asset. Quarterly reports will be provided to update you of the performance of your investment, allowing you to be on top of things while keeping headaches at bay.

Keeping your day job

You can’t do ten day-jobs, but you can surely own and manage at least ten properties by yourself.

To guarantee a rental income, your creativity can increase the value of your property, may it be in renovating your interior and exterior or furnishing your unit/property. For such renovations, at Primavera Residences, buyers get unfurnished units with inclusions of tile floorings, painted walls and ceilings, fitted kitchen sinks, bathroom fixtures, electrical wirings and outlets and you can be inventive by how you design your unit to attract clients coming in.

You’ll make a substantial profit when the increase in value (perceived or otherwise) is greater than your acquisition cost and what you spent for the improvement. The key is to be diligent enough to look for a bargain. Remember that the profit is made when you buy, not just when you sell.

After everything is done, you will have just to sit, relax or continue on your day job and just receive a monthly income.

Most real estate properties will appreciate in value.

“Most” because there are properties that are slow to appreciate and don’t appreciate in value at all.

The key is location, location, and location.

Buy a property where the major developments are ongoing, or where it’s headed. Better yet, invest on properties near malls, schools, offices, churches, or new roads built. This translates to faster growth, value appreciation, and higher demand to prospect investors.

Sustainable developer ITPI for example, has invested in alternative locations where nature and the environment has been thoroughly preserved and optimized. Primavera Residences, located in a master planned community in uptown Cagayan de Oro, was built in 2009 and has been successful in attracting buyers and investors who believe that uptown CDO is an ongoing success story in the real estate market.

Your property is illiquid.

Unlike most investments, real estate couldn’t be immediately translated into cash, preventing irresponsible use of money or overspending.

If you’re in need of cash, however, your property can be used as a collateral in the bank or you can use it as a security to apply for a loan.

Better returns

For many decades, this investment has produced constant wealth and long term appreciation for millions of people. If you consider inflation, in the long run, if you decide to sell your property, there’ll be a higher chance to get better returns as compared to just keeping your money in the bank. Real estate has had an average return of 8.6-10% over the past 20 years, since we have gone through 3% inflation over the years and this partly accounts for the high return on the investment.

Much, much better if you pass it on as a legacy to your children and your future children’s children.

Looking for a property to invest in? Visit www.primaveraresidences.com or call 088-880-5002.

Research: Majority of House-hunters are Women

Posted by Jane on November 7, 2014

A recent research made by Lamudi compared the profiles of home-buyers all over the world. The report shows that in emerging countries like the Philippines, big decisions such as looking for a new home fall on the women’s shoulders.

The research was made by analysing search behavior and insights on the Lamudi website.

Other results of the study are the following:

Home buyers in the Philippines belong to the 34-44 age bracket
69% of Filipinos prefer to rent than buy property
Of the countries included in the research, the Philippines has the highest percentage of growth in property prices at 10.56%

You can view the rest of the article HERE.

To know more about Primavera Residences, visit www.primaveraresidences.com or visit the listings on Lamudi.com.ph here.

How Will the ASEAN Integration Affect Philippine Real Estate?

Posted by Jane on October 30, 2014

This post originally appeared in Lamudi.com.ph as part of the #AskLamudi series.

Q: How Will the ASEAN Integration Affect the Local Real Estate Market?

A: The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)—the fusion of the economies of the 11 member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to take place in 2015—is expected to bring four changes to the Philippines’ real estate sector.

1. Stronger demand for commercial, industrial, retail, and residential space.

Since the AEC envisions unimpeded movement of goods, services, and skilled labor, as well as a freer flow of capital among the ASEAN member-states, businesses from abroad are expected to expand their operations in the country. There would be more need for office, industrial, and residential space for these foreign investors.

The elimination of tariffs on goods and services is also foreseen to result in a wealthier Southeast Asia. With a higher disposable income, people would have more money to spend, thus the need for more malls, retail complexes, and other shopping developments.

2. Emergence of new growth areas.

Places other than Metro Manila and Cebu may need to be tapped to meet the demand for business and residential space, leading to the emergence of new economic hot spots. Among the possible growth areas are Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Angeles and San Fernando in Pampanga, and General Santos City.

3. More—and better—construction projects.

High demand plus a strong inflow of capital will make construction companies race to build the infrastructure, offices, retail complexes, and residential developments that a booming economy needs. The increased mobility of skilled labor would also allow the exchange of best practices in the ASEAN region, leading to better urban design and development.

4. Changes to the prohibition on foreigners from owning land.

With the influx of foreign investment that the AEC will bring about, the Philippines is almost certain to face pressure to amend the Constitution’s prohibition on non-Filipinos from owning land. With the lifting of the prohibition, many expect that the country’s foreign direct investment will soar to a new high.

To know more about Primavera Residences, visit www.primaveraresidences.com or visit the listings at Lamudi.com.ph here.

Uptown Cagayan de Oro: The Greener Cagayan de Oro

Posted by Stefan on September 19, 2014

Most of the action is happening in downtown Cagayan de Oro, but should you consider moving to the uptown area?

Here are some reasons why this could be the best move for your family.

1. Flood-free zone

We have been challenged last 2009, 2011 and 2013 by traumatizing typhoons. It was a call-to-action for all of us to put a stop in whatever ways we contribute to the change of climate that happened to disastrously change our lives.

Uptown Cagayan de Oro is 110 meters above sea level making it a perfectly flood-free location. With the abundance of lush greeneries, it’s a lot less worries for your family and more ways to connect with nature.

2. Perfect place to raise a family

Uptown CdO is indeed a great place to start a family. Since it is away from the highly urban chaos of downtown CdO, the uptown area provides a place where we can experience living in a safe and sound environment.

Thinking of spending family time in parks where your children can run free to enjoy nature? Uptown Cagayan de Oro is your best choice.

3. Fairly little traffic and pollution

No need to worry in rushing for home and even opening your windows because living in uptown CdO will give you a worry-free environment. Since uptown CdO is a developing area, it is safer to breathe and live in an unsullied environment which you can go to work without the worries of having your children be in the traffic zones.

Pollution is out of the topic in uptown CdO, allowing you to live in a bustling metro without the horrors of traffic and polluted environment.

4. The Attractions—Best of both worlds

From gorgeous sunsets, twinkling downtown lights, and views of the serene Macajalar Bay, living in the uptown area makes you feel like you are on top of the world. Morning runs are so much better when witnessing a wonderful sunrise peeking from the mountains while a good view of the bay is perfect for chasing the day’s troubles away.

Uptown CDO lets you enjoy the sights of the mountains and feel its calming morning breeze yet it is also just a drive away from the beaches of Misamis Oriental. In Cagayan de Oro, we can enjoy the best of both worlds.

What more could you ask for? In uptown Cagayan de Oro, you’ve got everything you could ever hope for.

Category: Insights

Q: How Will the ASEAN Integration Affect the Local Real Estate Market?