Almost all my weekends this July have been spent on trippings to various villages selling houses and lots in Rizal. I’ve been to Binangonan twice, Angono then to Morong. These towns comprise the eastern part of the once pristine Laguna de Bay. Commuting from Ortigas to these places would take you roughly two hours, traffic jams included.
I haven’t bought a house. But I almost did when we spotted this particular place near SM Taytay. I went to the PAGIBIG office only to find that I was 5th in line. It wasn’t meant to be mine.
Now you ask me, what did I learn from these extensive real estate trips? Let me share my top 3.
1. Choose your developer well.
If you’re going the route of buying a brand new house and lot, you’d better do a background check on the developer. Study their portfolio. Ask around. Buyers are often times lured by budget packages only to discover later on that their wallets are about to be slashed some more. Houses were poorly built, facilities were not ready, and the property sits on a landslide prone area. I’ve checked several public forums that had became sounding boards for disgruntled homeowners. But high praises were given to Avida, DMCI, Filinvest and Megaworld.
Always remember that you are investing a fortune here, 100 times the price of an insurance for ipads. So spend your money wisely on properties that won’t be a headache later on. Ask for warranties.
2. Use your PAGIBIG
Minimum interest is currently at 6% per annum. Not bad. If you’re a member, why not use the benefit? All you need is to go to PAGIBIG office in Makati and attend a housing seminar before scouting for a property. They also sell foreclosed properties, but be careful if they are still being occupied by the previous owner. It won’t be easy. The responsibility of driving them out falls squarely on your shoulders. So better find an unoccupied territory.
3. To see is to believe
Go on a real estate field trip! Don’t believe what the photos tell you. They have been whitewashed. See the place for yourself and have a mental checklist of the following – basic utilities, accessibility, transportation, land safety, security, etc. Try visiting the place at night or when it’s rainy. There you’d see what the property looks like in real life. It can be tad ugly.
