SMDC allots P71B for residential projects

By Neil Jerome C. Morales (The Philippine Star)

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SMDC ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING: SMDC vice chairman Henry T. Sy Jr. (right) exchanges a few words with Henry Sy Sr., chairman of SMDC, before the start of the stockholders meeting yesterday at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.       MIKE AMOROSO

MANILA, Philippines - Condominium builder SM Development Corp. (SMDC) will spend P71 billion to complete existing projects and enter new property ventures in the next three years, top company officials said yesterday.

“In the next three years, SMDC will spend P71 billion to drive its expansion activities,” said newly-appointed SMDC president and chief operating officer Jeffrey Lim.

The residential arm of the country’s richest man Henry Sy has a considerable landbank in Metro Manila good for the next five years, he said.

“For the year 2013, SMDC will spend approximately P20 billion in capital expenditures – P13 billion for project development and P7 billion for landbanking,” Lim said.

It will be followed by P26 billion and P25 billion spending in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

“For 2013, we plan to launch four new projects and expand three existing developments in Metro Manila,” said SMDC vice-chairman and CEO Henry Sy Jr.

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Sy said SMDC will continue to focus largely in Metro Manila in the medium term given robust demand in the area.

The property developer will launch 13,000 units this year, almost double the 7,000 units in 2012.

In the first quarter, SMDC’s consolidated net income jumped 12 percent to P1.4 billion due to “improved gross profit margin and increased economies of scale.”

Real estate revenues rose four percent to P5.9 billion.

Lim said of its 173 hectares landbank, 69 hectares are located in Metro Manila, with the remaining in Davao and Cebu.

Sy said the substantial landbank is enough to support more developments in the next five years.

“We are really looking at those areas [Davao and Cebu] but at this moment, we would rather concentrate in Metro Manila – the Mall of Asia area, Makati and Greenhills – where demand is the biggest at the same time the margin is very reasonable,” Sy said.

Sy said SMDC is still studying the market in China, which can be tapped given the successful business model of the condominium builder.

SMDC’s board of directors also declared yesterday a cash dividend of 5.3 centavos per share for stockholders as of May 24. This is payable on June 20.

As of end-2012, SMDC had 15 ongoing residential condominium projects all over Metro Manila, with the exception of Wind Residences in Tagaytay.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P 9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687/09222737836.

Robinsons presents easy Lease-to-own package

New Resident Moves Into New Lifestyle Fast

Published: April 16, 2013

CANDA COUPLE

It was all about realizing a lifelong dream.
For Imee Canda, an assistant manager of a bank, having a home that she and her husband Elmer can call their own was an idea they have long contemplated.
But despite the offers consisting of “best financing options and schemes with super low interest rates,” the couple held back until recently when they found what they deemed as the most suitable property for their lifestyle needs, and the most practical scheme to ensure a stress-free home buying experience.
“We were renting an apartment in Sta. Mesa, Manila and we have actually been thinking about moving to our own home. We scouted many developers and model units, but my husband and I did not agree on some areas. It was only when we visited Woodsville that we became united with our decision,” Canda recalled.
Woodsville Residences is a three-hectare townhouse development of Robinsons Residences located in Woodsville City complex in Parañaque City.
But what sealed the deal for the Candas was the fact that Robinsons Land Corp. is offering its “Easy Lease to Own” scheme, which aims to give potential homebuyers a stress-free buying experience. Done in partnership with Robinsons Bank, this innovative financing scheme will make it easier for Filipinos to acquire their first home.
“It’s a first for us. We initially decided to go for the lease to own scheme because we thought that since Robinsons Land Corp. and Robinsons Bank are under one brand, the processing would be a lot easier,” Canda related.
To their surprise, they got more than what they expected as the people behind the program proved to be more than just helpful and accommodating in all their inquiries, making them realize that they got themselves the best deal in the market.
The RLC officer who assisted us had also been accommodating and made it easy for us. We just gave everything that they needed like the pre-approval requirements and that’s it,” she said.
It also took the couple only nearly a week to have everything processed and approved.
“The people have been accommodating from the bosses to their staff. Also, their loan rates are competitive. In our case, the lease to own scheme was the best option as it was a lot easier because it appears to be in-house financing. The bank has flexible payment terms that suits the capacity to pay of its client,” Canda noted.
Happy and satisfied, the Canda couple and their three kids are now living the life they have always dreamed of. “After 10 years, we are living our dream. Woodsville proves to be the best choice because of its spacious and classy layout. Also, it’s the idea of living in a community that is 70 percent green, making the place relaxing and safe for our family,” Canda concluded.
Robinsons Land’s “Easy Lease to Own” scheme integrates in one seamless package the lease payments (down payment and equity) on the property and the bank amortization on the contract balance (through the purchase option). The scheme is actually designed for first-time homebuyers and those who are currently renting and could not right away afford to move to a new home because of the 20 percent equity barrier required by most banks.
The scheme starts out as a lease, wherein the buyer would be able to move in quickly with minimal cash outlay. The lease period doubles as a down payment/ equity build-up period where rental payments are 100 percent deducted from the contract price interest free, while the purchase option will be financed by Robinsons Bank’s pre-bundled bank loan (up to 15 years to pay).

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P 9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687/09222737836.

Tycoon’s vineyard community to rise soon

By Theresa S. Samaniego
Philippine Daily Inquirer

10:55 pm | Saturday, April 13th, 2013

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ALLIANCE Global Group Inc. chair Andrew Tan with chief winemaker Beatriz Paniagua at the Finca Constancia Vineyard in Toledo, Spain

Tycoon Andrew Tan’s impeccable taste and discerning eye for all things refined are quite apparent in the way he does business.

But it would be Tan’s restless pursuit to always provide customers with new products and projects that are out-of-the-box and are capable of setting new benchmarks within their respective industries, that would make it harder for anyone to replicate such achievements.

Take for instance his latest brainchild, the Twin Lakes, a masterplanned community set to rise across hectares of prime land in the scenic Tagaytay and Laurel in Batangas. Upon completion, the Twin Lakes will not only allow future residents to bask in the refreshing views of famed Taal Lake and Volcano, but will also afford them to experience the first and only resort and community in the Philippines that features a vineyard.

Twin Lakes, which is poised to become a premier medical and educational tourism estate, fuses two of Tan’s most fervent passions: developing prime township projects through Megaworld Corp. and Global-Estate Resorts Inc. (GERI) and liquor manufacturing through Emperador Distillers Inc. (EDI), which markets popular brands Emperador Brandy and The Bar.

All three companies are subsidiaries of holding firm Alliance Global Group Inc., of which Tan is the chair.

THE 15-PART estate will bring to the country Europe’s revered winemaking tradition.

The tycoon has been known as one to meticulously plan his new township projects. And this is exactly what he did for Twin Lakes, including going on a recent trip to Toledo, Spain, to immerse himself on the country’s storied wine making tradition. This, of course, is seen as a crucial move to kick off the vineyard activities in Twin Lakes.

“My trip to Finca Constancia near Madrid, which has been nurtured by five generations of the same family, has given me renewed fervor that the cool climate of Tagaytay will be able to host the country’s first world-class vineyard and wine cellar. With Twin Lakes’ huge expanse, we will be able to create a township that promises tourists a fascinating experience and entice retirees as well to spend their golden years here,” Tan relates.

Within this 1,149-hectare estate will rise 15 distinct, themed projects from residential communities to parks, health and wellness centers, and commercial spaces, among others. And with its extensive breadth of facilities and amenities, Twin Lakes will once again raise the bar of luxury living on the countryside.

The first phase of the Twin Lakes would see the development of The Vineyard, the Domaine Le Jardin and Twinlakes Residences.

TWIN Lakes will have all the residential features typical of a finely-designed home, and amenities that are deemed to provide future owners the comfort of sophisticated yet relaxed living.

The 177-ha Vineyard, which will finally bring Europe’s revered winemaking traditions to the Philippines, would have all the features needed to complete that luxurious chateau living experience such as hotel and resort, townhomes, chateau/winery, a sports club and spa, wedding venue, a culinary school and a condominium—all with views of the vineyard and a man-made lake.

The 50-hectare Domaine Le Jardin, would meanwhile be the epitome of stately living set in the greenest of settings.

However, the highlight of Twin Lakes’ first residential phases would be its prime subdivision lots, a lush botanical garden and an exclusive amenity area that serves as the centerpiece of recreation in the village. To be offered are 538 lots with cuts ranging from 250 sq m to 500 sq m.

Twinlakes Residences, will likewise showcase elegantly designed one- and two-bedroom residences. It will have all the residential features typical of a finely-designed home, and amenities that are deemed to provide future owners the comfort of sophisticated yet relaxed living.

Moreover, future developments which would complete the 15-part estate includes residential developments such as the exclusive residential village Domaine Le Montagne; the 33-hectare exclusive residential village Domaine Le Soleil; and, a 378.7-hectare Nature Park and nursery.

Also to be featured within the developments are retail, services and food outlets to be located in the 1.3-hectare village center; the 34-hectare retirement community, which will house its own hospital; and the 32-hectare university park featuring residential lots and international schools.

Capping of this premier estate are the 84-hectare Plantation phase where farm lots can be bought; a 40-hectare residential development which has its own wellness center; the 24-hectare Lakeshore Town Center that will house a number of commercial, mixed-use, civic centers; and, the 20-hectare Domaine Du Lac lakeshore residential community.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/099222737836.

Local real estate firm sees quick sales in 5 months

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By Katlene O. Cacho

Thursday, April 4, 2013

FIVE months after the firm’s official announcement that they would venture into real estate, homegrown firm Worldwide Central Properties Inc. (WCPI) announced yesterday they have already sold 40 percent of the first tower of their flagship project, Sundance Residences.

Most of the units sold since they started pre-selling last December are one-bedroom units bought mostly by local buyers within the project’s location in Banawa, WCPI president Kent Ong said.

Second home

Kent said local buyers from Mactan have also bought units of their project to use as their second home, particularly those families who either work or have children studying in the city.

“The traffic condition to and from Mactan has become an important consideration for families to own second homes within the city,” Kent said.

Towers

WCPI is the real estate arm and a sister company of Worldwide Steel Group and Worldwide Home Depot. The new company was founded last year.  The family behind the Worldwide Group of Companies has been in the construction industry for 36 years.

Sundance Residences will have two mid-rise condominium towers that sit on a 3,200-square meter property along R. Duterte St. in Banawa, Cebu City.

The first tower will be 18 floors high with 16 residential floors, one commercial floor, a roof deck, and one basement level. The second tower will be about the same height.

The first tower will have over 200 units. The first phase of the construction is scheduled in the second quarter of this year. The target turnover of units is in 2015.

Urban living

Kent said the firm will invest at most P500 million for the construction of the first tower. As soon as all units will be sold, the company will launch the second tower.

Sharon Ann Ong, WCPI vice-president for marketing and sales, said the project provides for the essentials of urban living and is anchored on family-centered amenities.

Amenities

Sundance Residences claims to be the only condominium development that will have a daycare center professionally managed by a third party.

The project will also have a retail component at the ground floor that will house restaurants, a coffee shop, convenience store, pharmacy and other service stores.

The units are priced between P1.8 million and P6 million. These come in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.

Plans

WCPI has tapped architect Antonio Trillanes Jr. to head the design team and Kenneth Cobonpue to handle the interior design for Sundance Residences.

Backed by the firm’s solid background in the construction business, Kent said they are a “serious player” in the real estate industry. They now have other projects in the pipeline.

“After this project, we are eyeing another vertical project within the city. We are now in the planning stage,” Sharon said.

“We believe growth in the industry will continue in the coming years, given the good and stable economic environment we have.”

The company hosted an economic forum last month where Ateneo Graduate School of Business professor Enrique Soriano assured a growing demand for real estate.

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/099222737836.

5 Tips for New Real Estate Brokers

March 31, 2013 by Cherry Castillo 2 Comments

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I remember the time when I passed the real estate brokers’ exam. I was still working in Makati then, and I didn’t really know what to do next. I never had sales experience and didn’t know where to start. So I thought of making some tips which I hope would help the new real estate brokers, based on what I have learned along the way during the past two years.

1. Get your PRC License

The best proof of your being a licensed real estate broker is your Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license, so get this as soon as possible. You need this when you apply for accreditation with the different real estate developers, when you pay for your Professional Tax Receipt (PTR), and when you update your registration with the BIR. Here is a link to my post about my experience when I got my license last 2011.

2. Update your BIR registration

Before you get your commission, the seller will usually ask for an official receipt. You cannot give an official receipt if you have not updated your Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) registration as a licensed real estate broker. So, better do this now.

Atty. Ernesto “Jojo” Perez II has written an excellent e-book on how to register with the BIR as a real estate broker. You may get a copy of his e-book if you subscribe to his website through this link.

Take note that when you update your BIR registration, you need to decide whether you will be VAT-registered or not. Some developers (like Ayala Land Premier) require their brokers to be VAT-registered, so check the requirements of the developers you are eyeing. As a general rule, if your income will not exceed P1,919,500.00 in a year, you are not required to be VAT-registered. You will be subject to the 3% percentage tax instead.

3. Start with Project Selling

I sought advice from experienced brokers at the association I belong to (REBAP-LMP, more on this later), and they suggested that new real estate brokers start with Project Selling (i.e., selling units of projects of developers). So, your next step would be to get accredited with reputable developers.

This advice is very practical because before you can sell anything, you need sales training and product knowledge training, which developers provide for free. Plus, you instantly have several inventories to sell, and in different locations to boot.

Moreover, unlike in General Brokerage (or even foreclosures) where a unit you are selling is usually unique (meaning if it’s sold you would usually not be able to offer another one immediately in place of it), in Project Selling, you would have many other units to offer to a hot buyer.

Lastly, if the reputation of the developer is solid, and the projects are really good and in great locations, some buyers have already made the decision to buy and your job as a broker is only to facilitate the purchase and provide after-sales service.

All these reasons make Project Selling a good practice ground for new real estate brokers.

By the way, if you would like to be accredited with SMDC, my friend, Ruffa Eugenio is a Broker Manager at Local Broker Network Division 2. We were seatmates at the Oath-taking as we were both No. 4 in the 2011 exams. She is likewise a UP BAA grad and CPA like me. You may contact her at 0906-279-6704 or e-mail her at ruffa_eugenio@yahoo.com if you want to be accredited with SMDC.

For those who would like to be accredited with DMCI, I suggest that you course your sales through our group at REBAP-LMP because of our Unified Accreditation Program. You don’t need to be a member of REBAP-LMP to be part of our DMCI group.

4. Join a reputable organization of real estate brokers

One of the best things that a new real estate broker can do to jumpstart his or her career is to join a reputable association of real estate brokers. You can learn from experienced and seasoned brokers and you can also tap their extensive network.

For newbies who know very little about life in the “real world,” advice from “elders” are invaluable. Really, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel when faced with situations you have not encountered before – chances are, someone in the group has already experienced it. Your learning will be accelerated if you have mentors to guide you.

In practice, too, it is very important to deal with reputable licensed co-brokers that are trustworthy. I have heard of many stories about commissions not being shared, “sulutan,” etc. (not a pretty sight, believe me). Deal only with reputable and licensed real estate brokers. Remember this because if you don’t, you will really regret it. This little piece of advice will save you a lot of heartache.

FYI, Jay and I are members of the LMP (Las Pinas, Muntinlupa, Paranaque) Chapter of the Real Estate Brokers of the Philippines (REBAP), and we are very happy to be part of this group. (By the way, Jay used to be with REBAP Marikina but he had to transfer to REBAP-LMP when we left Marikina because of our Ondoy experience).

If you are not yet decided which association to join, I would like to invite you to attend the 1st National General Membership Meeting (NGMM) of REBAP which will be held on April 4, 2013, Thursday, at Palacio de Maynila, Roxas Blvd., Malate, Manila. Registration starts at 1:00 pm. Please come in business attire. Check out REBAP and decide if you would like to join. Our home chapter, LMP, will be the host and the theme is “Cashing In On The Philippine Economic Boom”.

Our keynote speaker, Atty. Romell Antonio O. Cuenca, Director of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, will be talking about PPP and real estate. Prof. Roland Angeles will discuss the Philippine Economic Outlook for 2013 and other matters which will help real estate brokers maximize their income during the current economic boom. Real estate brokers will have the opportunity to learn about the latest projects of, and get accredited with, several reputable developers.

The learning investment for non-REBAP members is a very reasonable P600.00 inclusive of a sumptuous dinner and CPE credits. Definitely, the learning, earning, and networking opportunities for real estate brokers far outweigh the cost.

Those interested to attend may pre-register with Ms. Michelle Almoguera of the REBAP National Secretariat at telephone number 373-2281 or 374-2496 by April 1, 2013. Those who will pay before the event will have reserved seats. We hope to see you there!

5. Invest in a cellular phone, internet connection, and a laptop

I have no background in sales so selling is really a challenge for me. Since I am a bookworm, I turned to books and online resources, aside from learning from mentors. I still have a lot to learn and I try to improve everyday.

One thing I noticed that a real estate broker needs in order to sell is to be easily contacted. It would be good to invest in a reliable cellular phone and internet connection. I have a Globe line with SuperDuo so I have a wireless landline with unlimited calls to Globe and landlines. Other brokers have lines with all major networks (Globe, Smart, and Sun), plus Magic Jack, Skype, Viber, etc.

Jay suggests using an Android phone because you can easily access and sync your g-mail account with your phone. Aside from syncing your emails for offline reading, you can also sync  all your contacts’ telephone numbers, which can easily be “restored” if needed (think of “accidentally” deleted contacts), or if your phone got lost. It would be a nightmare if you lost your phone or if it gets stolen, and all your clients’ contact details get lost with it forever. This is no longer a problem if you use an android phone with syncing to g-mail enabled.

For internet connection, we have a Sun Pocket WiFi. We can bring it anywhere we go, and we can use it when we use our cellphones and laptops to access our e-mails (you can tell we are heavily dependent on the internet). Any cellphone with internet connection can also be used as a wifi modem and as back-up when our Sun Pocket WiFi’s internet connection fails or is too slow. A good DSL connection is also highly recommended.

Lastly, a good laptop is very important for a real estate broker, so it would be good to invest in one. Some brokers use Ipads or tablets as they are easier to carry and are sufficient for purposes of presentations and accessing the internet and e-mails.

Speaking of the internet, you will definitely need a computer for internet marketing for real estate, that is assuming you already know how to do internet marketing. Anyway, I won’t discuss internet marketing as Jay should be the one discussing it as he is more experienced with it.

I hope this helps! Once again, congratulations to the new real estate brokers! Cheers!

Cherry Vi M. Saldua-Castillo

Real Estate Broker, Lawyer, and CPA
PRC Real Estate Broker License No. 3187
PRC CPA License No. 0102054
Roll of Attorneys No. 55239

2013 Internal Education Head, REBAP-LMP

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/099222737836.