Pinoy Self-help Investing No.4

Story of my Investing Adventures - Brilliant Reader

Pinoy Self-help Investing No.4, Kasunod lang ng pagkuha ko sa MegaWorld ng 32sqm pre-selling condominium unit sa McKinley Hill, kumuha naman ako ng 96sqm residential lot area sa Asian Land Strategies Corporation. Nalaman ko ang tungkol dito sa Asian Land sa dati kong Officemate na ngayon ay licensed broker na. Na-established ang Asian Land Strategies Corporation nung April 1994 ng small group of entrepreneurs from Bulacan. Nag-umpisa sila from low-to-medium-cost housing na lumawak sa Northern part ng Luzon.

Ang naging unang project nila ay ang Royale Estates, 5.6 hectare low-to-medium-cost na residential subdivision. Kumpleto ang amenities and along Mc Arthur Highway, Bulihan, Malolos, Bulacan ang location. Nung naging successful ang Royale Estates, na-inspire itong mga entrepreneurs na kumuha ng second project at ito yung Casa Royale, 6.7 hectare residential subdivision along Maharlika Highway, Sapang Putol, San Ildefonso, Bulacan noong August 1994.

Dahil sa tuluy-tuloy na successs ng kanilang projects, kumuha na ng mga staff and agents na makakatulong para sa pag-expand ng real-estate industry hanggang nag-start na silang kumuha ng mas malaking project at ito yung Grand Royale I, 8.2 hectare complete medium cost commercial/ residential complex. Na sinundan ng Phase 2 noong November 1996 ng 9.8 hectare development.

Dahil nakita ng mga entrepreneurs na bumubuo ng Asian Land ang needs ng Filipino na makabili ng affordable price ng residential lot and houses, mabilis na lumawak ang projects nila. Marami na silang nakuhang awards, "2005 Best Real Estate Developer (Bulacan)", "2005 Most Outstanding Real Estate Developer (Luzon)", "2006 Most Outstanding Real Estate Developer (Bulacan)", "Philippines Brilliance Awards For Products and Services - 2006 Best Real Estate Developer (National)".

Nung nakita ko itong proven track records ng Asian Land Strategies, nagkaroon ako ng interest na magventure at kumuha ng residential lot space. Sa pag-assess ng real-estate property, mahalaga yung tignan palagi ang history o previous records ng developer kung ano yung mga ups-and-downs from beginning to present. Bukod dito, mahalaga na pag-aralan yung location ng real-estate property. According sa mga research na ginawa ko, "Bulacan is among the most progressive provinces in the Philippines. Bulacan is well-known for the following industries: Marble and Marbelized Limestone, Jewelry, Pyrotechnics, Leather, Aquaculture, Meat and Meat Products, Garments, Furniture, High-Value Crops, and Sweets and Native Delicacies, and a wide variety of high-quality native products. Bulacan has fast become an ideal tourist destination, owing to its vital role in Philippine history, and its rich heritage in culture and the arts."

Ang kinuha kong 96sqm lot residential property ay sa Grand Royale. Ang lot price ay around Php 400,000 . Nagbigay lang ako ng low-down-payment na Php 10,000 and monthly amortization starting from Php Php 2,345. Napaka-affordable na sa mga katulad nating regular employee at average ang salary na natatanggap monthly. As per AsianLand, "Grand Royale is an Exclusive Subdivision. A new landmark at historic Malolos City in Bulacan, which is a fast growing metropolis within the immediate perimeter of Metro Manila. This is Asian Land Strategies Corporation's flagship project. Only a 30-minute drive from Metro Manila, Grand Royale is a modern community that combines nature's serene beauty and man's ingenuity. Conveniently located within a quiet neighborhood, a place away from the hustle and bustle of the city life with its gracious and luxurious amenities and facilities that fit only royalties, and yet at an incredibly affordable price. "

In consideration for the strategic location, nakita kong magandang opportunity ito as investment kasi napakaganda ng lugar, malapit sa university, schools, wet and dry market, church, hospitals, malls at may mga establishments pang tinatayo ngayon malapit sa Malolos Bulacan. Kaya naman noong July 2007, pinuntahan ko agad ang Office ng Asian Land Strategies sa monumento, Pag-IBIG building. Nakipag-negotiate agad ako kung pwede kong makita yung mga available lot area at kung saan ang magandang kunin. Nung araw din na yun, nagset ng tripping yung Vice-President ng Asian Land, Pearl Division at sinama ako dun sa mismong sites, marami silang mga projects like Dream Crest Homes, The Meadows, Casa Royale, Woodlands of Grand Royale, Casa Buena de Pulilan, Royale Estate, Grand Industrial Estate. Ang napili ko ay yung 96sqm residential lot sa Grand Royale, mga 5 minutes walk from Gate 2. Malapit dun ang main road at wet and dry market. Pinili ko yung mas malapit sa gate para hindi mahirap pagdating sa transportation. Bilang starter investor, syempre wala pa naman akong enough na fund para bumili ng sasakyan kaya ang kinuha ko ay yung practical hindi lang sa location kundi pati sa accessibility ng property. (Continuation: Pinoy Self-help Investing No.5)