We all know that choosing a location for real estate is crucial and somewhat a mind-bending process. Browsing a property portal or leafing through a buy-and-sell magazine (do people still read those these days?) can be an exhilarating experience as you are looking not just for a home, you are also setting the stage for your life’s next chapter.
This is why choosing the location is the first consideration when buying a property (okay, second to setting your budget). Questions to ask yourself include “are you more of an urban person in which the hustle and bustle of the big city excites you,” or “do you prefer a more laidback existence where a house in the suburb can afford you?”
And here we can help you sort things out. Pinnacle Real Estate Consulting Services Inc. has put together a list of tips to help you choose the best location for your property. Starting with…
Accessibility
If you cannot afford a home in, say, the middle of Makati or in Bonifacio Global City, then your next options would be properties further out of the city center (the adage “drive and drive until you qualify” holds true here). But that does not mean you need to pick one in the middle of nowhere.
There are plenty of areas that served well by public infrastructure (commuter railways, tollways, etc.) which are way outside the city center. An example would be the Novaliches–Fairview and San Jose del Monte area, which in a few years’ time would be served by the still-under-construction MRT Line 7. A couple of other projects that will benefit the commuting public is Skyway Stage 3, which will improve connectivity between NAIA, the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX); and the Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX), which connects CAVITEx in Kawit, Cavite, with Laguna in Mamplasan Exit in SLEX.
Surrounding Establishments
When looking for a home, many people also consider proximity to leisure areas and other modern conveniences, like shopping malls, schools, hospitals, etc. Most urbanized towns and cities around Metro Manila have at least a community mall and a big-box retailer surrounded by subdivisions and gated communities. Many good schools are also setting up campuses outside the metro to service families who have chosen to relocate to these areas, including St. Scholastica’s College in Westgrove; De La Salle University in Biñan; and Xavier School and Miriam College in Nuvali.
Natural Hazards
If you are in the middle of contemplating on where to settle in, you might also consider an area’s vulnerability to natural hazards, the most common of which is flooding. Unfortunately there are plenty of such locations in Metro Manila, especially when the memories of Typhoon Ondoy is still fresh. Although it is not entirely possible to live in a place that’s 100 percent natural hazard–free, one can at least choose a location that’s close to a designated evacuation center.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), for instance, has designated several evacuation centers that is always ready whenever calamities struck. For northern Metro Manila, there’s the Veterans Memorial Golf Course and University of the Philippines Diliman; for the eastern section, the LRT-2 Santolan Depot, Marikina Boys Town, Red Cross Marikina, and Ultra in Pasig; for western part, Intramuros Golf Course, and for those in the south, there is the Villamor Air Base Golf Course.
Safety
A great community is zealous in imposing safety for their residents. These communities include not just high-end gated villages and luxury condos—even mid-range developments are conscious of their residents’ safety. Most, if not all, residential developments have 24/7 security, CCTV cameras, and perimeter fence not as add-on features but as requirements.
Upcoming Developments
Metro Manila is where all the major infrastructure projects are currently underway (Skyway Stage 3, SLEX-NLEX Connector, Metro Manila Subway, etc.), but this doesn’t mean that other areas are neglected. In fact, the CALABARZON and Central Luzon are two regions where some of the most exciting real estate and infrastructure projects are currently in the pipeline, giving homebuyers plenty of options outside Metro Manila.
For example, the country’s main gateway to replace the Ninoy Aquino International Airport will be constructed in Bulakan, Bulacan; Clark Green City’s development is in full swing; while CALAX and the planned extension of SLEX will surely benefit residents of Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon provinces.
While the best location for your home largely depends on how much you can afford (sad but true), this does not mean you cannot be picky. There are plenty of options out there—and more being built as we speak—so you can be a bit picky and use these tips to guide you. You may not get the one that ticks all the boxes, but you can get something close—a home for you and your family.
