Showing posts with label Property Sector News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Property Sector News. Show all posts

Monday, June 15, 2009

Fresh Outlook on Philippine Real Estate for 2009 (part 2)

There have been some woes and slow growth recently in the real estate sector as the industry was affected with the current global financial crisis which was have written on the previous post back in February 2009. There have been major changes among the Business Process Outsourcing Companies (BPOs).

The task taken by government in keeping our country afloat has been monumental. During the recent speech by Gov. Amando Tetangco of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last April 14, 2009 on the occasion of Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Annual General Membership held at Hotel Intercontinental Manila, Makati City mentioned that "no economy is immune from the effects of this crisis, but those which have built up buffers are more likely to fare better than others".

According to the 4th Quarter of 2008 Reports of Colliers International Philippines, in the past months shows that rising vacancy and inventories of office, commercial and residential especially on commercial business districts of Makati have reached around 2.6 percent. Movements of tenants elsewhere around or nearby these areas are on the rise. These actions should complement their needs, requirements, specifications in order to lower the costs of a companies' operational expenses compared to a high-rise buildings which are only suited for office settings due to their expected expansion and growth. Factors to be considered are power consumption, telecommunication equipment setup, shifting operations and others affected the buildings' suitability for these BPO companies. Moving to a more viable and amiable locations such as Clark Freeport (Pampanga), City of Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Quezon City, Cebu City and other nearby areas would benefits these other site from the rapid growth of the contact center industry.

A few weeks ago, Secretary Ralph Recto of the National Economic Development Agency has reported that the Philippines is in a collision course of near recession with growth of 0.4% on the first quarter of this year. With government expectation of a growth rate of 4.4% for the first quarter it turned out the slowly as the world recession is rearing its ugly head again. The government is taking steps on bending and curbing the mass lay-offs from happening by providing alternatives such as other jobs and livelihood for the poor such as Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program.

On foreign ownership of land in the Philippines, many suggested that government should open up shores of this country to foreigners in order to invest more creating more Foreign Direct Investments(FDIs). However, research done by the IBON Foundation reported that revising our laws as spearheaded by House Speaker Prospero Nograles would make the real estate prices skyrocket with the notion that the masses and middle class Filipinos will no longer be given the opportunity to buy or acquire property if this happens. The real estate industry needs regulation on acquisition if they are about to change the law limiting to 10% of the lands as disclosed by an anonymous real estate leader if the government and people are open to it.

On the brighter side, Banks are now offering low rates are getting lower now at 7.5 percent since January 2009. Home Mutual Development also known as PAG-IBIG has already lowered its interest from 7.5 percent to 11.5 percent. The lowest that a home lending government agency can offer. With these developments, refinancing of previous real estate bank loans can be done if a home buyer has a current loan mortgages in order to reduce and readjust the monthly amortization.

Despite the good news, the banking industry has become hesitant with the growing number of non-performing assets (bad assets) due to default or foreclosures by a borrower on properties and others. However for a real estate investor and speculator, this is a sign of a gold mine of new opportunities in a current global financial turmoil with growing number of these properties are located in highly populated and commercialized areas within the metropolis. Best time to buy is on a down market. Right now developers are encouraging potential buyers and investors to buy properties offering them more affordable longer and attractive payment schemes with lower interest rates at fixed terms from banks and other lending institution which is enticing indeed.


Copyright 2008-2009 - PinoyMoneyVantage

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Updates on PAG-IBIG Loans (Home Mutual Development Fund) for 2009


Last 1st April 2009, Vice President and Housing Czar Noli De Castro recently announced that the Home Development Mutual Fund (HMDF) also known as PAG-IBIG Fund have approved the increase and adjustments on loan structures from the previous maximum loan bracket of PhP 2.0 Million to PhP 3.0 Million. These adjustments are great news for our folks who are given a more wider choices and options in a purchasing a home.

This move not only will benefit all members which focuses more from middle income earners and workers in highly urbanized areas in the Philippines and the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) but also the real estate development companies as well in providing housing to our people. Thus empowers, the buyers with maximized purchasing power which help the real estate industry at the same time.

Here are the new Pag-ibig housing loan structures per annum:

For loan up to P400, 000 -- interest is 6%
Over P400,000 up to P750,000 -- interest is 7%
Over P750,000 up to P1 million -- interest is 8.5%
Over P1 million up to P1.25 million -- interest is 9.5%
Over P1.25 million up to P2 million -- interest is 10.5%
Over P2 million up to P3 million -- interest is 11.5%

All are fixed rates. For new developer, HMDF funds requires a 30% equity for their buyers to acquire a property and 70% loanable amount with strict compliance of requirements. If development company has a proven excellent track record , they can request to lower the equity requirement to 20% or 10%. Loans can be paid either 10 Years, 15 years, 20 years , 25 years to 30 years maximum.

Copyright 2008-2009 - PinoyMoneyVantage

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Betting on Real Estate: Foreclosed Property Sector in the United States!







Foreclosure in America is high and rampant nowadays. But still even if the U.S. is in recession there are still a lot of ways to earn money through real estate which is the highest and lucrative among all the investments you can think of. Right now property inventories are high and you can still flip lots of it as long you have extra cash on your sleeves with the growing demand of properties coming from other nations such as Canada which is least affected with the financial meltdown. Canadian economy is still resilient and in tip top shape compared to their neighboring America because less credit fall out. An example of Canadians moving down south to America especially in Las Vegas, Nevada wherein the prices are hitting rock bottom as what the video shown above. Other nationalities that are paving their way to the U.S. soil are the mainland Chinese who have the money and resources to tour and venture in America.

Las Vegas is a sin city or sin capital of the world but indeed even if there are no angels around in this heaven on earth. The real estate in this place is lucrative once the ailing economy recovers in a matter of months to years. President-elect Barack Obama later report his plan of creating a stimulus package in the ailing economy and in order to spur the once booming America back to its knees one step at a time. As an investor and a real estate broker I am hopeful that the world would become vibrant again and somehow will manage to survive the gloom over the dark clouds this 2009.

What about us, Global Pinoy or Filipinos? We can still manage to buy a property in the United States as long as you have the ample amount of funds in buying that dream home in their soil plus it is a very good investment and a plus if you are trying to impress the immigration official if you plan to migrate in America.

Included also in this blog write up the history of the credit crunch in 2007 and how it affected America and in the World as explained on CNN.

See the second part of this segment.





Copyright 2008-2009 - PinoyMoneyVantage

Saturday, January 3, 2009

MONEYVANTAGE: Rent is up for Property Rental Sector

Yesterday, I was alerted with the TV report from ABS-CBN regarding that the rent control law has finally lapsed last 31st December 2008 (see Republic Act 9341: Rent Control Act of 2005). I thought it was no big deal after all and finally realized that we do have rental residential/commercial properties in hand somewhere in Quezon City. I felt a bit ecstatic but somehow felt sorry for the people who we are leasing our properties. However we are adamant NOT to increase rent in order to compensate with the sudden slump in food business in which our tenant are involved with.

The demand for rental property is still high among urbanized cities particularly in Metro Manila. Still with the rapid urbanization and the immigration from people to these major cities the need for space and housing is still needed as major locators are not moving yet to closer provinces plus the business process outsourcing (call center) is still ongoing even with the slump in America and shifting to other countries not or less affected with the global financial crisis. Companies are still in need of housing for their personnel. Location of rental property, environment and neighborhood is also a key factor why people are looking for. As mentioned before, it should be close proximity, accessible to transport services and convenient for the tenant to get to where he/she works or intends to go. The closer the rental property to these factors the higher the rent is.

Somehow the RENT CONTROL LAW is beneficial for the poor and low-income families but the distributional effects are minimal since non-poor families have equal access to rent-controlled units. Philippines Rent Control Act of 2005 Provides rent control for properties with monthly rent not exceeding PHP10,000 in cities and PHP7,500 in other areas. Rent control maybe necessary to prevent economic eviction and abuses on payment of key monies.

Some lawmakers are encouraging people to avail the PAG-IBIG Housing loans in which they their rates are at 11.5% interest p.a. compared to their previous offer of 18% interest per annum a few years ago in order to acquire their dream house and residential condominiums.

Copyright 2008-2009 - PinoyMoneyVantage

Friday, July 25, 2008

The Power Broker in Me: Putting back Real Estate back on Top

I had my few months hiatus of not being a real estate broker. It was a soul searching time for me as I finished the 2 month Registered Financial Planners Course given by Registered Financial Planning Institute - Philippines two months ago and still kept practicing.


Those months were a fulfilling moment for me in updating with new trends in medical and scientific research, learning new trades, knowing more on different types of investments and meeting new people as potential clients. Even if we are experience the downtrend in the stock market as in we are in a windfall of world recession as the U.S. is still coping up with its own problems which affected the world and us feeling the brunt of higher oil prices with inflation rate staggering at 11.4% from last month. It does hurt the pockets of consumers of all walks of life.

To admit the truth, the real estate industry felt the pinch with America as its rich market before for Filipino-Americans in selling properties have made an abrupt stop and so most major Philippine developers put their sights on other places where Filipinos thrive. They have had a second look on the European and Middle Eastern Market segment targeting Overseas Filipino Workers there and also the local Philippine market. Feeling worrisome on the downtrend in sales that I need to find alternatives of producing money other than relying from my fixed-income job which is not enough to sustain my lifestyle.

Real Estate has become a bread and butter for some older folks in the trade. I on the other hand, have a career and real estate is a part-time work for me. In two years time, I might go full-time and quit the healthcare job once I have established myself in taking over the family business.

I find it amazing as I become equipped with the words from these motivational speakers who are at the same time fellow real estate brokers from different chapters of REBAP and made millions in just a few months through real estate selling. I find it inspirational to see and hear them talk and believe in their principles even met the oldest real estate professional who is already in her late 60s who happens to have lots millions on different transaction and deals from her small beginnings in the 80s and in the present times. The topics on the seminar are relatively needed for the participants to apply these experiences in real life especially in the sales and marketing aspect in being a real estate brokers. The speakers also added new tools in creatively selling properties through the use of word of mouth, the internet and advertisements.

Another inspirational lecture given by Mr. Ricardo "Dindo" Raymundo, team manager of Alaska Aces Basketball Team. He given us some thoughts on his experiencing from managing the best basketball team through his corporate knowledge and business wisdom which kept this team the among the top teams in Philipppine Basketball Association (PBA). He also shown us a video clip of Nick Vujicic - No Arms, no legs, no worries.


Copyright 2008-2009 - PinoyMoneyVantage

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Economic Slow Down in America How it Affected the Philippines and the World

It was a sad thought that the economic slowdown and recession in the United States not only affected our local real estate developers but the independent real estate firms selling to the once rich market of people with higher credit score and higher net disposable income. So everyone in America especially the baby boomers (those who were born in the 1940's or after World War II) who are about to retire by now or in a few years time and even the middle class Americans.

Once and for all, I have to shift our firm's attention to other markets in the world where there are lots of Filipinos working overseas. A good example of market is the European and Middle East wherein there are great concentration of Pinoys migrant workers in those areas. This was admitted by Rex Mendoza, Ayala Land, Inc vice president for sales and marketing (see article, Manila Times). Right now most of those real estate developers are also tapping the Asia-Pacific market another place to look and scour at is the first world countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia wherein there are also a great number of Filipino immigrants there who may want to invest here in the Philippines.

It is definitely a fact that the Philippines and other asian countries as well especially with China rely with the U.S. market with their massive export capability of goods and the European Union is second. Last year, some of the China made goods were removed from the shelves due to complaints from customers and findings from government agencies regarding their safety. It was found that most of their products do not comply to international standards and health hazard for children. Lots of these products especially toys were pooled out of the U.S. market early last year.

The Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) related with call center and medical transcription companies are feeling the pinch of subprime mortgage crisis (see article, Times UK) in America, as most of these companies heavily rely in U.S. dollars and also the U.S. markets. U.S. $ dollars have been for the past few months is breaking even against the dollar. However, it is now risen its value after loosing its value from P40.00 to US$ 1.00 but as of this writing the pesos is against the dollar at P 41.00 to US$ 1.00. Multinational BPOs from U.S. who have moved their operations here in the Philippines and India are loosing ground due to the loss of customers and closure of some U.S. based companies due to recession meaning alot of people are being laid off from work in the America.


Last week, I was watching CNN when I stumbled upon Union Bank of Switzerland having problems. I was totally shocked on seeing Union Bank of Switzerland, one of the best and biggest banks in Europe (see article, BBC CO UK) lose US$ 34.8 Billion due to the subprime mortgage and credit crunch. UBS is experiencing dire straits after heavily investing in U.S. real estate properties which have rapidly declined in value for the past few months since last year. It was tragic. Lots of investors have lost confidence on the annual stockholders meeting last week in Zurich (see UBS has doubled its subprime writedowns).



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