Townhouse For Sale Manila

By: Stef Anub - Lead Broker, Philippine Realty Group

// posted October 15th, 2012

Townhouse For Sale Manila, Philippines

Intro

Getting a residence of any kind is probably one of the Filipino's biggest dreams. Because of this dream, many Filipinos work hard to earn a living - even doubly hard - so that they and their families can have a roof to dwell in, a place to call their own. For working Filipinos, buying a house and lot is one of their highest priorities in life, for obvious reasons.

Because buying your very own residence is one of the biggest investments you can make in your life, careful consideration should be undertaken to ensure that what you acquire will be the best for you and the most ideal. One of the most important factors to consider is your financial capacity. There are other factors as well, but by and large, money is the deciding factor for most people.

The rest of the article below arms would-be buyers of residences with information and suggestions on how to decide and buy a house, with special attention to townhouses found in the Metro Manila area. This article is equally helpful to those who are already working or just moving in to Manila, and might have a need for places to stay, permanently or semi-permanently. The reader will encounter more tips about townhouse for sale Manila and how to decide for one.

Manila is one of the main hubs of a flourishing metropolitan area home to over 19 million citizens. In 2009, Manila titled to be the world’s eleventh largest metropolitan zone and fifth largest urban area by population. It is also ranked as one of the most crowded cities in the globe. Manila had more than 100 parks disseminated throughout the city.

With regards to real estate, Manila is in progress. The achievement of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry is one of the factors for the increase in development of real estate in Manila. Many foreign companies now come to Metro Manila because of its cost cutting procedure, since labor here in Philippines is inexpensive but have a high quality. Additionally, office rentals and other estates are sold at low cost but have average to above average amenities.

About Metro Manila

Metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is the industrial, commercial, political capital of the country, and the biggest in terms of population and land area. The City of Manila is at the center of the bustling metropolis. It is also one of the most highly-urbanized cities in the world. Because of its population density, and its role in the country as the primary seat of most commercial establishments, there is a huge workforce present in the metropolis. Of course, many of them have permanent homes, or are looking for a place to call home.

House and lot for sale in Lapu Lapu

The City of Manila is made up of 897 barangays and has a land area of 38.55 square kilometers (the barangay is the smallest political unit in the country). Each barangay is headed by a barangay captain with a respective team of counselors and administrators. Each barangay is also grouped into 100 zones,and each zone is composed of 16 or more districts. This is to help barangay officials to easily manage their jurisdiction.

As said before, Manila has a pivotal role in the Philippines for its commercial and industrial interests. The economy there is diverse and the cluster of commercial establishments are numerous, and so these factors always create a stream of employment opportunities for millions of Filipinos, as well as local and foreign business investors. Many manufacturing companies that have operations in the country make the place their headquarters - from basic commodities companies to services and businesses of all kinds. Manila also has one of the world's busiest seaports. Commercial ventures can be found everywhere in the city in close proximity - convenience stores, restaurants, fast food chains, malls, shopping areas, as well as basic institutions like schools, government offices, and churches - which provide an endless source of jobs for migrants and residents in the city.

Then there are also flea markets found in Manila, such as Divisoria, where an even more varied assortment of brick-and-mortar businesses and businessmen exists.

All of these things attract Filipinos from everywhere in the country to migrate and work here in the city. Of course, the next thing they will be looking for is a place to call home.

The tourism industry is also rife in Manila, as large numbers of tourists flock to the city each year. Many of the city's tourist attractions, such as Intramuros, Fort Santiago, Luneta Park, Chinatown, Manila Zoo, the National Museum of the Philippines, as well as other tourist spots, all get visited by nationals of other countries. Malls like Greenbelt, Robinsons, and SM Manila also get frequented by tourists. Divisoria draws many visitors as well.

Tourists who plan to live semi-permanently or for an extended period of time in Manila may consider looking for a residence to rent or own. Townhouses for sale Manila may also be the answer for them.

Top 5 Facts

Manila occupies a total land area of 38.55 square kilometers.
Manila has been classified as a "Beta+" global city by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network in 2008.
Manila was the site of the bloodiest battle in the Pacific theater during the war.
The Pasig River bisects Manila.
One of the largest projects within the city is the 5 billion development by Ayala Land Inc., the Celadon Residences.

Townhouses in Manila

Manila townhouses are good recommendations when a person decides to live in Manila, whether for work or for extended stays. These townhouses are more economical in the long run because it can help you save money over other housing options, as well as helping you avoid long commutes and stressful travel times if your townhouse is near your primary places of interest.

Another reason to live in a Manila townhouse is because some of them are near Metro Manila's international and domestic airports. This makes it very convenient especially for those foreign businessmen and expatriates who need to travel a lot. They will also find that Manila's cost of living is one of the cheapest in the world, and so this gives additional incentive in locating a suitable townhouse in the city. Of course, the cost of living may differ from person to person, as it will depend on the lifestyle of each townhouse owner.

Townhouses for sale Manila are convenient, not only to businessmen and foreigners, but also to people who are working and studying. Whether a townhouse is rented or owned, townhouses offer a practicality and inexpensiveness over living in a condominium or hotel for a long period of time.

Many townhouses in Manila are built in proximity to entertainment and business sections of Manila, as well as mall areas, restaurants and fast food outlets. This is actually beneficial to those who are working, since it would be so much easier to buy food when one is tired from cooking his/her own food after a long day's work.

Speaking of malls, the townhouses in Manila are relatively near to the biggest mall in the country, the SM Mall of Asia, or MOA. Townhouses get you closer to this mall which offers the best purchases in town, from food to clothing and outfits, from gadgets to services, and much more. Additionally you can also stroll by the bay walk fronting Manila Bay, which is already part of the mall's premises. You can sit on the seawalls, watch the golden Manila sunset, or get to play in one of many playground rides there.

The potential buyer of a townhouse for sale Manila has a wide range of choices when it comes to staying in one. This will of course, depend on your lifestyle, where you want to live, your individual preferences, and your financial capacity to own one or to rent.

Let's mention examples of townhouses in Manila. One of the biggest townhouse projects in Manila currently is Ayala Land Inc.'s Celadon Residences, which is worth five billion pesos. Celadon Residences is a 4.2 hectare community of townhouses which, when completed, will have one hundred and two townhouse units inside, all located within well-gated premises. This townhouse community features Mediterranean designs and it also has a lot of amenities like a swimming pool area, an open playfield, basketball courts, a kid's playground, and a clubhouse pavilion, which are located in the community's village park. There, residents of the community can hold their private functions and shared activities. All residents are safe inside the premises, as Celadon Residences has a round-the-clock security system installed.

There are also townhouses in Manila built especially with students in mind. Students can find great Manila townhouses located in the city's so-called "University Belt", since in that area, you can find the country's top universities and colleges there. For instance, three-storey townhouses are located near the La Salle Taft, Far Eastern University, and CEU campuses in the city. These townhouses have four bedrooms, three toilet and bathroom areas, a small laundry area, maid's quarters, a family hall, a lanai and car garage, as well as a study area. This kind of townhouses are also perfect for students who live as a group, or students who bring along their families in the city, as it is big enough to accommodate several more members of the family.

Manila townhouses have prices depending on their location, their sizes, and the amenities available that are exclusive to them. For example, a 72.6 square meter townhouse, which is located near the University of Santo Tomas and other commercial areas near the campus, has two bedrooms located at the ground floor and two bedrooms at the second floor, a kitchen area, an attic, and one toilet and bath. This townhouse costs around 3.5 million pesos.

There are also brand new townhouses for sale located in Sampaloc, Manila, which cost around 4.3 million pesos. These townhouses are each composed of two bedrooms, two toilet and bath areas, one laundry area, a small storage area, and a garage. These townhouses are also in close proximity to the UST campus, and hence, just one ride away from the University Belt and the LRT2 Legarda Terminal Station. Banks, malls, grocery and department stores, and hospitals are very accessible from these townhouses, so students have more convenience when it comes to their needs.

Useful Tips When Buying a Townhouse

If you are a bit financially constrained to buy a townhouse for sale Manila, there are a lot of things that you should consider wisely. Buying a townhouse is not that straightforward, since this will become the biggest investment that you might make in your life.

One of the most challenging thing about availing of a townhouse is the monthly mortgages that people face, and so people work their lives off hard in their jobs just to pay that mortgage. Renting is no exception; rental fees are often as high as the cost of a monthly mortgage.

If you are really into owning a townhouse, mortgages are inescapable and an inevitable fact of life. These tips will help you on how to build up your money cache to be able to own a townhouse outright. Many of these may not be easy, but if you are determined to have a plush townhouse as your home, they are worth the try.

Downsizing to a smaller house that offers convenience and less maintenance by selling off the current house that has a larger value.
Gathering savings and then buying a very inexpensive home, without the frills and embellishments, and then over the years, renovate them to your liking.
Go the hard way and save up for years, then buying the best house outright.
Buying land and building a temporary shelter for yourself, then build the house proper yourself or with a construction team.
Constructing a portable house on your existing land, buy a vacant lot, and then transporting a house there.

Rent or Buy?

Townhouses for sale Manila are available through in-house financing, bank loans, or through straight cash. Aside from the types of loans and mortgage financing, you can avail of loans from the Pag-ibig Housing Loan through the Home Development Mutual fund, which is run by the government. These are however, available to Pag-ibig members only.

If you are a member of Pag-ibig, and you have been paying at least 24 months' worth in member's contribution (around P4,800), you may avail of a housing loan. Per month, the member's contribution costs around P200, and half of that is supported by the member's employer if he/she is a regular employee of a company. For self-supporting, self-employed, or voluntary members, each of them should shoulder the entire monthly contribution of P200. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) can also avail of the Pag-ibig Housing Loan.

Perhaps you may not want to buy a townhouse for permanence, or for an extended period of time. Perhaps you just want to rent a townhouse for a certain period since you'll be away anyway after some time. Renting a Manila townhouse is always an option. There are those who just need to rent because of their financial capacity. If so, there are townhouse in Manila that are open for rent, with rental fees from as low as P10,000, to as high as P85,000. Of course, the prices will all depend on the number of amenities that a townhouse has, or the quality of the townhouse or its location.

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