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The decision to buy a condo does not come easily. After all, relocating is a major life event, not to mention the amount of money to be shelled out in buying one. When you’re relocating to a new city or area, you’re faced with a big decision on where to live. There are plenty of options, like buying a single-family dwelling or buying condo unit. Each option has its advantages, disadvantages, and risks.  So, should you buy a condo? Here are some points to consider so you can make an informed decision:
1. Budget As with any major decision, you should always consider your finances. Condos are typically more affordable than a house, but you should also think about whether your monthly budget can handle the possibility of homeowners’ association fees, and the like. 2. Location Of course, the basic question is where you want to live. In choosing an area, plenty of factors can come into play, like your daily commute to work or school, or even your lifestyle and hobbies. From there, check out the options for condos and single-family homes. If you’re looking for a place in the heart of the city, you’re more likely to find a suitable condo. 3. Privacy A single-family home affords you privacy. Some people value their privacy more than others, so living in a condo might not be an ideal setup because of the close proximity of the units. The condo association typically sets up rules and regulations that address this concern, but you may want to look closely into this when you’re considering a condo. 4. Maintenance If maintaining a lawn or cleaning out gutters isn’t really your thing, then condo living might just be for you. Unlike living in a single-family home, condo life usually means that the admin is taking care of exterior maintenance and other similar concerns. 5. Security and safety Living in a single-family home in a gated community can definitely give you peace of mind. Condos also offer that kind of security, with guard services or buzzer systems. You can also work with the building admin if you want additional security systems in your unit. Ultimately, it’s about buying well to suit your lifestyle. If you carefully consider the points above, you should be able to benefit from a good investment, whether you choose a condo or a single-family home. And even if you think that house is something for you to live in, consider the fact that condo is a reliable investment to earn and make first steps to your future house.
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In an effort to provide residents with the best possible combination of luxury and convenience, SMDC's Shine Residences, located right in the heart of the bustling Ortigas City center, offers you an opportunity to live in a work-life balance in an exclusive address while ensuring the convenience of being near everything you need.
Promising only the most privileged lifestyle, residents have access to serene pools and amenities without having to leave the development. For something more than the usual fare, Shine residences also have access to the exclusive clubhouse amenities of the iconic Renaissance Center, including a Bramante pool, tennis courts, specialty retail shops, a gym, functions rooms, a gazebo and a park. Boasting a wide range of unit types to suit your specific budget and taste, residents are afforded spectacular views of Ortigas, Quezon City, Makati City and Antipolo skylines, no matter what unit you're in. True to its promise of providing five-star living, SMDC Shine Residences boasts of top-notch property management service in ensuring the maintenance and security of the development and its homeowners.   For its residents, Shine Residences truly lives up to its name and shines in all aspects of their lives, whether professional or personal. Purefoods Hotshots PBA player Jerwin Gaco said he decided to invest in Shine Residences because it was close to key locations in the metropolis. "[I like Shine] because living here means I am close to cities such as Makati, San Juan and Manila," Jerwin said. He noted that his favorite feature would definitely have to be Shine's pools. "When the weekend comes, my kids and my friends find the time to hang out at the pool area of Shine Residences. It's great!"
Recently back in the country, Kat Soriano, a nurse from Seattle, USA, said SMDC properties have always seemed like a very good investment.
"Whenever we come back or take a vacation in the city, it's very convenient that we can go to Shine." Security is also top-notch for Kat. "I can see CCTV's everywhere. I feel very safe when I'm here!" Getting decorating ideas and inspiration is the fun part, especially now that we can easily draw inspiration from Pinterest or other decorating blogs. But after taking note of the styles you want, how do you make it happen? That’s when it can get pretty overwhelming.  The key to decorating your space is to break it down into steps and develop a system for working. If you plan on decorating your living space by yourself, here are some tips on how to give your room a quick and efficient makeover:
1. Do your measurements. This lets you know how much space you’re working with. Taking measurements helps prepare you for the next step, which is ordering your materials. Measuring properly ensures that you don’t order too much paint or wallpaper, or get the wrong size of furniture. Mistakes like these can be costly on your part. 2. Order everything in one go. Once you’ve chosen all your paint, furniture, fabrics or other working materials, order them all at once if possible. Some of these materials will take longer to arrive so you need to get a head start. It’s a big inconvenience if you start working on your decorating while having to wait for certain materials to arrive. 3. Call in your decorating team. Identify the professionals you need, like a painter, electrician, or upholsterer. Do some research or get referrals ahead of time so you won’t be scrambling at the last minute. When you’re rushing, you may not end up with the best person for the job. 4. Start with the floors. If you’re planning to sand or stain your floor, or even put down carpeting, always start with this first. This is so you minimize any damage to your walls. 5. Install cabinets before you start painting. If you’re decorating your bathroom, kitchen or any space that requires cabinet installation, do this first before you start painting. Doing it in reverse can cause damage or scratches to the paint job. 6. Hang your light fixtures. After painting your room, you can start hanging your chandeliers, sconces or other light fixtures. Install these first before your drapes or anything else so they don’t get in the way. 7. Arrange your furniture. If you can, prepare a floor plan of where your furniture will go. In case your plan doesn’t go as well as you’d hoped, don’t be afraid to experiment and move things around. 8. Add the accessories. After all the furniture is in place, add your artwork, figurines, lamps and other decorative items like books and pillows. These small items add touches of personality to a room, so be unique and have fun!  When choosing a home, location is always on top of the list of considerations. Nowadays, finding a home at the heart of the city where young professionals can build careers, where businesses can thrive and where parents can provide a suitable environment for their kids, has become quite a challenge. Luckily, SMDC's Jazz Residences provides just all that. Located at the corner of Nicanor Garcia St. and Metropolitan Ave. in Bel-Air Makati, Jazz Residences is just minutes away from offices in Ayala and Gil Puyat Ave. It is also near Jupiter St. and Makati Ave., where entrepreneurs can put up restaurants and shops.  Aside from being near schools and hospitals, Jazz Residences also has children-friendly amenities such as kiddie pools and a play area, making it a healthy environment for raising a family. The four-tower vertical village boasts of five-star amenities such as grand lobbies, function rooms, five swimming pools, a fitness center and landscaped gardens. It also houses the Jazz Mall complete with commercial and food establishments and SM Hypermarket for all household needs.   As an investor, Riqui Raymundo always chooses properties in prime locations. She has properties in SMDC's Sea Residences in the Mall of Asia complex and Jazz Residences in Makati City. "Because of Jazz Residences' prime location, my tenants, who are mostly foreigners and balikbayans, love my place. They love the fact that everything is within reach. It is right in the middle of the business district, near hospitals and world-class shopping malls," said Riqui. Riqui also shared that she used to live in Bel-Air so even before the condo was built, she knows that Jazz is centrally located and it would be convenient for her potential tenants to live there. Riqui also praised the five-star amenities of Jazz Residences. "What I like the most about Jazz are the swimming pools and the Jazz Mall. The pools are huge and sufficient for everyone. Also, it's so easy to go down to the mall when I want to eat, shop or go to the bank," she added. After seeing the return of investment in her Sea and Jazz properties in her Sea and Jazz properties, Riqui plans to buy another condo in Grace Residences located near Bonifacio Global City.   Radio personality Monica Tobias and celebrity yoga instructor Al Galang found a new home in the bustling city of Makati where they can conveniently attend to their kids and their business. In December 2014, the couple decided to have a place in Jazz Residences which is located near their restaurant, Sweet Ecstacy in Jupiter St.
"We felt the need of having a place near the restaurant because the travel time to and from our house in Quezon City became almost unbearable and physically exhausting especially during the holiday season. Our place in Jazz is perfect not only because of the location but also because it has everything we need. It is a place where we can nurture both our family and business," said Monica. For almost seven months now, Monica, Al and their kid enjoy every aspect of their new home. They especially love the convenience of having everything - hypermarket, hardware store, restaurants, coffee shops and salons - literally at their doorstep. As a yoga instructor, Al also finds Jazz Residences' gym and pool area very useful. "The state-of-the-art gym equipment are sufficient for all off us. Five pools are also perfect for those who need cardio exercise and those who just want to have a fun under the sun," added Al.
When choosing a condo, here are some tips students should keep in mind: 1. Check how accessible the condo is to your school.  Traffic is a major downer in every student’s life, so make sure your condo is accessible via different modes of public transportation. When you’re inspecting the property, take note of the public transportation terminals nearby and familiarize yourself with the routes you’ll be taking. SMDC Berkeley Residences along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City is walking distance from Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College, and is accessible via jeepney and tricycle.  2. Review the condo’s security features. Safety, of course, is definitely a priority. Most condos have security guards stationed at the entrance of the building, as well as receptionists who monitor people who come and go. SMDC condos like Blue Residences in Quezon City are equipped with automatic fire detection and an alarm system as well. You can also ask condo management if additional locks or security features can be installed in your unit. 3. Take note of the condo’s amenities.  The amenities of the condo should be conducive for your studies, so take note of what you’ll need throughout the year. For example, Green Residences in Taft Avenue, Manila has student-oriented facilities such as a study hall, several function rooms, a fitness center, and a swimming pool.  4. Familiarize yourself with key locations.
Go around and check out key locations like hospitals, places of worship, grocery stores, affordable restaurants, coffee shops, laundromats, and similar spots. Sun Residences on España Boulevard in Quezon City is not only accessible to the schools in the university belt area, but also has its own Hypermarket, as well as various dining spots in the building. |
AuthorOFW Real Estate in Dubai since 2012 Archives
October 2017
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