The right investment

Shopping for a condo unit in the country these days has never been more exciting. With all the great options being developed, selecting the best condo to fit your needs and your budget may seem like a daunting task. You could easily get lost in the hype and the labyrinth of details. So, how can one proceed with caution in the condo investment game? Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) President Lance Y. Gokongwei offers five solid pointers as embodied in the RLC’s latest enterprise, the Fifth Avenue Place, inside Fort Bonifacio Global City.

A prime consideration is timing. In making any business decision, timing your investment to the economic upswing makes all the difference. Lance Gokongwei believes the Philippine economy is on the rebound. Betting on this bullish outlook on the economy, Lance noted that part of making it big in the condo investment game is buying ahead of the crowd, who will only come in as soon as favorable economic conditions jumpstart the asking price.

The second most important thing to consider is the reputation of the developer. Lance noted that investing in a condo is no different from buying any major consumer item like a computer or a car. It is enticing to buy on the basis of a marketing promise but it would save you a lot of trouble if you check out the developer’s track record. As Lance proudly puts it, "RLC is backed by the strength of the JG Summit Group and has a solid reputation for completing projects on time and on specifications, meeting all expectations of buyers."

Third is location. A reputable developer assumes full assessment of the location of his project. As an individual investor, however, you have to be certain the property you want to buy offers a real hedge against uncontrollable factors like inflation. A great location, such as in the premium portion of Fort Bonifacio, offers that kind of hedge, taking note that the long-term value of land in the area is expected to rise as its development continues. "Future tenants will find the location we chose for Fifth Avenue Place highly desirable, not only is just within walking distance from the best lifestyle establishments in town, but also highly accessible from major areas of the metropolis through Fort Bonifacio’s strategic points of entry," he added.