Pre-selling offers investors the best value, opportunity

The recent uptick in construction and other real estate activities in the country, although threatened by the surging price of steel in the world market, is a pleasant surprise not only to government planners but also to investors who may finally see their investments bear fruit.

For serious investors, easily the most attractive deal in real estate is pre-selling. In this arrangement, developers offer their yet-to-be-completed projects to prospective buyers at a huge discount, sometimes only half the price buyers would have to pay when the project is completed.

Christopher Calibo, team head for the Vivant Flats and West Parc condominium projects of Filinvest Alabang Inc., said buying at pre-selling prices give investors a bigger return on their investment should they decide to resell the finished unit later.

Pre-selling, needless to say, poses risks especially to buyers, the most common of which is a developer’s inability to deliver or finish the project on time as promised. In worse cases, developers completely abandon unfinished projects, leaving those who bought during pre-selling holding the proverbial empty bag.

That is why real estate investors and those seeking to acquire new homes are better off dealing with developers with proven track records in real estate development. They have to seek the developers that have delivered, and have never abandoned their buyers, in their previous and current projects.

Filinvest Alabang Inc. is one of the most reputable developers in the country today, particularly in southern Metro Manila where its flagship project continues to innovate urban real estate development.

FAI spearheaded the development of the Filinvest Corporate City where subsequent developments for satellite cities in other areas are patterned after. It recently launched two of its most-awaited condominium projects in the area – Vivant Flats, a 17-story residential tower with a nature-inspired setting along Park Avenue; and West Parc, which is composed of two clusters of buildings with full amenities, making it an entirely new community in itself.