As years pass, the investment pays for itself as well. After one had lived a full life, the property can be bequeathed to the next generation, ensuring a roof for shelter. Or if the need arises, it can be sold with a tidy profit to meet the owner’s financial requirements.
But not all property are equal in value — a fact that many unsuspecting investors found out the hard way at the height of the Asian crisis in the mid ‘90s when many real estate development came to a halt.
While some guarantee a shelter for today, there are others that make certain a legacy for the future. An investment, after all, is about putting a little away in the present to ensure a comfortable retirement. For the more forward-looking, it is also meant to secure the succeeding generations.
A unique property, its value has been steadily on the rise. This, however, does not come as surprise to Brittany Corp. president Jing Serrano. The secret, she revealed, lies in how the property is developed.
"Property will always have its highs and its lows. But a good developer is rated not only by the quality of its projects but also by its ability to sustain its operations despite the crisis," Serrano confided. "But how we were able to cope with that difficulty and sustain operations and still have very good projects — I think that is something we can be very proud of," she added.
But the more unique feature is the inner courtyard found within each of the homes. There is an open space — either at the center or at the side of the residence — that can be accessed from the surrounding hallways. This particular configuration encourages more family interaction by providing a specific area where members of the household are bound to run into each other. The open lay-out also allows more sunshine and fresh air to circulate within the structure.
For the master of the household, casitas were integrated in the design with their needs especially in mind. Each home has a room that is slightly set apart from the main house. While ideal for staying guests, it is primarily meant to be a quiet space that would allow the homeowner to indulge in his personal business without being disrupted by the rest of the family.
A finishing touch to these residences is the porticos. These arches that rest elegantly above the columns accent the courtyard design and serve to complete the charming Italian motif.
This exclusive enclave will accommodate only 98 courtyard homes when completed. It offers four model homes namely Cezanne, Monet, Raphael and Rembrandt — after European art masters.
When completed, the Courtyards of Portofino will be at the heart of the massive Portofino development in between two other enclaves namely Portofino Heights and Portofino South — each with its distinctive character though inspired by the same Italian ideals of la dolce vita.
"We were not exactly small but when we started in this business, we were a David. The only way we could compete was to give value-added services. We had to overdo things. If you want to cater to a market with a more refined taste, you must be able to capture the littlest details that would catch their attention even if it was more expensive. We had to dish out more," Nova Noval, head of Corporate Communications explained.
In a cutthroat industry, she added, they had to figure out what would make them unique from their competitors and this included employing a theme, the use of quality materials, the attention to details, and service. In addition, every Brittany property offers premium utilities for its residents. To ensure an unobstructed view of the landscape, cables for power and communication were buried underground. Perimeter fences and buffer trees line the boundary lots to ensure security apart from the 24-hour system that safeguards the entire community. Deep wells and water reservoirs ensure a round the clock water service.
The Courtyards of Portofino is along the Las Pinas-Muntinlupa-Laguna-Cavite link road. Property previews may be arranged at 850-6986, 850-2868, 850-3084.