What with the rising prices of gas, food, and basics of everyday living, would it be a good idea to buy property or close deals before prices rise again?

According to senior economist Prince Christian Cruz, if a buyer can pay in cash and the property is bought for the purpose of owner occupancy, any time is the best time to buy it regardless of the price increase of goods. If the purchase will be financed by a loan, however, the buyer will need to consider other factors like his income, savings, expenses, and the amount allotted for the monthly amortization. Although it’s easy to estimate how much income you’ll make in a year, the unstable economy makes it harder to predict how much your expenses will be. Even if prices seem stable for a week, it can increase unpredictably and without warning.

If you’re buying the property simply to invest in it, it gets a little trickier. Just because you bought the property with a 20% markup does not mean it will also be sold at a higher price. The price is determined by the demand for it, and it seems as though we are nearing the end of the housing price boom.

The best time to buy is now, according to President of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association Eduardo Alunan. The interest rates are still low thanks to Pag-Ibig and other commercial banks, and you can still dodge increasing gas bills by carpooling or using public transport. But as the peso appreciates, the interest rates could rise as well.

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Thanks to the boom in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, the Philippines is the hottest real estate market in Southeast Asia Today. According to CB Richard Ellis Group Philippines general manager Trent Frankum, the BPO created newer opportunities for the real estate market. Major businesses and investors are expanding their presence in the Philippines due to the large work force and because it is one of the biggest English speaking nations in the world.

This assessment was recently made in Hong Kong at the Smart Investment and International Property Expo, the biggest real estate exposition in Asia. The expo showcases global real estate market opportunities and invites property experts and investors from global companies in Asia, the UK, and Australia.

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Fifteen real estate companies just invested 4.7 billion pesos to develop hotels, resorts, and residential subdivisions in Lapu-Lapu City starting the first quarter of 2008. Some of the developers involved in the project are Filinvest (the Php 25 million Aldea Del Sol in Barangay Maribago and Seascape Subdivision in Barangay Mactan), Robinsons Land (starting with the Php 533 million first phase of Amisa, an integrated condominium and resort, as well as Php 12 million for Blue Coast Residences), and Clavall Properties (who will expand Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort for approximately Php 1.3 billion). Other developments in Lapu-Lapu City will be the Gaisano Grand Mall in Barangay Basak (Php 134 million), Mactan Oceantown Information Technology Park and Commercial Complex (Php 57 million), and Microtel Hotel (Php 65 million).

According to City Administrator Teodulo Ybañez, Lapu-Lapu city is more business-friendly than its neighboring cities (Mandaue and Cebu) due to lower business taxes, fees, and licenses. In fact, Lapu-Lapu is the 21st best city in the country for entrepreneurs to start a business. The investments from real estate companies is bringing Lapu-Lapu City closer to becoming a gateway for international business and tourism by 2020, as part of the Mactan Island Integrated Development Plan.

Michael Dignos of the City Attorney’s Office said these investments bring Lapu-Lapu City closer to becoming an international gateway for business and tourism by 2020 as indicated in the Mactan Island Integrated Development Plan.

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Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is an ancient Chinese philosophy that focuses on living harmoniously with the environment. In a home, positive energy or “chi” can be channeled through proper placement and design to achieve balance among the elements fire, earth, water, wood, and metal.

One of the easiest things to follow when choosing a property or home with positive feng shui is the lot. A house with positive chi has a lot shaped like a rectangle or square – never a triangle. Triangles are considered incomplete and irregular because its sharp points indicate ill omens. The lot should also have a natural source of running water, like a river or a creek beside the home, be located near nature or animals, placed between two hills with different sizes that are not larger than the house itself, or placed in front of a hill.

The house itself must face south to allow warmth and sunlight into the home for a good part of the day. A house that is positioned at the end of a dead-end street or a cul-de-sac have less chi because its positions trap in the sha, or the negative energy.

Design-wise, houses that use natural materials like stone or concrete countertops and wooden flooring have a clear flow of chi. Other design elements need to be considered. For instance, the master’s bedroom should be located farthest from the front door, preferably at a back corner. Loud colors and art should be avoided, and you shouldn’t be able to see yourself on a mirror from the bed as your reflection disturbs your sleep patterns.

Whether you actually believe in the flow of positive chi or you just like the location of your lot and the way your furniture is arranged, the philosophy of feng shui is all about harmony and balance – elements that are needed in any home.

Congratulations, you’ve finally gotten around to moving out of your parents’ house and finding a place of your own. You already know what kind of furniture to get and the parties you’ll be throwing every weekend. But before you celebrate, do remember that this is real life and living on your own isn’t just about no longer having a curfew. Here’s some advice you might want to follow so that you can avoid making costly mistakes during first experience out on your own.

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