It’s
an oft-quoted remark that when buying a property, there are only three things
that one should consider: location, location, location. This emphasis on where
the property is sited rests its argument that location will determine the
quality of your life and how fast—or how slow—your property will appreciate in
value. Of course, a variety of market forces dictates the price of real estate
but it’s safe to assume that the more urbanized the area is, the more expensive
the property becomes.
“Aside
from the track record of the developer, another crucial factor to consider is
location,” says Emma Amores, Corporate Communications Head. “Way before planning for our high-rise developments, we have already
determined key areas that are desirable for the end user and have the most
potential for growth. We also play to the strengths of the location. For
instance, in Katipunan, we know that our target market there is composed mainly
of parents who want to give their children the best possible accommodation in
their college life.”
Indeed,
every location has its own particular identity, charm and treasure trove of opportunities.
In Quezon City, Vista Residences conceptualized glitzy developments as a nod to
the city being the “Entertainment Capital of the Philippines.” The company
located its two projects, Symphony Tower and Wil Tower Mall, near the two
biggest broadcasting stations in the country: ABS-CBN and GMA 7. Some of the
unit owners work for either of the two, finding the convenience of just walking
to work or home as refreshing.
Another
sector that has found these developments appealing is government executives;
Quezon City has the most number of government offices in Metro Manila. After
work, they can easily find some relaxation along the many restaurants of Tomas
Morato or in the city’s gigantic malls, SM North Edsa and Trinoma. For their
medical needs, the residents have plenty of choices: from Capitol Medical
Center in Quezon Avenue to St. Luke’s Medical Center in E. Rodriguez Avenue to
Heart Center in East Avenue.
Quezon
City is home to some of the best universities of the country such as University
of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College. As
mentioned, the company is currently building Vista Residence Katipunan which is
stone’s throw away from these institutions of learning. Katipunan, with its
many restaurants, is also evolving as a veritable dining destination of its
own.
In
terms of the sheer number of universities, nothing can beat the capital Manila.
878 España, a single-tower development, seeks to provide comfortable home to
those studying in University of Santo Tomas, and also those in Far Eastern
University, University of the East and Centro Escolar University, among others.
At the other end of Manila, the company is building Vista Residence Taft which
will service the lodging needs of students in De La Salle College, College of
St. Benilde and St. Scholastica’s College.
Manila’s
charm is largely historical, chiefly due to Intramuros with its centuries-old
churches such as Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church. It remains also as
the country’s publishing capital as it is the home of newspaper organizations.
In terms of leisure opportunities, it has many things to offer. Malate remains
to be a vibrant hub of bars, restaurants and cafés while malls (Robinson’s
Place, SM Manila and Harrison Plaza) provide the high of retail therapy.
When
it comes to commercial complexes, however, nothing comes close to Mandaluyong,
which is dubbed as the “Mall Capital of the Philippines.” Vista Residences’
development in this city is 515 Shaw which, as its name suggests, is located
along the main artery of Shaw Boulevard. Mere minutes is all it takes to be at
SM Megamall, Shangri-La Mall, Star Mall and Robinson’s Galleria.
Mandaluyong
is also home, or is close to, some of the best high schools in Metro Manila
such as OB Montessori, La Salle Greenhills, Poveda College, Xavier School and
Lourdes School. Because of its privileged location, the city is close to
central business districts (CBD) of Bonifacio Global City, Makati and Ortigas.
Right
at the heart of the Ortigas CBD is The Currency, which is located in the
corners of the district’s most famous streets: Dona Julia Vargas Avenue, F.
Ortigas Jr. Avenue (formerly Emerald Ave) and Garnet Road. The development,
which features both residential and commercial places, is in close proximity to
five star hotels (Shangri-La Mall and Discovery Suites), national and
multi-national headquarters (San Miguel), malls (SM Megamall, The Podium,
Shangri-La Mall) and happening places (El Pueblo, The Strip and Metrowalk).
Still
regarded as the country’s “Financial Capital,” Makati City is home to a
plenitude of offices, both local and international. It has a clutch of
five-star hotels (Shangri-La Mall, Peninsula Manila, Intercontinental Hotel,
Mandarin Oriental), topnotch museums and galleries (Ayala Museum, Finale Art
File) and world-class hospital (Makati Medical Center). Greenbelt and Glorietta
comprise the main commercial hub of the city whose expansion shows no sign of
abating.
Vista
Residences has located some of its premier developments in the CBD’s most
notable villages: Mosaic and KL Mosaic Towers and The Gallery (Legapsi Village)
and Salcedo Square (Salcedo Village).
The towers in Legaspi Village have the good fortune to be walking
distance to the high-end dining and shopping and experience of Greenbelt while
Salcedo Square boasts proximity to Ayala Triangle with its equally arresting dining
choices.
Trevi
Towers, another Vista Residence project which is located along Pasong Tamo,
Makati, is neighbors with Little
Tokyo (a clutch of restaurants that serve authentic Japanese food), the mall
Makati Cinema Square and the schools of Don Bosco, Assumption and San Agustin.
Evolving
to be the country’s showroom to the world, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig
is proving to be another seductive choice of address. In this location, Vista
Residences has Avant at the Fort, the first building constructed at BGC with
the tenets of green architecture in mind.
BGC’s
primary retail experience is offered by Bonifacio High Street while the newly
opened SM Aura adds to the number of high-end shops that now operate in the
city. It is home to a world-class museum (Mind Museum), hospital (St. Luke’s
Hospital) and offices (Net One, Bonifacio Technology Center, JP Morgan).
Shangri-La Hotel will soon add to the growing skyline of BGC.
“Our
presence in the most urbanized centers of the city gives prospective unit
buyers a variety of choice on where they wish to live,” says Amores. The key in
selecting a development is for him to determine his needs, his lifestyle and
his objective. From the North to the South of Metro Manila, a right Vista
Residences project is waiting for him.”
