In part 1 of this article, it was pointed out that no one type of housing can provide all the benefits you may wish for in a home. Thus, you have to compromise and choose the type of housing that possesses the unique inherent advantages that you value most.

Now that you are sure of the type of home that you want, be certain that these inherent advantages do exist!

As mentioned in part 1, this two-part series is based on my article that was featured in the Inquirer.net. That article pointed out a mistake that many residential developers commit. This post hopes to convince you not to buy into that mistake.

After deciding on the what, decide on the where

After you have determined the type of home you want, the next step is to decide where your dream house should be. You have to remember this principle:

“Inherent geographic characteristics, scarcity and cost of land, population density and availability of commercial establishments, varied job opportunities and conveniences determine the suitable type of housing in a given area.”

You have to follow it because countless developers in the Philippines either refuse or fail to heed it. Otherwise, you will not get the advantages for which you choose a certain home. Or worse, you might lose a fortune on a project that will never be completed.

If informal settlers or squatters protest when they are given free housing in a relocation site where there’s not much job opportunities (what they value most), what reason is there for you to invest a fortune on a housing project that will not enhance your quality of life?

Worst mistake a residential developer commits

The worst mistake any developer can make is to construct a project in an area where it is not suitable. This is regardless of how well-designed or well-built it is.

Between 2004 and 2008, the following numbers of condominiums were started:

• almost 2,000 in Bulacan

• over 1,700 in Cavite

• 208 in Pangasinan, 174 in Davao del Sur, 135 in La Union, 130 in Iloilo

• in 2004 alone, 125 in the Cordillera Region, 57 in Mimaropa, 39 in Bicol, 36 in Soccsksargen and 23 in Caraga

Compare them with 134 residential condominiums in the entire National Capital Region for the same period.

The number of duplex, quadruplex and townhouses in some of these provinces are also disturbing but not as staggering as their figures for condominiums.

Worst mistake a home buyer commits

I’m not saying that condominiums should not be built in the provinces. I’m sure many of them were completed and delivered to their owners who are now enjoying the convenience of and the time they save by living in a condo. But their staggering number, especially in Bulacan and Cavite, makes me wonder about the following:

• How many are within short walking or commuting distance from work, schools, banks, supermarkets, wet markets, hospitals, malls or barber shops?

• How many are well-maintained? And most important of all,

• How many have been discontinued?!

Since condominiums are sold on a pre-selling basis, how many people bought into these projects and lost their money?

The worst mistake any home buyer can commit is to buy into the mistake of a developer who fails to apply the dictum “form follows function”; not only in the way a residential project is built, but more importantly, where it is built. It is by avoiding this mistake can you be certain that you get the benefits that you value most in your dream house.

In my next post, I will discuss why condominium projects appeal very much to developers, thus, their staggering number in places where they shouldn’t be.

Thank you so much