Author Archives: blogger

Bedok Reservoir Condominium

Situated in east Singapore, Bedok Reservoir condominium which is an Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) tender will be launched in between November to December 2011. The 4.56 hectare land was made into a residential property wherein approximately 577 housing units were built. The units are of different types like single bedroom to five bedroom apartments, penthouses and Semi-Ds to cater to the space needs of individuals and small and large families. Not only that the housings units are made of intricate designs and landscapes but the condominium itself boasts of its back-to-nature appeal especially since it nestled in the waterfront and reservoir. It would be better to purchase a unit if you want to live a more laid back life.

Further, Bedok Reservoir condominium provides space for both children and adults. For the children, there is a playground and a swimming pool to make their lives fun and exciting. They may also learn about nature in the park. For the adults, there is a gym, tennis courts and sauna. Nonetheless, they could enjoy together the BBQ areas and the spa and wading pools. These facilities are perfect for Sunday lunches and picnics. As such, the condominium does not only highlights family living but a family living that is of high quality and very decent.

There is nothing compared to having a home in a neighbourhood that is both peaceful and secure. Bedok Reservoir condominium was developed in such a way that it will be a haven. Round the clock security guards ensure that all residents are protected. Other than this, modern surveillance cameras are installed so that the movement of the people in and around the condo can be closely monitored. Having said this, security should be a primary concern in buying a house and this condominium in District 16 would be perfect.

Another consideration in finding a house or an apartment is its proximity to schools and groceries or supermarkets as well as different modes of transportations. First, the condominium is situated in an area with primary and secondary schools and college and university. There is also an international school within the vicinity. Second, shopping malls are close and are just about a 15-minute drive, that is if you could not find items that you are looking for on the two groceries in the basement of the condominium. Third, bus stops are geographically scattered in the area as well as being close to an expressway. That being said, if you want to live in an area with easy access to facilities and amenities then Bedok Reservoir condominium is highly advisable.

Other Side of the Condominium

Condominiums became popular because of its location, in which Filipinos are given the luxury of living in a home within walking distance away from their workplaces. However, other than this popular benefit, there are also other reasons why condominiums became popular, particularly among many modern Filipino families.

Other Side of the Condominium Condominiums, according to many real estate experts, were first founded as a type of modern housing which can cater to the needs of a modern Filipinos, such as the need for accessibility.

However, other than just its accessibility, there are also other reasons why condominiums had gained a lot of popularity in the Philippine properties. Here are some of those benefits:

Amenities Other than just its accessibility, condominiums can also offer a number of unique amenities that made it popular in the Philippines, such as its own maintenance and security personnel.

According to many experts, part of the reason why condominiums became popular, compared to its predecessors such as apartment buildings and townhouses, is because of its own maintenance and security personnel which assured their residents that their homes will be properly maintained while their safety within the compound is also assured.

In addition to that, condominiums are also the only types of residential Philippine properties in business and commercial districts that can offer residents facilities such as swimming pools, gyms, and sports complexes which made condominiums even more popular in the Philippine market.

Because of those benefits, condominiums quickly rose up from the competition which also led to its rapid growth all over the Philippines.

Condominiums for Families However, other than condominiums found in business and commercial districts, there are also a number of new condominiums which are found around the outskirts of Metro Manila as well as in the provinces. These types of condo in Philippines are known as condominium complexes, which are types of condominiums aimed to offer families a home for their growing children.

Condominium complexes, according to many experts, became popular because of its environment as well as its privacy and security. In addition to that, there are also other reasons why condominium complexes became popular for Filipino families, and that is because of its facilities which can cater to the needs of growing children, such as recreational parks and playgrounds.

Because of the introduction of condominium complexes as well as its rapid growth in the Philippines, condominiums became even more popular because of a new benefit that made it even more unique in the country, and that is its flexibility in terms of providing the kinds of benefits that Filipinos and Filipino families are looking for in a home.

Puntamita

Real estate moguls like to impress people with inane demonstrations and descriptors. Theyll gush about the state-of-the-art kitchens (arent they all at this price point?) and request that you peer appreciatively at a scale model (when youve seen one plastic broccoli-floret-sized tree, youve seen them all). But it takes a very special developer to woo with chocolate chip Mickey Mouse pancakes with maraschino cherries for eyes and a pineapple spear for a smile.

I hope youre not diabetic, says Basri Emini, CEO of Emini Equities, shaking icing powder over Mickey.

Brawny, with thick dark hair, Basri Emini is standing over a hot grill at Ayia, his stylish condominium development in Punta Mita, Mexico, just north of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast. His kitchen helper, a Dutchman, hands me a mimosa, while faint Arabic music tinkles in the background.

Basri Emini, who is from Chicago and sounds like another Chicagoan, John Cusack; Im hay-pea here, says Basri Emini in a fit of glee after moving here in 2006 after being drawn by its beauty. I love Puerto Vallarta because its a real city. It has Spanish architecture and cobblestone streets. Its lively and the people are just amazing.

Indeed, there is a lot to see on the 40-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta International Airport. From the inside of a moving taxicab, the view is akin to the looping backdrop of a Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Peppered with seemingly endless palm trees under a hot sun the average temperature is 80 F there are the quintessentially Mexican food stands, and good people-watching. Hello, guy wielding tangle of birdcages with budgies! But it gets very still when we reach the gated community of Punta Mita, a stunning peninsula with azure water and colourful vegetation.

Thats precisely its charm, says Mr. Emini of the 1,500-acre low-density resort community surrounded on three sides by dramatic coves thanks to Banderas Bay (Mexicos largest natural bay and second largest in the world), the Pacific Ocean and Litigu Bay. It is isolated and quiet but thats the beauty. A lot of the people here already live hectic lives. These are their second and third homes. I always tell them to go to Vallarta or Sayulita [a swinging surf town eight miles away] if they want the scene.

Once a remote fishing village, Punta Mita was developed in 1999 by Dine (pronounced dee-nay), one of Mexicos largest real estate players. So far, Dine has invested more than US$150-million in its infrastructure, and at full build-out Punta Mita is expected to have a real estate value of some US$2-billion.

And whats a resort without luxury hotels? There are two, the Four Seasons and the St. Regis, and home buyers are permitted to traipse over to them, should they fancy a seaweed wrap in the spa, say, or a meal at one of the restaurants with beautiful vantage points and ambiance cue foamy waves, salt-licked air and orange-creamsicle sunsets.

The land mass and the security is whats great here, says Gary Pepin, the vice-president of sales at Punta Mita. Secondly, every person that owns property in Punta Mita belongs to the club. He then launches into the clubs extensive amenities the two Jack Nicklaus golf courses, 11 tennis courts (cradled in palm groves) and a newfangled fitness complex. Eventually, there will also be equestrian facilities.

The club has a $75,000 membership fee, which is totally refundable upon resale. In the world of golf, to belong to a club with so many amenities, one that is totally refundable without a transfer fee, $75,000 is ridiculously low, says Mr. Pepin.

As for digs, theres a variety of lavish sites to choose from, whether you prefer a condo, villa or a private home. Basri Eminis Ayia condos, for instance, which have all been built, are priced from US$500,000 to US$1.19-million (though theres one on the market now for US$450,000) with large terraces, an infinity pool and a furnishing package.

Im also told that average prices for Punta Mitas oceanfront homes are 30% to 35% less than similar luxury homes in high-end master-planned communities in Hawaii, Los Cabos, The Bahamas and Costa Rica.

You can go for the traditional Mexican-style villas with terracotta tile roofs and palapas (an open structure with a thatched roof), like those at the El Encanto site (see sidebar). Or choose a slick condo that emulates what youd find in Toronto.

The difference, of course, is that no matter how appealing Torontos condos are in terms of architecture or interior finishes, they cannot offer a cerulean blue ocean at your doorstep, year-round sunshine, nor majestic palm trees (with apologies to our squirrel-stuffed oaks and maples).

Punta Mita also has nine-and-a-half miles of sandy white beaches and offers chance encounters with exotic wildlife (a bird straight out of National Geographic popped in for a visit while I bobbed in an infinity pool). Punta Mita also shares the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands. That means wearing short shorts year-round is an option.

For snowbirds just heading into winter, thats one hot selling feature.

Iris Benaroia was a guest of Punta Mita.

Progress In Preparing The Draft Condominium Statute

Progress in preparing the draft regulations under the Thailand Condominium Act amended in 2009 with the purchase and sale agreement is almost completed and will be presented to the meeting of the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) in August 2011. The essence of the contract will be to declare the act as another measure to protect consumers, which requires that any project or condominium units which will be open to the public for sale must be certified or approved by the Environment Impact Assessment Committee (EIA) and must have a valid license for construction.

The framework of this contract will provide fairness for the buyer. Many previous condominium projects were sold or booked but without passing the EIA assessment first which meant that there were many legal cases being brought against developers.

The legislation drafting committee has now approved Condominium Act law. Preliminary determination of the initial height from three stories up and the height of the building will be based on the building control act which regulates the rules or details already. Room sizes, for example, must have a minimum usage area of 20 square meters and a bathroom included. However, the editing of the various definitions will take a year to complete and make enforceable.

The new combined Bangkok city plans to include FAR (Floor Area Ratio) for land use along the metro system includes both open-for-business and under-construction projects and investment projects in the planning stages.

According to the combined Bangkok city plan which is considering updating and prepare to announced a new city plan enacted for 2012. By taking lessons and shortcomings of the previous land use plan for revision as well as the growth rate of both residential and commercial development including the number of people using the area as a key element in determining the future layout of urban development.

The consideration of the new Bangkok city plan will increase the use of land along the entire metro route which is currently in service and currently under construction according to master plan and investment plan.

This is because the demand for land along metro lines is high from both investors interested in investing in all types of commercial ventures including shopping centers and low-rise housing and high-rise housing especially in the inner city and central areas and the demand of living near working areas and shopping centers. The city of Bangkok will increase the FAR ratio or total building area per land area to be able to construct more on the same piece of land as 1-2 times.

Apart from that, areas in Bangkok inner city and Bangkok middle areas that have the overhead train can be able to develop more high-rises with land high prices and are likely to be considered worth the investment of further rail systems including Bangkoks outer areas stations.

However, BMA has planned to raise the ceiling of a maximum FAR10: 1 to FAR 15:1 especially in some of the red zone area such as some part of Silom will also increase In descending order according to their suitability and land use. increasing the FAR to 11:1, FAR 12:1, FAR 13:1, FAR 14:1 and FAR15: 1. However, it must depend on the city planning committee for approval.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Condos In Panama

On your Panama City beach vacation, you may have a choice of residing in a resort or rented condos in Panama. Listed here are several of the advantages of condos that you like to consider before you decide to make final choice.

The best benefit of condos of course may be the fact that they are commonly large enough to suit all the customers of your travelling group properly. They have many bedrooms, and hence they could rest on lots of people and provide privacy.

Privacy because you could be sleep in one room along with your spouse while your kids take another room just as if you were at your own house. If you are vacationing with your colleagues or other couples, then all of them may take a different room for themselves.

Condo properties contain large and nicely furnished kitchen areas for those who love to prepare food for themselves. In this way, they are able to prepare and consume anything they want. You are not limited to the food in resorts and cafes; you may make meals your local favorite meal and eat at it anytime you desire and are not restricted to the dinner times just like in hotels.

Actually, if you are travelling as a family, and you like to live in an apartment, you could still take care of your normal chosen lifestyle and maintain your regimens. If you want to pray or eat together as a family, you could still do this and enjoy. The condos in Panama are also furnished with a washing machine and dryer to assist you in your cleaning. However, as much as the rented condo is a great option to obtaining a hotel room throughout a holiday getaway, it also offers some limitations. These cons do not. However, signify all the condominiums but a lot of them.

Once you rent a condo, you end up sharing one or two small pools with lots of people. There is no privacy while swimming. Some of the condos in Panama absence the activities, entertainment and amenities that you’re to need as a vacationer. In most cases, services like around the clock housekeeping assistance are lacking and are only obtainable throughout office working hours. They, therefore, lack the 24-hour maintenance and assist that could come in convenient in the event of emergencies.

Most condominiums have hidden and overpriced costs that you are not up to date of initially. These could in the end make your stay very costly in the long run. For some condos, you can’t see the beach easily with out inclined over and looking straight down from your deck. Most are undesirable and come with parking that is a small far away from the condominium itself. The beach place that could be available with no vacationing very far is limited and congested from the several residents of nearby condominiums. Which means you may have no security.

Almost all condos are positioned far away from the beach such that it will take you up to 20 minutes to reach the beach. This can be very irritating if you are walking in the hot sun. When all is mentioned and done, however, after you have viewed each of the problems and compared to the benefits of residing a condo it’s the best option while on vacation in Panama City.

After scanning this content, it’s easy to be able to find the best condos in Panama to enjoy your holiday getaway in fashion. Make a home overseas.