types of real estate investments

Investing in real estate properties can grant you several opportunities to build your equity over time. However, that is not the only reason why so many people consider these investments a wise choice. 

Despite the rising prices of mortgages and housing, the real estate market continues to experience a steady rise. According to investment analysis, the Philippines is expected to see a favorable growth of 7.8% within 2021.

The demand for real estate properties has also significantly increased beyond the supply in the current market, which makes it the perfect time to start your investments. However, before you even begin to take part, you must first understand the types of real estate investment available. 

Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. These different property types can benefit various kinds of investors depending on their needs and goals. 

1. Residential real estate

Residential real estate refers to any property used for housing. These include family homes, cooperatives, duplexes, and condos where the investor or a party renting the property lives in. This type is ideal if you are looking to start building your dream home or begin a family. 

Properties such as condos continue to remain in high demand due to their primary location. These properties are popular because of their convenience and access to nearby essential services such as malls, hospitals, and stores. 

Residential real estate is a good investment because of the returns you can get. For example, a real estate company in the Philippines typically has a pre-selling period when you can buy properties at a lower price. Investors take this opportunity to purchase and sell them later on when their value in the market increases. 

2. Commercial real estate

Commercial real estate refers to any property where the main purpose is to host business operations and services. These properties typically include apartment complexes, stores, gas stations, hotels, hospitals, parking facilities, etc. 

Investors in this category are typically business owners who want to establish their brand in a particular location or create a working space for their employees. While sales and transactions do play an important role in creating cash flow, most of its returns come from the rental profit of the property. 

3. Industrial real estate

Industrial real estate refers to all lands, buildings, and other properties that accommodate industrial-sized activities. These activities include production, assembly, warehousing, manufacturing, research, and distribution of goods and products. 

Zoning laws will typically specify which areas in a city these real estate properties can be designated so they won’t disrupt residential and other nearby places during its operations. The return on this investment is influenced by multiple factors, including the type of property you choose.

4. Raw land

Raw land typically refers to undeveloped or agricultural land such as farms, ranches, and timberlands. Many investors look at these properties as a good investment because they are tangible and finite resources. Additionally, these properties save you from the trouble of running renovations and worrying over stolen or damaged goods. 

Compared to buying a residential property or warehouse, raw land can be a significantly cheaper investment that requires no property insurance. However, a major downside to this is that it cannot generate income on its own. 

5. REITs

Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) manages or owns commercial properties that produce an income. Investments with these companies can be made through an exchange-traded fund or a mutual fund. 

REITs are one of the assets that perform exceptionally in the real estate market, meaning better returns for your investment. There are also different types of REITs to choose from to better leverage your portfolio, such as retail, office, healthcare, residential, and mortgage. 

Investing for the future

As the world population continues to grow, the demand for housing and other real estate properties continues to rise. This makes it ideal to begin your real estate investments as early as possible to get the best deals for your preferred properties. They can help grow your income, benefitting you financially.

While several real estate properties are available in the market, residential continues to be one of the most popular choices. This is because many prime spots in the Philippines have established residential properties, such as condos, for convenient living. Email invest@federalland.ph today to find the best properties located in these key areas. 

Buying a property is one of the biggest financial decisions a person will ever make. Whether it is for investment or personal housing, you will have to be wise on how you finance a property purchase.

Federal Land offers three payment terms: Cash Term, Bank Financing Term, and In-house Financing Term. To help you decide which financing option is best for you, here is a short guide of payment options, housing loan calculator, and amortization tips.

WHAT ARE YOUR FINANCING OPTIONS?
Payment terms vary per project. Typically, Federal Land offers three payment terms: Cash Term, Bank Financing Term, and In-house Financing Term.

Cash Term means paying cash up front within a 30-day or 60-day period. The easiest and fastest way to homeownership, cash term means you can enjoy certain advantages such as discounts, fewer requirements, easier and quicker processing of real estate documents and no long-term payment concerns.

For cash term, the following are the factors you should consider:

  • Allotted funds for the closing costs and the Total Contract Price (TCP) to be paid within the 30-day or 60-day period
  • Discount offered as compared to your foregone investment earnings for in-house financing
  • Interests attached to the other payment terms
  • Advantages of installment options
  • Easy transaction and documentation

In-house Financing Term is an extended payment term with above-average interest rates offered by the developer. Federal Land offers in-house financing payable in five to ten years for 80% of TCP or a maximum amount of Php 5 million with a fixed interest rate for the first five years, then subject to review for succeeding years.

While banks are known for their strict housing loan application, in-house financing has a relatively low risk of being denied. A down payment of 20% to 30% of the TCP is enough to guarantee.

Requirements for in-house financing include a certificate of employment indicating position, length of service and compensation, your latest Income Tax Return, your latest pay slip, and utility bills.

For foreigners and non-permanent residents of the Philippines, in-house financing and cash term are the only available payment options, since bank financing have a required number of years of residency in the country and familial ties to support loan agreements.

Bank Financing Term is an agreement between the lender (a bank) and the borrower (the homebuyer) wherein the borrower pledge to pay the loan or mortgage over an agreed period or loan tenure.

Depending on the bank policy, property value and paying capacity, a buyer can loan up to 90% of TCP and pay for the loan and its interest for up to 25 years. The homebuyer would then shoulder the remainder of the TCP or the equity. However, some real estate projects may have a limited allocation of units offered for long-term payment via bank financing options. It would be best to verify the real estate project being offered and the availability of units allowed for this type of payment before making a decision to buy.

For bank financing, the factors are similar to in-house financing, except for lower interest rates, stricter bank documentary requirements, and the benefit of having the Title transferred to your name sooner if you use a different property as your collateral. If you choose to use the property you purchased as your collateral, the Title will be transferred to your name; however, it will be kept by the bank until you complete your mortgage payments.

For all projects of Federal Land, a homebuyer can apply a housing loan to its accredited banks: Metrobank and PS Bank. Selected Federal Land projects also accept housing loans from PNB Savings Bank, UCPB, Banco De Oro, Union Bank and Chinabank. It would be good to buy during the pre-selling period of real estate projects during which time there are units available for bank financing payment option.

WHAT IS MONTHLY AMORTIZATION?
Should you choose either bank or in-house financing to pay off your condominium, you will have a monthly obligation called amortization.

Amortization is an accounting process of spreading payments over a specified time. A mortgage due to be paid in 20 years, will have the same amount due every month for 20 years with the first few installments going towards payment of interest before reducing the loan balance or principal.

To illustrate, see below an example of amortization table (or amortization schedule) for a mortgage of Php 2,800,000 with a five-year fixed rate of 5.88% payable in 10 years.

A Sample Condo Amortization Schedule
A Sample Condo Amortization Schedule

To see full amortization schedule or calculate for your schedule, use a loan amortization calculator.

In the table, you will notice how your monthly payments affect the loan and the interest. While each monthly fee is the same, the portion of each payment changes over time. At the beginning of a long-term loan, payment to interest is higher than to principal. As you progress to the middle of the loan tenure, a more significant portion of the monthly payments goes towards your principal than to the interest. This system will go on until both the interest and principal is paid.

How to compute for your monthly amortization?
For convenience, you can use the bank loan calculator on the side or check out the online calculators of your chosen bank. But if you ever wonder how banks compute your monthly amortization, here is how they calculate it.

Condo Financing 101
Factor Rate Table

Banks and other financing institutions use a factor rate table in computing for monthly amortization. The monthly amortization is in payment of the loanable amount (principal) and interest spread evenly over a specified time. To compute for your monthly amortization, simply multiply the amount you loaned with the appropriate factor rate (interest rate and loan tenure) from the table.

Loanable Amount X Factor Rate = Monthly Amortization

For example, you want to buy a condo unit with a total contract price of Php 3,500,000. You paid 20% of TCP for down payment and wanted to finance the remaining 80% through a bank loan with a five-year fixed rate of 5.88% payable in 10 years.

Total Contract Price: Php 3,500,000

Down Payment: Php 700,000

Loanable Amount: Php 2,800,000

Interest Rate: 5.88%, 5-year fixed

Number of Years to Pay: 10 years

Factor Rate: 0.01104188

Monthly Amortization = Loanable Amount X Factor Rate
= Php 2,800,000 X 0.01104188
Monthly Amortization = Php 30,917.28 per month for 10 years

HOW TO PAY YOUR MONTHLY AMORTIZATION THE EASY WAY?
When you found your dream home and secured an appropriate home financing, it is easy to think you can commit to your chosen mode of payment. However, sometimes life happens, you get distracted, and then you cannot pay on time.

In a housing loan, like in other kinds of credit, late payments can lead to unfortunate consequences. A late, a short or a non-payment can incur penalty charges. Late fees for one missed month may seem easy, but when allowed to accumulate for several months, then it starts to become a full-on headache. This can amass late payment fees and interests and can lead to default mortgage and foreclosed property.

So, instead of paying cash, sending checks, or charging credit card every month, here is a pro-tip: automate your payments.

Auto Debit Arrangement allows you to deduct scheduled payments against your registered bank account automatically. Auto debit is an electronic payment option that permits your lender to take payments directly from your account. With developers having partner banks, the amount is easily verified as coordination is easier between the developer, the bank, and the buyer. However, this arrangement is to be coordinated by the buyer directly to the bank who approved the loan and not the developer.

Postdated check is a check written by the payer for a date in the future. Most developers and banks require complete postdated checks for practical and convenient payment schedules. A postdated check can only be encashed or deposited on the date written on it.

When you automate your payments, you do not need to worry about making the deadlines. You only have to ensure enough funding for the registered accounts.

Now that you understand what payment options there are available to buy a real estate property, the next step is for you to evaluate the following: your real estate property of choice, the availability of payment options specifically for the unit you wish to buy, and most importantly, your financial capability during the time of purchase and future income projections.

Being a major investment decision, real estate purchase should be seen more as a business capital that is projected to bring in additional income in the future. If you know how to weigh the risks and prepared for the financial investment required, making a decision when and how is not a problem especially if you have saved enough from the start.

To learn about available real estate projects in the country’s central business districts, please check out the Property section of our website: https://federalland.ph/federal-land-condo/.