I received not a few calls after Typhoon Basyang’s surprise hit, which rendered the entire Metro Manila powerless, strewn with uprooted trees and in many cases, without potable water for anywhere from overnight to two days. Exclusive villages such as Ayala Alabang, Makati’s Dasmarinas Village, Forbes Park, and the chic Makati enclaves in Salcedo and Legaspi villages weren’t spared either.
The back-up generators can only last so long, right?
Friends and clients inquired if they can sell their house, replace it with a condo, or move to some other village that is flood-free. Others asked if I can find them a condo for their half-way home as they’re undecided if they should in fact forego their beautiful, expansive home.
Some of these friends and clients experienced seeing their homes submerged in water during 2009′s Typhoon Ondoy. And though Basyang was relatively milder in its destruction and effects compared to Ondoy, it seems that many Filipinos can’t forget the havoc these storms can cause. The ‘what ifs’ just keep on coming back to them should another major typhoon happen.
One thing is certain: it’s a significant lifestyle change should you decide to move homes, regardless of the reason. Before you do, consider the pros and cons carefully.
To help you out, I’d like to share with you an article of mine, “Thinking About Selling Your House?” which appeared in Southern Living magazine this June 2010. It asks you the following:
- Why do I want to sell now?
- What are my plans 5-10 years from now?
- What will it cost me to sell my house?
- If I sell, do I move back or rent it out from the owner?
- Where will I go?
- What home financing options do I have?
- Are people really buying now in my neighborhood?
- Would it be better to just rent out my house?
The list presents some considerations that may help you begin clarifying your intentions for selling. A move to a spanking new Makati condo or new village may address your goal of “having less occasions of no power, light or water”, after several typhoon seasons of experiencing this in your village. But consider the other costs, benefits, and disadvantages projected several years down the line if you decide to make your move.
"Thinking About Selling Your House", Southern Living, June 2010 issue
*************
[si-contact-form form='1']
