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	<title>Residences Manila &#187; choosing a neighborhood</title>
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	<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com</link>
	<description>Manila Home Buyers &#38; Home Sellers Guide</description>
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		<title>Simple Ways to Invest in Real Estate</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/08/27/simple-ways-to-invest-in-real-estate/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/08/27/simple-ways-to-invest-in-real-estate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:44:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles & Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine Real Estate Guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choosing a condominium]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choosing a neighborhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding a Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[firs time home buyers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First time home buyers guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home buyer tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home buyers and sellers guide Philippines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine real estate guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine real estate investment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Residences Manila]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.residencesmanila.com/?p=345</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2010/08/27/simple-ways-to-invest-in-real-estate/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" height="110" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IMG00463-20100821-1619-e1283193654369-195x110.jpg" class="alignleft tfe wp-post-image" alt="Simple ways to invest in real estate" title="Simple ways to invest in real estate" /></a>You may wish to buy a second house or condo to generate additional income for you. But what type of real estate investment will best suit you?]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Choose Your Neighborhood First, Best Condo After</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/12/19/neighborhood-first-before-class/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/12/19/neighborhood-first-before-class/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:48:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles & Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best-in-Class]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choosing a neighborhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding a Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine home buyer advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine home buyer guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine home guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine real estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Residences Manila]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://residencesmanila.com/?p=144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/12/19/neighborhood-first-before-class/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" height="110" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/plugins/thumbnail-for-excerpts/tfe_no_thumb.png" class="alignleft wp-post-image tfe" alt="" title="" /></a>People out there are looking for Manila&#8217;s best residences.  &#8220;Best&#8221; alludes to &#8216;close to perfect&#8217; or &#8216;most suited to one&#8217;s needs&#8217;.  But I believe that &#8220;best&#8221; really means &#8220;best-in-class&#8221;, do you agree?  When you search for properties, you have an internal checklist, with one home or neighborhood that&#8217;s top ranked for that one, qualifying feature that matters most to you.  [...]]]></description>
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		<title>How Elevators Can Make or Break Your Condo Choice</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/12/19/how-elevators-can-make-or-break-your-condo-choice/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/12/19/how-elevators-can-make-or-break-your-condo-choice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:14:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles & Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Makati]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Renting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choosing a condominium]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choosing a neighborhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Condominiums for sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maita Siquijor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine condominiums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Residences Manila]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/12/19/how-elevators-can-make-or-break-your-condo-choice/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/entertainment_soma_facade.jpg?w=200" class="alignleft wp-post-image tfe" alt="" title="Condominiums in the Fort" /></a>The condo elevator may be such a trivial thing to consider when selecting a condo to buy or rent. But  in the past  viewings I&#8217;ve had in the Fort and in Makati, the kind of elevators a condo estate had became an important consideration! Here are my buyers&#8217; and tenants&#8217; concerns, a real eye opener for me: 1)  [...]]]></description>
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		<title>Best facilities on penthouse level at Fairways Tower</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/08/10/best-facilities-on-penthouse-level-at-fairways-tower/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/08/10/best-facilities-on-penthouse-level-at-fairways-tower/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:07:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles & Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Best-in-Class]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choosing a neighborhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding a Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[first time home buyer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine condominiums]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippine real estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Residences Manila]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://residencesmanila.com/?p=122</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/08/10/best-facilities-on-penthouse-level-at-fairways-tower/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" src="https://residencesmanila.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" class="alignleft wp-post-image tfe" alt="" title="gallery columns=&quot;2&quot;" /></a>I&#8217;ve seen a lot of condominium facilities and amenities.   But I definitely love the luxurious and definitely very private residential ammenities available at Fairways Towers. It&#8217;s a nice gem to cap an otherwise conservative-looking, almost boring facade of the functional but well-located condominium. Having the facilities at the penthouse level gives it a luxurious mien [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>3 Tips on Finding the Perfect Neighborhood</title>
		<link>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/07/21/3-tips-on-finding-the-perfect-neighborhood/</link>
		<comments>http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/07/21/3-tips-on-finding-the-perfect-neighborhood/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:23:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maita Siquijor</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles & Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choosing a neighborhood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finding a Home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[first time home buyers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philippines real estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Residences Manila]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://residencesmanila.com/?p=68</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/2009/07/21/3-tips-on-finding-the-perfect-neighborhood/"><img align="left" hspace="5" width="195" height="110" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/img_5295-195x110.jpg" class="alignleft tfe wp-post-image" alt="Ayala Alabang&#039;s Makiling Park" title="Ayala Alabang Village&#039;s Makiling Park" /></a>As lifted from Architerra, here are tips on finding a neighborhood that meets your needs: 1. Make a list of all of the amenities that are close by in the neighborhood you are considering as your new residence.  Keep in mind what distances and routes to each of these places are acceptable and what are [...]]]></description>
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Start uga_filter: <p></p><p>People out there are looking for Manila&#8217;s best residences.  <em>&#8220;Best&#8221;</em> alludes to &#8216;close to perfect&#8217; or &#8216;most suited to one&#8217;s needs&#8217;. </p>
<p>But I believe that &#8220;best&#8221; really means &#8220;best-in-class&#8221;, do you agree?  When you search for properties, you have an internal checklist, with one home or neighborhood that&#8217;s top ranked for that one, qualifying feature that matters most to you.  That would then help you  clinche the decision to settle for that property.</p>
<p>So let&#8217;s start with a few questions, first  about the neighborhood.  The primary consideration is still  &#8216;location, location, location&#8217;.  This leads us to evaluating areas of consideration, such as the list in  <a href="http://residencesmanila.com/2009/07/21/3-tips-on-finding-the-perfect-neighborhood/">finding the Perfect Neighborhood</a>, a previous article in <a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com">Residences Manila</a>:</p>
<p>Are there parks nearby?<br />
Is it scenic and visually appealing?<br />
Are there quiet areas, streets, culs de sac?<br />
Are the people friendly in the neighborhood?<br />
Is the neighborhood clean?  Yards, streets, parks?<br />
Are there nice trees and foliage?<br />
Do the lots have large or small yards?<br />
Are there walkways and are they easily accessible?<br />
Is it a safe neighborhood?<br />
What are the market values of the homes in the area?<br />
Are there many houses for sale? How’s the vacancy rate in the condominium?</p>
<p>How ’s the property management and maintenance?<br />
How long ago was the community developed?<br />
What is the average age of the people in the area?<br />
Are there families with small children in the area?<br />
What is the proximity to schools?<br />
Are there community events or organizations?</p>
<p>What&#8217;s your consideration for choosing your neighborhood?  Let us know by leaving a comment or emailing <a title="Let us know what you think!" href="mailto:maitasiquijor@architerra.org" target="_blank">Residences Manila. </a></p>

Start uga_in_feed
Ending uga_in_feed: 1
Ending uga_filter: <p></p><p>People out there are looking for Manila&#8217;s best residences.  <em>&#8220;Best&#8221;</em> alludes to &#8216;close to perfect&#8217; or &#8216;most suited to one&#8217;s needs&#8217;. </p>
<p>But I believe that &#8220;best&#8221; really means &#8220;best-in-class&#8221;, do you agree?  When you search for properties, you have an internal checklist, with one home or neighborhood that&#8217;s top ranked for that one, qualifying feature that matters most to you.  That would then help you  clinche the decision to settle for that property.</p>
<p>So let&#8217;s start with a few questions, first  about the neighborhood.  The primary consideration is still  &#8216;location, location, location&#8217;.  This leads us to evaluating areas of consideration, such as the list in  <a href="http://residencesmanila.com/2009/07/21/3-tips-on-finding-the-perfect-neighborhood/">finding the Perfect Neighborhood</a>, a previous article in <a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com">Residences Manila</a>:</p>
<p>Are there parks nearby?<br />
Is it scenic and visually appealing?<br />
Are there quiet areas, streets, culs de sac?<br />
Are the people friendly in the neighborhood?<br />
Is the neighborhood clean?  Yards, streets, parks?<br />
Are there nice trees and foliage?<br />
Do the lots have large or small yards?<br />
Are there walkways and are they easily accessible?<br />
Is it a safe neighborhood?<br />
What are the market values of the homes in the area?<br />
Are there many houses for sale? How’s the vacancy rate in the condominium?</p>
<p>How ’s the property management and maintenance?<br />
How long ago was the community developed?<br />
What is the average age of the people in the area?<br />
Are there families with small children in the area?<br />
What is the proximity to schools?<br />
Are there community events or organizations?</p>
<p>What&#8217;s your consideration for choosing your neighborhood?  Let us know by leaving a comment or emailing <a title="Let us know what you think!" href="mailto:maitasiquijor@architerra.org" target="_blank">Residences Manila. </a></p>

Start uga_filter: <p></p><p><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/entertainment_soma_facade.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-181 alignleft" title="Condominiums in the Fort" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/entertainment_soma_facade.jpg?w=200" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a>The condo elevator may be such a trivial thing to consider when selecting a condo to buy or rent.</p>
<p>But  in the past  viewings I&#8217;ve had in the<a href="http://architerra.wordpress.com"> Fort </a>and in Makati, the kind of elevators a condo estate had became an important consideration! Here are my buyers&#8217; and tenants&#8217; concerns, a real eye opener for me:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/entertainment_soma_facade.jpg"></a></p>
<p><span id="more-179"></span></p>
<p><strong>1)  How can I bring my furniture all the way up to my unit?  </strong>A client of mine, a surgeon who had a wide china cabinet to move from his Pacific Plaza Tower (PPT) condo, asked me,  &#8221;Does the elevator&#8217;s ceiling open up?&#8221;  He explained that this was how this piece, and other bigger furniture pieces, were brought up.  A shake of the head from the administrator made my client&#8217;s face fall.  The administrator said, &#8220;Sir, no it doesn&#8217;t.  But our other tenants asked the moving company to bring the larger pieces of furniture up through the stairs&#8221;. </p>
<p>I looked at the narrow staircase.  We were going to walk up 10 floors to bring a china cabinet?  &#8220;X&#8221;  this condo. </p>
<p>Elevators without detachable ceilings  are true of the older developments.  Hoisting furniture up the floor thru the balcony window may be an option during a move in (though in most cases, it&#8217;s an expensive one), but it&#8217;s good only if you&#8217;re considering a unit on the lower floors.</p>
<p><strong>2)</strong> <strong>Condominiums with confusing elevator systems.  </strong>Ok, maybe getting used to the system is a solution.  Zoning of elevator floors for faster servicing of residents sounds like a good idea.  But when I took my pretty designer buyer to the Bellagio 1, the elevator zoned for the 28th floor didn&#8217;t go up right away. We had to get off on a floor that wasn&#8217;t even a podium level, then ride the next elevator to the higher floors.  On the way down, the elevator didn&#8217;t go up again to our floor.  It would only go up to a certain floor, then go down again (yes, for the same elevator that took us all the way up to the 28th).  We weren&#8217;t supposed to press the service button several times, otherwise the system won&#8217;t respond.   </p>
<p>As we couldn&#8217;t go down (nor up) right away, the client decided that Bellagio wasn&#8217;t worth her time.  She was just too polished to say so directly. </p>
<p> Maybe Bellagio 1 was still fine-tuning it system, much as they have already turned over most of the units in the building. . . .</p>
<p><strong>3)</strong> <strong>The elevator is too small and narrow.</strong>  The elevator we rode in Ponte Salcedo, Salcedo Village was fresh-smelling, nicely decorated with black-and-white graphic art, clean&#8211;but oh so narrow.  I feel like the riders were intruding in each other&#8217;s personal space.  The units there however are large and spacious, and everything else checks out ok. So if having bigger elevator space is tops in your priority, Ponte Salcedo may not be the best choice for you.</p>
<p><strong>4)</strong>  <strong>Condos that DON&#8217;T have service elevators.</strong>  Is this possible? Yes, again, the older condominiums (round 70&#8242;s era) don&#8217;t have this.  Don&#8217;t expect too much from the vintage condos which though are excellently located, didn&#8217;t have this separation of function.  You can share the elevator with staff workers bringing up the laundry.</p>
<p><strong>5) Condos where the elevator opens up to the unit&#8217;s very own foyer or lobby.</strong>  This is obviously a positive thing.  Talk about privacy and prestige!  The condo opens up right into your own lobby, or right into the unit.  I know that Eurovilla (in Legaspi Village) units are like this. So though the units are older, practical buyers who like larger units go for this building. The Avignon is another one of those old, grand condos whose elevator takes you right into your own lobby! Another doctor-buyer of mine was keen on developments with this very specific feature due to this luxurious little detail not present in the newer and grander condos anywhere in town.</p>
<p>If you wish to know about condo choices, do visit our <a title="Visit for a listing of different condos." href="http://www.architerra.org">main website at Architerra</a>, or our  <a href="http://architerra.wordpress.com">blog</a>.</p>

Start uga_in_feed
Ending uga_in_feed: 1
Ending uga_filter: <p></p><p><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/entertainment_soma_facade.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-181 alignleft" title="Condominiums in the Fort" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/entertainment_soma_facade.jpg?w=200" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a>The condo elevator may be such a trivial thing to consider when selecting a condo to buy or rent.</p>
<p>But  in the past  viewings I&#8217;ve had in the<a href="http://architerra.wordpress.com"> Fort </a>and in Makati, the kind of elevators a condo estate had became an important consideration! Here are my buyers&#8217; and tenants&#8217; concerns, a real eye opener for me:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/entertainment_soma_facade.jpg"></a></p>
<p><span id="more-179"></span></p>
<p><strong>1)  How can I bring my furniture all the way up to my unit?  </strong>A client of mine, a surgeon who had a wide china cabinet to move from his Pacific Plaza Tower (PPT) condo, asked me,  &#8221;Does the elevator&#8217;s ceiling open up?&#8221;  He explained that this was how this piece, and other bigger furniture pieces, were brought up.  A shake of the head from the administrator made my client&#8217;s face fall.  The administrator said, &#8220;Sir, no it doesn&#8217;t.  But our other tenants asked the moving company to bring the larger pieces of furniture up through the stairs&#8221;. </p>
<p>I looked at the narrow staircase.  We were going to walk up 10 floors to bring a china cabinet?  &#8220;X&#8221;  this condo. </p>
<p>Elevators without detachable ceilings  are true of the older developments.  Hoisting furniture up the floor thru the balcony window may be an option during a move in (though in most cases, it&#8217;s an expensive one), but it&#8217;s good only if you&#8217;re considering a unit on the lower floors.</p>
<p><strong>2)</strong> <strong>Condominiums with confusing elevator systems.  </strong>Ok, maybe getting used to the system is a solution.  Zoning of elevator floors for faster servicing of residents sounds like a good idea.  But when I took my pretty designer buyer to the Bellagio 1, the elevator zoned for the 28th floor didn&#8217;t go up right away. We had to get off on a floor that wasn&#8217;t even a podium level, then ride the next elevator to the higher floors.  On the way down, the elevator didn&#8217;t go up again to our floor.  It would only go up to a certain floor, then go down again (yes, for the same elevator that took us all the way up to the 28th).  We weren&#8217;t supposed to press the service button several times, otherwise the system won&#8217;t respond.   </p>
<p>As we couldn&#8217;t go down (nor up) right away, the client decided that Bellagio wasn&#8217;t worth her time.  She was just too polished to say so directly. </p>
<p> Maybe Bellagio 1 was still fine-tuning it system, much as they have already turned over most of the units in the building. . . .</p>
<p><strong>3)</strong> <strong>The elevator is too small and narrow.</strong>  The elevator we rode in Ponte Salcedo, Salcedo Village was fresh-smelling, nicely decorated with black-and-white graphic art, clean&#8211;but oh so narrow.  I feel like the riders were intruding in each other&#8217;s personal space.  The units there however are large and spacious, and everything else checks out ok. So if having bigger elevator space is tops in your priority, Ponte Salcedo may not be the best choice for you.</p>
<p><strong>4)</strong>  <strong>Condos that DON&#8217;T have service elevators.</strong>  Is this possible? Yes, again, the older condominiums (round 70&#8242;s era) don&#8217;t have this.  Don&#8217;t expect too much from the vintage condos which though are excellently located, didn&#8217;t have this separation of function.  You can share the elevator with staff workers bringing up the laundry.</p>
<p><strong>5) Condos where the elevator opens up to the unit&#8217;s very own foyer or lobby.</strong>  This is obviously a positive thing.  Talk about privacy and prestige!  The condo opens up right into your own lobby, or right into the unit.  I know that Eurovilla (in Legaspi Village) units are like this. So though the units are older, practical buyers who like larger units go for this building. The Avignon is another one of those old, grand condos whose elevator takes you right into your own lobby! Another doctor-buyer of mine was keen on developments with this very specific feature due to this luxurious little detail not present in the newer and grander condos anywhere in town.</p>
<p>If you wish to know about condo choices, do visit our <a title="Visit for a listing of different condos." href="http://www.architerra.org">main website at Architerra</a>, or our  <a href="http://architerra.wordpress.com">blog</a>.</p>

Start uga_filter: <p></p><p>I&#8217;ve seen a lot of condominium facilities and amenities.   But I definitely love the luxurious and definitely very private residential ammenities available at Fairways Towers. It&#8217;s a nice gem to cap an otherwise conservative-looking, almost boring facade of the functional but well-located condominium.    Having the facilities at the penthouse level gives it a luxurious mien by default.  The idea that no one else but invited guests and residents will get to use or see it unless they take the ride to the 30th+ floor makes it an ideal urban getway right after you come from a lightning-paced day at work, or coming home after living out of your suitcase for 4 weeks.</p>
<p>When you first step into Fairway Towers&#8217; lobby, you&#8217;ll notice that it&#8217;s cool, bright, and quite compact.  The ceiling is high, and you can immediately see the perimeter wall with the golf course peeping over it.  You get an initial impression that there&#8217;s nothing remarkable about the building, except that fact that the lobby has a very quiet and empty vibe.  I guess one can sense in the dynamic that there aren&#8217;t that many residents yet in the Fairways.  But for someone like me, who has seen hundreds of condominiums in the line of broker&#8217;s duty, I was pleasantly surprised for the view of the facilities opening up into wide, inviting spaces while wind whips your hair.  The comfy chairs and tables alongside the pool were filled with some teenagers, apparently international school kids on break, discussing anything and nothing under the pleasant sky.</p>
<p>The infinity pool is by no means olympic-sized, but it&#8217;s just right for residents who want to get away from the the cloister of their condo by springing into the pool, framed by the vast expanse of blue-and-white backdrop of clouds and sky. The gym on the penthouse level is well-equipped with treadmills, transport machines, and barbells good for a fair program of bodybuilding. The high-ceilinged ballroom and function rooms promise to hold capacity crowds of 150 or 200 people.  You can just imagine in the evening that the top of the Fairways Towers glows from afar like a brilliant gem in the scepter.  It definitely will hold its own beside the blue spaceship-like helipad of its neighbor, the Pacific Plaza Towers.</p>
<p><img title="gallery columns=&quot;2&quot;" src="https://residencesmanila.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" alt="" /><img title="gallery columns=&quot;2&quot;" src="https://residencesmanila.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" alt="" /><img title="gallery columns=&quot;2&quot;" src="https://residencesmanila.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" alt="" /></p>
<p>As I told my guest, it really feels like a &#8216;resort-in-the-sky&#8217;. The Fairways Towers units here are fairly priced, given its functional look, acceptable make and materials and location.  The units&#8217; layouts are also wider despite the usual 36 or 52 sqm footprint for studio- and 1-br units respectively.  But getting units on the higher floors, one with a full view of the golf course, and topping it literally with the well-located facilities, you feel that you&#8217;re getting a more-than-fair deal at the Fairways. The condominium dues (it was 75 pesos/sqm. when I last asked) are also reasonable, compared to its more popular branded competitor.</p>
<p>As Fairways Towers sit at the left end of McKinley Road, just as you enter the Fort from Forbes Park area,  residents will not be bothered by the seemingly endless construction din going on in the rest of this burgeoning satellite city.  Just don&#8217;t expect Ayala-Land-style maintenance (which I think is the top-rated post-sale maintenance standard for the industry).  But considering the rest of the values, this is a condominium project to consider if you want consider ready-to-occupy units in the Fort, for a more modest budget.  What do you think?</p>

Start uga_in_feed
Ending uga_in_feed: 1
Ending uga_filter: <p></p><p>I&#8217;ve seen a lot of condominium facilities and amenities.   But I definitely love the luxurious and definitely very private residential ammenities available at Fairways Towers. It&#8217;s a nice gem to cap an otherwise conservative-looking, almost boring facade of the functional but well-located condominium.    Having the facilities at the penthouse level gives it a luxurious mien by default.  The idea that no one else but invited guests and residents will get to use or see it unless they take the ride to the 30th+ floor makes it an ideal urban getway right after you come from a lightning-paced day at work, or coming home after living out of your suitcase for 4 weeks.</p>
<p>When you first step into Fairway Towers&#8217; lobby, you&#8217;ll notice that it&#8217;s cool, bright, and quite compact.  The ceiling is high, and you can immediately see the perimeter wall with the golf course peeping over it.  You get an initial impression that there&#8217;s nothing remarkable about the building, except that fact that the lobby has a very quiet and empty vibe.  I guess one can sense in the dynamic that there aren&#8217;t that many residents yet in the Fairways.  But for someone like me, who has seen hundreds of condominiums in the line of broker&#8217;s duty, I was pleasantly surprised for the view of the facilities opening up into wide, inviting spaces while wind whips your hair.  The comfy chairs and tables alongside the pool were filled with some teenagers, apparently international school kids on break, discussing anything and nothing under the pleasant sky.</p>
<p>The infinity pool is by no means olympic-sized, but it&#8217;s just right for residents who want to get away from the the cloister of their condo by springing into the pool, framed by the vast expanse of blue-and-white backdrop of clouds and sky. The gym on the penthouse level is well-equipped with treadmills, transport machines, and barbells good for a fair program of bodybuilding. The high-ceilinged ballroom and function rooms promise to hold capacity crowds of 150 or 200 people.  You can just imagine in the evening that the top of the Fairways Towers glows from afar like a brilliant gem in the scepter.  It definitely will hold its own beside the blue spaceship-like helipad of its neighbor, the Pacific Plaza Towers.</p>
<p><img title="gallery columns=&quot;2&quot;" src="https://residencesmanila.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" alt="" /><img title="gallery columns=&quot;2&quot;" src="https://residencesmanila.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" alt="" /><img title="gallery columns=&quot;2&quot;" src="https://residencesmanila.wordpress.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wpgallery/img/t.gif" alt="" /></p>
<p>As I told my guest, it really feels like a &#8216;resort-in-the-sky&#8217;. The Fairways Towers units here are fairly priced, given its functional look, acceptable make and materials and location.  The units&#8217; layouts are also wider despite the usual 36 or 52 sqm footprint for studio- and 1-br units respectively.  But getting units on the higher floors, one with a full view of the golf course, and topping it literally with the well-located facilities, you feel that you&#8217;re getting a more-than-fair deal at the Fairways. The condominium dues (it was 75 pesos/sqm. when I last asked) are also reasonable, compared to its more popular branded competitor.</p>
<p>As Fairways Towers sit at the left end of McKinley Road, just as you enter the Fort from Forbes Park area,  residents will not be bothered by the seemingly endless construction din going on in the rest of this burgeoning satellite city.  Just don&#8217;t expect Ayala-Land-style maintenance (which I think is the top-rated post-sale maintenance standard for the industry).  But considering the rest of the values, this is a condominium project to consider if you want consider ready-to-occupy units in the Fort, for a more modest budget.  What do you think?</p>

Start uga_filter: <p></p><p>As lifted from <a title="Our listings website" href="http://www.architerra.org" target="_blank">Architerra</a>, here are tips on finding a neighborhood that meets your needs:</p>
<p><strong>1. Make a list of all of the amenities that are close by in the neighborhood you are considering as your new residence</strong>.  Keep in mind what distances and routes to each of these places are acceptable and what are not.</p>
<p><strong>2. </strong><strong>Determine what the best features of the neighborhoods are</strong>.  This is especially helpful if you are deciding between a few different neighborhoods.</p>
<blockquote><p>Are there parks nearby?<br />
Is it scenic and visually appealing?<br />
Are there quiet areas, streets, culs de sac?<br />
Are the people friendly in the neighborhood?<br />
Is the neighborhood clean?  Yards, streets, parks?<br />
Are there nice trees and foliage?<br />
Do the lots have large or small yards?<br />
Are there walkways and are they easily accessible?<br />
Is it a safe neighborhood?<br />
What are the market values of the homes in the area?<br />
Are there many houses for sale? How&#8217;s the vacancy rate in the condominium?</p>
<p>How &#8216;s the property management and maintenance?<br />
How long ago was the community developed?<br />
What is the average age of the people in the area?<br />
Are there families with small children in the area?<br />
What is the proximity to schools?<br />
Are there community events or organizations?</p>
<div class="mceTemp">
<dl class="wp-caption alignnone">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/2.jpg?w=300" alt="A Glimpse of Manila's Best Apartments and Residences" width="300" height="200" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">A Glimpse of Manila&#8217;s Best Apartments and Residences</dd>
</dl>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-40" title="One Serendra Fort Bonifacio_Residences Manila" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dsc00711.jpg?w=300" alt="One Serendra Fort Bonifacio_Residences Manila" width="300" height="225" /></div>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>3. Walk around in the neighborhood</strong>.  The best way to determine the cleanliness and friendliness of the neighborhood is to walk around in it and meet its residents. In the condominium, try to talk to the front lobby receptionist.  Observe how guards and personnel treat residents.  Determine the friendliness of the tenants by observing those who walk thru the lobby.   </p>
<p>I personally like the following neighborhoods:  <a href="http://www.architerra.org/Alabang_Villages/page_1810565.html">Ayala Alabang Village</a>, <a title="Bonifacio Global City homepage" href="http://www.bonifacioglobalcity.ph" target="_blank">Bonifacio Global City</a>, and <a title="About Southbay Gardens" href="http://www.architerra.org/Paranaque_Villages/page_2193280.html" target="_blank">Southbay Gardens </a>in Paranaque.  Do you know of a great condominium or village neighborhood you&#8217;d like to recommend? Let us know if you want us to feature it here on <a title="Go to Residences Manila" href="http://www.residencesmanila.com" target="_blank">Residences Manila.</a></p>

Start uga_in_feed
Ending uga_in_feed: 1
Ending uga_filter: <p></p><p>As lifted from <a title="Our listings website" href="http://www.architerra.org" target="_blank">Architerra</a>, here are tips on finding a neighborhood that meets your needs:</p>
<p><strong>1. Make a list of all of the amenities that are close by in the neighborhood you are considering as your new residence</strong>.  Keep in mind what distances and routes to each of these places are acceptable and what are not.</p>
<p><strong>2. </strong><strong>Determine what the best features of the neighborhoods are</strong>.  This is especially helpful if you are deciding between a few different neighborhoods.</p>
<blockquote><p>Are there parks nearby?<br />
Is it scenic and visually appealing?<br />
Are there quiet areas, streets, culs de sac?<br />
Are the people friendly in the neighborhood?<br />
Is the neighborhood clean?  Yards, streets, parks?<br />
Are there nice trees and foliage?<br />
Do the lots have large or small yards?<br />
Are there walkways and are they easily accessible?<br />
Is it a safe neighborhood?<br />
What are the market values of the homes in the area?<br />
Are there many houses for sale? How&#8217;s the vacancy rate in the condominium?</p>
<p>How &#8216;s the property management and maintenance?<br />
How long ago was the community developed?<br />
What is the average age of the people in the area?<br />
Are there families with small children in the area?<br />
What is the proximity to schools?<br />
Are there community events or organizations?</p>
<div class="mceTemp">
<dl class="wp-caption alignnone">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/2.jpg?w=300" alt="A Glimpse of Manila's Best Apartments and Residences" width="300" height="200" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">A Glimpse of Manila&#8217;s Best Apartments and Residences</dd>
</dl>
<p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-40" title="One Serendra Fort Bonifacio_Residences Manila" src="http://www.residencesmanila.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/dsc00711.jpg?w=300" alt="One Serendra Fort Bonifacio_Residences Manila" width="300" height="225" /></div>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>3. Walk around in the neighborhood</strong>.  The best way to determine the cleanliness and friendliness of the neighborhood is to walk around in it and meet its residents. In the condominium, try to talk to the front lobby receptionist.  Observe how guards and personnel treat residents.  Determine the friendliness of the tenants by observing those who walk thru the lobby.   </p>
<p>I personally like the following neighborhoods:  <a href="http://www.architerra.org/Alabang_Villages/page_1810565.html">Ayala Alabang Village</a>, <a title="Bonifacio Global City homepage" href="http://www.bonifacioglobalcity.ph" target="_blank">Bonifacio Global City</a>, and <a title="About Southbay Gardens" href="http://www.architerra.org/Paranaque_Villages/page_2193280.html" target="_blank">Southbay Gardens </a>in Paranaque.  Do you know of a great condominium or village neighborhood you&#8217;d like to recommend? Let us know if you want us to feature it here on <a title="Go to Residences Manila" href="http://www.residencesmanila.com" target="_blank">Residences Manila.</a></p>

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