Investing During a Crisis: Is it a Good Time to Buy a New Property?

The health crisis has been going on for quite some time and with the news that the cases are rising again these past few weeks, it seems that we are now back to square one. 

Initially, we thought that 2021 is going to be our recovery year, however, the current situation with an average of 5000+ new cases per day brought out negative sentiments from the market making the economy dive down once again. 

According to Wall Street Journal, as of March 19, the PSEI YTD is down by 9.85% and this may continue to go down as more lockdowns and restrictions are looming in the next few days. Recent NEDA reports also indicate that the unemployment rate is still at 8.7% while other economic indicators and statistics do not really look good. 

What does it mean for ordinary consumers? 

Given that the market is unstable, shaky, and volatile, it means that economic recovery may take longer than expected. However, this is not all bad. 

"In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity" - Albert Einstein

If you are investing in the stock market, experts say that the best time to buy stocks is when the market is down. 

If you are planning to invest in real estate, now is also a good time to invest since the prices are cheap and there are good deals all around. Many real estate companies such as Ayala Land and SMDC are now offering lower monthly amortization and interest rates. 

Is it a Good Time to Invest and Buy a New Property? 

Just like other investments, before you make a decision, you have to be an active investor. Don't be speculative because speculative investing entails high risks as if you are gambling. Instead, you have to study and understand what you are doing. 

In general, real estate is a good investment option as it is tangible and it can produce cash flow without you losing (selling) it. In times that the market is down, leasing or rental income can still continue thus, you do not really have to liquidate it even when the market is unfavorable. Real estate investments can also withstand the influx of inflation. 

To answer the question if it is a good time to invest and buy a new property - it actually depends on your cash flow. If you are planning to mortgage, make sure to check interest and payment computation. There are a lot of free mortgage calculators online. Some even have graphs of loan repayment along with monthly and yearly amortization tables that are very helpful in making a decision. 

Determine if you can afford the monthly payments by estimating mortgage affordability based on income plus your outstanding debts, etc. This will also give you insights into how much you can borrow or how much the bank could possibly approve. 

Thus, as long as you can ensure that there will be adequate cash flow even during a crisis, then it would be a good time to take advantage of the great offers and low-interest rates available in the market today. Having a stable job and  enough savings is a good indicator as well that it is the right time for you to start investing. 

Do you want to be a part of Shopee's Global Leaders Program?

As more Filipinos turn to online platforms for their daily needs, the e-commerce industry continues to take on a greater significance in people’s lives. With the rapid growth of the business sector, there is also an increasing demand for tech talents in the country and globally. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine internet economy will be worth 28 Billion US dollars by 2025, highlighting the need for the right talent to push this growth forward.

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, nurtures and prepares students and professionals for e-commerce through its various tech training and e-commerce apprenticeship programs, such as the Shopee Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The Shopee Global Leaders Program, launched in 2018, is a 2-year graduate program consisting of four 6-month local and overseas rotations designed for highly enthusiastic and ambitious young Filipino talents. Participants will help drive Shopee’s campaigns and new initiatives by working with local and overseas teams. They will gain eye-opening experiences, regional exposure and contribute to the expansion of Shopee across the region. Participants will be part of a structured learning and development program and receive dedicated mentorship from Shopee leaders.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “As the need for tech talents rises, Shopee will continue to equip future leaders with the proper e-commerce knowledge through different kinds of training and apprenticeships like the Global Leaders Program. We will ramp up our efforts to provide proper mentorship and an immersive learning experience to all participants of this program. As a mentor myself, I have worked with a lot of promising participants and I look forward to working with the next batch of aspiring tech leaders who choose to join this program.”

Who are eligible to join? 

• Fresh graduates with a good bachelor or master's degree in any discipline with less than 2 years of full-time working experience
• Quick learner who is resourceful and drive to tackle hard problems in a dynamic environment
• Self-starter who is determined to lead change and make a real impact
• Passionate igniter who is relentless in the pursuit of excellence
• Effective communicator who is clear in putting across thoughts and ideas
• A leader who can influence people towards the achievement of goals 

Here are some reasons why you shouldn't miss this chance to be part of the Shopee Global Leaders Program (GLP)

• Very Competitive Salary Package
• Mentorship and Development
• Strategic and Regional Exposure
• Rigorous Training Curriculum
• Highlighly Impactful and Meaningful Projects
• Enriching #LifeatShopee Experience

If you are interested, you may send your application via this link. 

Application is open until March 14, 2021. 

Participants of the Global Leaders Program highlighted how they gained significant professional and personal growth, which will help them excel in their careers in the e-commerce industry.

For Anton, the Global Leaders Program was a vibrant and immersive experience. “Before the pandemic, we were able to go abroad and meet our fellow GLP participants in the other regions and participate in training sessions to hone our leadership skills further. Besides the international training opportunity, I have also been able to work on many impactful projects and initiatives across different departments within Shopee Philippines. Most of all, I appreciate the many mentorship opportunities I’ve had with my Shopee managers,” Anton shared.

Samantha, on the other hand, describes her GLP experience as enriching and packed with learning. “In two years, we get to immerse ourselves in four different teams, which widens our perspectives and pushes us to be more agile as we switch roles every six months. GLP provides opportunities to create impact in the industry and to see Shopee from multiple lenses through different departments, which I believe will help to develop our sense of the industry quite quickly,” Samantha added.

Anton is currently with the program while Samantha just concluded her stint with GLP. Both are now with Shopee as full-time employees. “I consider Shopee as a top choice when it comes to finding a company to join in the e-commerce and digital marketing industry. Many young and bright individuals in the company have exciting and innovative new ideas that make our work fun and interesting,” Anton said.

“Life at Shopee is fast-paced and full of learning opportunities. Shopee fosters a collaborative environment and it is a privilege to work with colleagues who live out our core values,” Samantha added. “If you want an experience that will help you grow both personally and professionally in a holistic manner, Shopee’s Global Leaders Program is the way to go. I think it’s a good and commendable training program for young professionals who want to experience e-commerce fully.”

For more information about the Global Leaders Program, visit https://careers.shopee.ph/GLP

Easy and Convenient Ways to Buy Your Dream Home this 2021

Imagine buying a house and lot online. Wouldn't that be simply convenient? 

That's exactly what Lumina Homes offers! 

At the onset of the current health crisis, everything shifted to the dynamics of the digital and virtual world. Thus, Lumina Homes being one of the top leaders in the industry came up with several initiatives that allow the buyers to purchase their dream home right at the comforts of their present abode giving each one of us easy and convenient ways to buy our dream home this 2021. 

Lumina Homes is the friendly-priced yet quality housing development branch of Vista Land. This 8-year-old new kid on the block in the housing industry is fast becoming a top choice nationwide. Lumina Homes, in fact, was named the Top 1 Home Developer in 2019 by PAG-IBIG Fund. 

With over 50 developments spread all over GMA, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, with a new project which offers exclusive condominium living with top-of-the-line amenities. Lumina Homes is a carefully-designed community, which can easily be considered a barangay of its own. Each development comes with mini gardens and greeneries, a basketball court, community hall, playground, and a promise of a commercial area such as malls, banks, schools, and hospitals nearby in the future. The kind of property all Filipinos would be proud of owning.

Owning a Lumina Home just got easier. With a few clicks on your computer or mobile device, buyers can now access the best available deals and offerings. Just as the current health crisis pushed the Pinoys home-bound and on a strict health protocol, Lumina Homes has also addressed this necessity by leveling up. 

Presenting, the Lumina Homes Online. Access is very easy and you can do that by simply visiting Lumina Homes' official website, www.lumina.com.ph, and explore the much-talked-about 3D Home Models.

The virtual 360-degree house explorations of Lumina's state-of-the-art home designs are such a big hit. A convenient and marvelously new concept of choosing a dream home using a laptop, smartphone, or computer.

Famous house models include the following:

•  Aimee - a 22 square meter, one-bedroom abode 

(Scan the QR code or watch the video to see the virtual 360-degree house explorations) 

 

• Angelique - a 35 square meter provision with two bedrooms and one carport 

(Scan the QR code or watch the video to see the virtual 360-degree house explorations) 

• Angeli - a 42 square meter, three-bedroom, and one carport home

(Scan the QR code or watch the video to see the virtual 360-degree house explorations) 

 

There's also a beautiful 3D display of how a typical Lumina Homes community looks like and it gives the viewer a feel of the barangay via a virtual tour. It's like being there without leaving one's living room.

One can also watch online actual videos of finished developments and ongoing projects, via the Lumina Homes' YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/luminahomesofficial and enjoy the exciting playlists for popular Lumina house tours and vlogs.

Once you have decided on your dream home, simply place a reservation via the one-stop home reservation portal - Lumina Homes Online. This site gives the buyers accessible and convenient access to which house and lots are still available on the market and pay for the reservation fee. 

Here's a simple step by step guide:

Step 1: Registration. Whether one is targeting a house and lot in Davao del Norte, Cebu, or Cavite, one can do it all at Lumina Homes Online, with just a few clicks by simply visiting https://onlinereservations.lumina.com.ph, and register.

Step 2: Select a preferred location, choose a house model, and the specific address that you want to avail.

Step 3: Payment of Reservation Fee. Once you have decided on all specifications, next is the payment of the reservation fee. You may pay the reservation fee through debit or credit card, GCash, or over-the-counter.

Step 4: Confirmation of Reservation, through email. Once payment has been received and validated, check the confirmation via the email you sent and see the status of the reservation. All these are done in just a few minutes.

Did you know that you can also "ADD TO CART" your dream home? 

Yes, another exciting way is by Shopee. Lumina is the first-ever housing company to launch an online store on Shopee PH. Shopee lets you select a Lumina house model, and do reservations via e-vouchers or digital vouchers that are equivalent to actual reservation fees. 

An e-voucher corresponds to a specific Lumina house model and one can use it to reserve a specific house model of choice at the preferred Lumina Homes development. Simply visit Lumina Homes Shopee Mall Store at www.shopee.ph/luminahomesofficial and check out the wonderful array of best-selling house models available, with a reservation fee of as low as a discounted rate of P4,500*

We tried to purchase the voucher via Shopee and we were happy to discover that you can even use your Shopee coins for additional discounts. 

And, here comes the most revolutionary way of shopping for your dream home, presenting the Facebook live selling!  Get ready to "Mine" your house and lot of choice this March 13, 20, and 27, 2021, as Lumina Homes goes Live Selling on Facebook.

Truly, such wonderful and easy ways to scout and shop for the home you truly deserved the digital way. 

Ito Ang Araw Mo: Inspiring You to Continue Pursuing Your Dreams

Do you feel that your life was put on hold because of the current situation? 

Were all your plans canceled? Your dreams put on the side? 

Did you feel that you took a step backward in your achieving your goals? 

If you said yes to any of the questions above and you feel uninspired or lost, I don't really blame you. What you feel is valid. After all, nobody expected to experience a pandemic in their lifetime. However, this does not mean that we stop living because of the current situation. There might be no clear end-in-sight but we are not helpless nor hopeless. Instead, it is time to unleash our creativity and resourcefulness to adapt succesfully to the new normal. I remember one of the famous quotes of Tony Robbins "Every problem is a gift. Without problems, we would not grow." 

So, let us take this opportunity to grow. The world is rooting for you and there are a lot of people willing to support you. 

Just like Sun Life Philippines' latest campaign, "Ito ang Araw Mo,  where they aim to rally and inspire Millennials to hit the restart button on their dreams. 

Through this new digital campaign, it will prompt millennials just like you and me to claim a new beginning in their journey towards a brighter future.

The campaign launches on March 8 with a digital video highlighting the unique experiences of today’s generation, such as graduating in a virtual ceremony, exploring gaming as a career, pursuing online entrepreneurship, and starting a new family in extraordinary times. It will be posted on Sun Life’s social media assets, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to ignite the Millennials’ motivation to chase after their personal pursuits. 

The “Ito ang Araw Mo” campaign takes inspiration from the pursuits of the Millennials who are keen on building their career, growing their wealth, and finding self-enrichment amid the pandemic. 

“The times we are in may have pushed Millennials to put their goals on hold, but it also brought out their creativity, resourcefulness, and an undeniable spirit. They are well equipped to fulfill all their dreams, even as they navigate their way in a new environment,” Sun Life Chief Marketing and Client Experience Officer Gilbert Simpao said. “It all begins with recognizing the start of this new chapter in their lives, taking control of what they can accomplish today while working on their bigger goals in the future with Sun Life as their partner.” 

To inspire and enable them with specific actionable to-dos, Sun Life will also hold an interactive workshop entitled “Build Bright Habits to Reach Your Goals” on March 20, 10am, featuring international author, speaker, and life coach Dr. Christine Carter and AHA! Behavioral Design Managing Director TJ Agulto. 

These bright habits on self-improvement, relationships, and personal finance will be reinforced through a Facebook community where they can avail of mini mentorship programs, weekly challenges, and exclusive promos in the company of their fellow goal-achievers.

Those ready to craft their financial plans and be experts in handling their money are encouraged to seek the help of a Sun Life advisor, who can help them create a financial roadmap that matches their needs and will put them in a better position to make their plans a reality. “Ito Ang Araw Mo” updates and other relevant information will be posted on Sun Life’s various online platforms for those who wish to take part in the activities and for those looking for added inspiration. 

"There may have been a tremendous shift in our lives, but Millennials have the power to realize their goals and aspirations. It can start today,” Simpao said. “Ito ang araw nila, and it would be Sun Life’s honor to be their partner for life in this journey.”