Expo to reflect booming property market

For those in the housing business, these are gold rush days. Which is why expect a carnival atmosphere at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City from Aug. 11 to 17 as the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) holds its 2014 Philippine Housing Expo Week.

SHDA national president Ricky Celis said: “This is just a reflection of a booming real estate market. After years of government’s efforts to promote economic development, work on neighborhood plans and rezoning, new housing and commercial construction is flourishing once again in the country. Most of these boom markets are located in transit-served areas and neighborhoods that support greater residential density.”

According to the country’s largest organization of housing developers, there will be 28 developers participating in the expo titled “Bring Home Your Dream”. Celis added: “During the housing fair, expect numerous housing choices for walk-in visitors. Moreover, banks including the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig) will also be there to address financing needs of interested homebuyers. Suppliers of various housing materials will also be present.”

He said the 2014 Philippine Housing Expo Week comes at a time when the country needs to generate average annual units of 345,941. This figure would enable the country to eliminate the backlog of 3.9 million houses entirely by 2030.

Building boom

Celis said: “Thanks to a strong economy, more people being gainfully employed and the continuing rise in overseas Filipino workers remittances, building boom has been going for nearly seven years. These factors have led to brisk sales of luxury homes and strengthening of demand not only for affordable residences but for medium-range segment as well.”

Since the launch of  SHDA’s Housing Industry Roadmap 2001-2030, the 200-member organization has been very active in finding means for the private developers to participate in producing houses for specific segments where the backlog is substantial. “The expo would enable our members to showcase their developments whether they are in the low, mid, or luxury segment,” he said.

Celis also added that since one of the major objectives of SHDA is to become the “one voice and one organization” that would unite all the subdivision and housing developers nationwide, the 2014 Philippine Housing Expo Week also organized several activities for its members.

Business forum

Celis said: “During the expo week, SHDA has also organized two more activities to promote a stronger partnership between and among members, our partner government agencies, suppliers, sales personnel and other housing industry stakeholders. Aside from the housing fair, we have also organized a business forum titled ‘Disaster and Business Preparedness’ which will be held at the Metropolitan Club, (near Rockwell Center) in Makati City.”

The forum scheduled on Aug. 13 will tackle “Climate Change and Disaster Management” (Module 1) and “Weathering the Taxation Climate” (Module 2).

According to Celis, the invited speakers and their topics are Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering of the Climate Change Commission, on National Climate Change Action Plan; Phivolcs director Dr. Renato Solidum Jr., on earthquake preparedness and risk reduction; and Laguna Lake Development Authority general manager Dr. Juan Romeo Nereus Acosta, on enforcement of sustainable development in the Laguna de Bay region.

Module 2

For Module 2, taxation lawyer Victorino Mamalateo, who is former deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, will provide updates and will discuss taxation regulations that are relevant to housing developers including rulings for joint venture to develop housing; claiming tax incentives under Sec. 20 in compliance with Sec. 18 of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 (Republic Act No. 7279); incentives under Executive Order No. 226 on development of mass housing; and exemption on taxes on purchase of raw land to be used for socialized housing, and other related concerns.

Celis said that from Aug. 16 to 17, SHDA will hold its continuing professional development (CPD) seminar, which will tackle “Real Estates and Marketing Trends.” The seminar venue is the SHDA office in Legaspi Village, Makati City.

“This is SHDA’s maiden offering of CPD training intended for all new salespersons or practitioners who want to learn the basics of and the necessary techniques to improve their real estate selling skills,” Celis explained.

The topics that SHDA accredited lecturers will cover include the Real Estate Service Act of the Philippines (Resa Law); Selling Techniques (Domestic and International); and Home Financing; Taxation; Presidential Decree No. 957 (decree that protects buyers of condominium projects and subdivision developments against misrepresentations and fraudulent activities of sellers, developers and operators). Also to be discussed are the Batas Pambansa No. 220 (authorizes HLURB to establish/promulgate different levels of standards and technical requirements for the development of economic and socialized housing projects); and Biggest Selling Mistakes.

This 12-hour training is equivalent to 12 units necessary to secure a PRC accreditation for salespersons.