Popular ’hoods for the millennials

Covent Garden hits many, if not all, of the sweet spots that a typical millennial would identify with homeownership.

With so many factors to consider, looking for the best place to invest in one’s first home can be a daunting task. Especially in the metro, with its 16 sprawling cities to scour, the pressure is on for cash-strapped millennials to find the perfect area where one can get the most bang for your buck.

But the truth is, most young professionals don’t think of wide, open spaces or the traditional mega mansion when hankering for their ideal home. More important nowadays is the neighborhood and community that a home is in, and how it can tend to the things yuppies value most: adventure, fitness, working hard and playing hard.

All things considered, these four neighborhoods all make a great place for a millennial to start searching for the home of their dreams.

1 Legazpi, Makati

Legazpi Village in Makati might be the trendiest neighborhood in Metro Manila. Although it is walking distance from the city’s famed central business district, it has a distinct character all its own.

Residents from all over flock to Legazpi for its buzzing Sunday Market, and make frequent return trips all throughout the week for its dizzying selection of hole-in-the-wall restaurants and bars, like Your Local, which was named as one of the world’s best restaurants by Conde Nast Traveler.

Need a place to melt away the pounds gained from all of Legazpi’s delicious eats? Look no further than Legazpi Active Park and Washington Sycip Park, the village’s best places for an early morning run.

2 New Manila, Quezon City

New Manila is one of the more quiet, low-key residential areas in Metro Manila’s biggest city.

But don’t let the perennial state of calm and tranquility of this residential area fool you. One advantage here is that New Manila is a stone’s throw away from a bevy of schools, including St. Paul University, St. Joseph’s College, and Xavier.

Traditionally known as a luxe neighborhood for upscale families, recent developments have made it more accessible—without losing its charm.

3 Salcedo, Makati

Salcedo’s Saturday Market at Jaime Velasquez Park is what placed this village on the radar of virtually every foodie in Metro Manila: If Legazpi Park is Makati’s trendiest, then Salcedo is its indisputable king of cool.

Expect to go home from the market with artisanal, handmade eats and crafts and the freshest produce around.

But Salcedo is more than just its world-class dining scene: art lovers will no doubt appreciate its close distance to Ayala Museum, while its proximity to prestigious institutions like Assumption College, the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and Mapua Institute of Technology make this village a true match made in millennial heaven.

4 Sta. Mesa, Manila

Sta. Mesa’s biggest draw, as one of Manila’s oldest districts, might be its storied cultural heritage. But this neighborhood is also currently in the midst of a modern resurgence.

Last year, its value continued to grow in big ways, making it an investment hotspot. Sta. Mesa is likewise the perfect choice for those wanting to live in the nation’s capital and, by extension, its historic hub of celebrated universities and government seats of power.

Covent Garden is a development in Sta. Mesa that hits many, if not all, of the sweet spots that a typical millennial would identify with homeownership.

Aside from the usual fitness fixtures, like swimming pools for all ages, it boasts a tailor-made jogging trail and other facilities that champion a “balanced work-and-play lifestyle.”

In addition, Covent Garden’s claims of being at the heart of a “competitive learning environment” are bolstered by the impressive pedigree of nearby universities–those in the University Belt area, as well as a central location that puts every “Big Four” university within easy reach.

That’s not to mention the project’s strategic placement between V. Mapa and Pureza LRT 2 stations—making homes in this up and coming property an absolute steal.