MANILA, Philippines?The air up there is certainly better. So goes the thinking of a growing number of property buyers who are literally rushing up the hills to escape the congestion and pollution of the low-lying cities.
Filinvest Premier?s mountain suburb township is certainly enjoying this trend, especially now that balikbayans make up 40 percent of its buyers.
Albert Morales, project group head for Timberland Heights, told Inquirer Property that majority of the 40 percent are US-based professionals.
?Balikbayan attraction?
?Every year there?s an exodus of balikbayans or buyers who have relatives abroad. The project has become a balikbayan attraction,? he said.
Timberland Heights is a 677-hectare sprawling township that includes farm estates, residential spaces, leisure and recreation landmarks, commercial hubs, churches and an international school.
The rush to buy a piece of the highland is driven primarily by the desire for a healthy lifestyle, he said. Timberland Heights has an elevation of 250 to 400 meters above sea level?or up to 1,200 feet.
?Based on talks and interviews with overseas-based buyers, they would want to plant and grow crops. Most of these Pinoys abroad grew up in a farm, became professionals with the goal of eventually going back home,? Morales noted.
Local buyers
He added that since Filinvest Premier?s mountain township is about 15 minutes away from Quezon City, the rush to a higher level also comes from upscale residents in Quezon City, Marikina and Valenzuela. These residents cite volatile fuel prices as a factor for choosing a nearby high-elevation property.
Morales also observed ?young families??couples in their 30s or mid-40s with a child or two?looking for properties such as that of Filinvest Premier to get away from a congested Metro Manila.
Currently, five subdivisions comprise the development.
The Banyan Ridge ranges from 200 to 400 sq m. The lots are priced from P2 million to P4 million.
Residential farm estate
The Mandala One Residential Farm Estate, 40 hectares in size, ranges from 750 to 1,200 sq m.
Morales said the 40-hectare farm estate comprises of only one hectare for 8 to 10 households. He estimated that this could translate to a density of just 60 persons per hectare.
?In a typical lowland Quezon City subdivision alone, there?s about 300 people per hectare,? he said.
The residents of this agro-forest farm estate will have 20 percent of the lots used for home structures, and the remaining 80 percent dedicated to farming purposes for organic vegetables, aquaculture and the like.
The Mandala Two Residential Farm Estate has 20 hectares.
Prices range from P4 million to P11 million.
The farm estates are designed to promote organic crops and the use of vermicomposted fertilizers.
Family life amid nature
The Ranch, which has six hectares, ranges from 200 sq m to 400 sq m.
The Banyan Crest, which has 15 hectares, has 300 lots.
An enjoyable family life revolving around nature is what the future residents of Banyan Ridge and The Ranch will savor.
The panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountains serve as the backdrop of any family celebration at The Ranch, while the picturesque vista of Laguna de Bay and the Sierra Madre Mountains would be the perfect setting for all family milestones at Banyan Ridge.
The Timberland?s Clubhouse, which became operational last month, is one of Filinvest?s major investments and reportedly cost P800 million to construct. It has a total area of 9 hectares, with five multilevel floors. The entire floor area is one hectare.
The Timberland Sports and Nature Club is framed by lush greenery and sloping terrains; food connoisseurs, nature lovers, laid-back sophisticates and sports-minded individuals can become members.
