Starter guide to getting your own place

MANILA, Philippines — You have a steady job and a big promotion lined up. You travel on occasion; you’re seeing someone. You’re there but not quite there yet. There’s still one big turning point in your life.

To earn your stripes as an independent adult, you’ll have to make the biggest leap yet: To move out of your parents’ house and live on your own. 

In the family-centric Philippine culture, there isn’t much pressure to leave the nest and live independently. The norm with going on your own begins once you’ve married, or unless your family is really based in the province and you move to Manila for work. Kids are encouraged to bide their time, maybe give it 5 to 10 years before you can officially become the boss of your own abode. 

Looking to be on your own 

But no matter how much time you need, getting your own place is an eventuality. Someday you’ll want to start your own family, move in with your significant other, or simply decide that it’s high time. Whatever the reason, it’s one of the biggest milestones in your life.So while you’re basking in the comforts of being a dependent, you have the luxury of time to prepare for the transition to independence. 

Use that time to save up, survey the market, and be picky with your future home. Consider pre-selling condominiums, for example. 

Pre-selling condominiums are ongoing projects that are not ready for occupancy. They’re promising investments that are sold at a lower price and offer flexible payment schemes. The beauty of it is that you get to be nitpicky with the particulars, like picking out a specific unit, floor, and view.  

The only issue you might encounter with pre-selling properties is that some things are unavoidably “subject to change.” Given that the turnover for a pre-sold property will be in the next 5 years or so, some details may be altered. But the risks of this can easily be countered if you pick a developer with high standards and a long history of consistency (READ: New Beginnings: What next for Rockwell). These changes should be nothing less than what is expected. 

Still, even purchasing pre-selling properties requires a lot of preparation and pre-meditation. Here’s a guide on how you can mentally and financially prepare yourself to take the independence plunge. — Rappler.com