Housing fair attracts Filipino buyers, investors

By Izah Morales
INQUIRER.net
10/31/08

PEOPLE these days are increasingly seeing the significance of owning or investing in a property.

In a recent housing fair hosted by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, about 8,000 people came to learn more about the housing programs offered by organizations like the Pag-Ibig Fund and also check some possible investments they can make, according to Oscar Empensando, department manager III, Acquired Assets Department of the Pag-Ibig Fund.

The housing fair opened on October 29, 2008 at the SM Megatrade Hall

In an interview, government employee Agustin Enabe said he visited the fair to check on possible investments. Meanwhile, private employees Vilma Tabagan and Fernando Torres were both seeking a house, which they can avail at cheaper prices.

“I’ve been renting for 30 years. Maybe, this is the time to avail a house from subsidized housing projects,” said Torres.

Empensando, for his part, shared some steps people can take to avail of a housing loan from Pag-Ibig Fund.

To qualify for a Pag-Ibig Fund loan, one should be a paying member with a net income not lower than P 3,000, especially for government employees.

He advised that people should check the Pag-Ibig website for the list of acquired assets, which they can also buy.

Once they’ve selected the property they wish to acquire, they can fill up a reservation form. Next, they should conduct an ocular or on-site inspection of the house they’ve selected. If they eventually decide to buy the house, they should then go to the Pag-Ibig Fund office and pay the reservation fee for the house. They will be then asked to submit the necessary documents (community tax certificate or cedula, proof of income, marriage certificate, among others).