Reality Check: Why millennials should have a go at property investment now

We millennials are often criticized for placing greater value on intangibles rather than on tangibles, for being inclined to spend resources on enriching experiences rather than on something ideal, as the older generation is wont to say.

The pandemic has forced us to rethink our spending habits. This is doubly true for us millennials, who for so long have simply ignored criticism that we lack financial savvy and a long-term outlook. We have been named the “generation of renters” for our tendency to spend our hard-earned money on adding to our life experiences.

It would be wise of us, as a lesson learned, to take this moment to look at investing our hard-earned money on an asset that will provide the best ROI, while allowing us to enjoy the experiences we crave.

While there are obvious reasons for our reluctance to go for big ventures at this time, there are convincing counter-arguments, particularly where real estate is concerned. Real estate is generally impervious to deflation, making it the soundest of investment options. As
opposed to other investment alternatives, like securities, property assets are real, tangible, and permanent, and they fulfill a basic human need, namely shelter. A young professional who invests now will harvest the fruits of his labor in the next few years because real estate properties steadily increase in value.

What if we can own a property that allows us to address the very important things
that we value as millennials while being able to live life to the fullest and satisfy our YOLO moments?

SM Development Corporation (SMDC) makes that possible.

1. At the center of my universe

Most of us may have been content to dwell amid our own curated social
media, but the reality is that we aspire to live in a place where everything that matters to us is close at hand.

As the first generation of digital natives, our affinity for technology shapes our
hunger for convenience and instant access to almost everything we want. This includes online shopping, online food delivery and online transportation services. We want to do so many things simultaneously and get the most out of it every hour and every day. Hence, our need to be close to where the action is and where we can do so many things at the same time.

A 2015 Urban Land Institute report validates this. The report says that about
60 percent of millennials would like to reside where there is no need for a car.

SMDC makes everything accessible. What can be better than having a home
where one does not have to go far for food and where several dining options are
within the vicinity? What is so bad about being able to enjoy well-appointed amenities with friends, whether unwinding through retail therapy in the nearby commercial strips or dipping in the property’s swimming pool and relaxing in its lush gardens?

Every SMDC mixed-use development comes with a built-in commercial
establishment or an SM Mall beside it. For us millennials, this means that a trip to Cyberzone to purchase gadgets for work-at-home sessions or SM Hypermarket to buy food for an all-nighter Netflix binge is a few steps away.

Given how we are primed to dominate the workforce in the near future —The
Philippine Statistics Authority states that millennials and the next generation will
comprise about 70 percent of the country’s workforce in the next ten years — the ideal home for us is one which gives us easy access to our place of work and is near a transport hub that makes it possible for us to easily hop on a bus or a train to transport us to wherever we want to go.

2. My world, my home

Everything about an SMDC residence is intended to make residents feel special and bring the hotel experience to condominium living.

It starts at the door where residents and their guests are welcomed by a
bellboy and hospitable receptionist and goes on to impeccably designed lobbies
and luxurious lounge areas. It continues through the concierge service and to the
well-appointed amenities and WiFi-equipped open-air lobbies and common areas.

For days when we are away at work or out on a weekend getaway, we can
rest assured that our home is being taken care of by professional property managers and their service staff. It’s like living in a hotel.

For those days when we just want to laze or those times when circumstances
prevent us from going out or traveling, there are the swimming pools, gyms,
basketball or badminton courts to cater to the social and active animal spirit in us.
There are also the pocket gardens, lush open spaces for times when we want to
simply meditate or engage our creative minds. Or we can just walk over and sit in
one of the lobby’s lounges to catch up on social media and on our friends.

At SMDC, we have our own window to the world.

3. Making my imprint in society

A 10-year Case Foundation report has described millennials as “everyday
changemakers.” According to the report, millennials have the penchant for doing
social good with small acts performed on a daily basis. The report said that
millennials go for the greater good.

The same can be said for SMDC’s The Good Guys program, which includes
social projects that help nurture communities to promote happy, healthy, secure, and neighborhoods in SMDC developments.

The activities range from emergency preparedness training, wellness
workshops and webinars, health and wellness caravans, and weekend markets aimed at helping community members, especially the socially disadvantaged and
economically displaced. Every community event is an opportunity for us millennials to make a difference – perhaps as a blood donor during the Red Cross and Department of Health bloodletting activity or as a volunteer in any of the community events.

Being an SMDC homeowner does not just give us the world; it makes us
members of a community of Good Guys making a meaningful change one day at a
time.