Affordable Homes at Imperial Homes

9/22/2008

We have a surfeit of real estate projects in the urban centers, mostly handled by big players in the development game. In the suburbs, some smaller developers are likewise staking their share. However, in the rural areas and remoter regions, there are very few reliable ones to trust. Some are less interested in completing the infrastructure than selling off the parcels of land. Others just don’t know how to go about it. This, of course, is to the detriment of their target market, the lower-income investors, who have scrimped and saved to buy a dream home, only to be short-changed and disappointed. There must be an alternative to that sad plight—and, thankfully, there is!

Imperial Homes Corporation, a real estate development venture that has focused on building affordable homes and communities within the Calabarzon areas and its outskirts, is celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year.  Imperial Homes (IHC) is a family owned corporation, headed by the indefatigable Mrs. Emma Imperial. Under the IHC wing is the Premier Fiesta Land (PFL), headed by Mr. Fernand Imperial, which is directly involved in the building of quality low-cost homes. The company has carved a niche for itself by building substantial homes in the provinces, particularly in the Calabarzon area, at prices that ordinary working people can handle. Although profit margins are less, this is where they continue to make a difference.

Years ago, Emma realized that a lot of our overseas contract workers come from the areas south of Manila. It was only logical to assume that they would want to invest in properties closer to their hometown, their own regions and communities. So, IHC decided to give them the option of owning a better home for their family, near the community they were comfortable in, at prices within their reach. Instead of competing with the bigger guns in the big cities, IHC addressed the need of the provincial folk heretofore wary of investing their hard-earned money. To them, the company has committed to delivering value-for-money projects and at the same time, upgrading the surrounding community. Today, IHC has ongoing developments like Casa California in Las Pinas and Tagaytay Meridien in Cavite, to name a few.

In this milestone year, IHC wants to create a bigger social impact through the eventual addition of more environment-friendly features in their projects. These include techniques wherein rainwater is naturally reused, more eco-friendly materials are employed, and proper design minimizes the use of energy. The company believes that it does not matter what station in life you are in, because everyone must do his part to preserve and support nature.

One friendly big developer is quoted as saying, "I can erect high rise buildings, but I cannot do what Emma is doing in her affordable homes." The higher overhead costs of publicly-listed companies create restrictions when undertaking projects that are geared toward the remotest provinces. Their directors and shareholders may not see those ventures as profitable enough. IHC, on the other hand, being still wholly family owned, can and does accept those terms. However, Mrs. Imperial is mulling over a business formula that would ensure that if her company does goes public, the product she offers will still be relevant to the farthest or remotest areas of our country, providing options for low budget or middle income homeowners, as well as local or international tourists, while also satisfying the concerns of her shareholders. She says, “I think that when you have the good of others in mind, you will always succeed.” Wise words to live by indeed.