Building homes and a career at 22

MANILA, Philippines - He’s president of his own real estate development firm, the man behind teams of architects, engineers, contractors, and construction workers, and the creative mind behind modern living spaces on the rise.

How on earth did Gabriel Perez find himself in this enviable position at age 22?

“It was a whirlwind of events,” says Gab Perez in the conference room of his company Green Asia, an office whose interiors espouse the “quality is the highest form of luxury” aesthetic — clean, stark, crisp and linear details that have an uplifting effect on employees and guests. “But once I got the full grasp of the industry, I realized it was best to strike immediately as the real estate market is currently up.”

Indeed, while classmates at the Ateneo de Manila University were looking forward to a much-deserved break after graduation, Gab, who holds a degree in Management Economics, was busy processing the SEC papers for Green Asia. Thanks to an investment from his family, the would-be developer then set off to tackle his first projects: a couple of houses designed for starting families in Filinvest, QC; and the Angelica Manor, an eight-floor, low-density condominium located on Ortigas Avenue.

Close to completion, the building, which was named after his mom, has already attracted a number of prospective homeowners to invest in its units — from a tidy 21-sq.m. studio for students to a more spacious two-bedroom unit — with terms too friendly to refuse. Imagine zero down payment, zero percent interest, and ready for move-in.

Though he makes it sound so easy, the venture has not been without its challenges. As a hands-on head of his startup company, Gab is always out in the field, sourcing materials in places like Binondo or visiting hot and dusty construction sites. He also had to face realities like dealing with the tedious bureaucracy that comes with the industry.

And then, of course, there is his relative youth and inexperience. Is this 22-year-old, who, prior to heading Green Asia, interned at Discovery Suites and Sta. Lucia Realty’s marketing arm, Orchard Property Marketing Company, taken seriously by far more seasoned developers?

 “I think I am!” says Gab, who now embraces the idea of being the industry’s youngest real estate developer. “I don’t pretend to know everything so I’m not shy to ask people for advice.”

At the beginning he would write down every unfamiliar construction term to later ask experts. He says with a chuckle, “This is a hands-on school now. And I love it.”

Gab shares tips on building a successful business:

• Love what you do. Even generous capital invested in a sure-fire venture won’t guarantee a thriving business if you’re not passionate about your work. For Gab, who always liked “luxurious surroundings,” the idea of “picking out materials” as well as the instant gratification of “seeing my construction ideas materialize the next day” are what attracted him to real estate development.

• Take risks. Entrepreneurs, says Gab, rely more on instinct. Age may have something to do with his derring-do attitude; this is the time to try new things and learn from your mistakes. “There’s a new brand of youth,” he says. “We are driven, focused and hardworking.”

• Surround yourself with good mentors. Gab’s family gave him more than the financial backing for this real estate development venture. From his engineer dad, he learned “to always give clients more than their money’s worth.” Meanwhile, his mom (a physician with a keen eye for design) advises him constantly on construction tricks of the trade. As supportive as they are, the Perezes also know when to hold back. When it comes to his business, Gab is left entirely to make decisions on his own.

• Master your market. Acknowledging the emerging “green market,” Gab included “A Life in Green” to give homeowners tips on how to save energy and help Mother Nature in the company website www.greenasia.com.ph. Apart from going environmental, Green Asia’s living spaces are specially designed for young professionals and starting families who want the same things: “to move up in life, to stop renting and actually have a home to call their own.”

 “I want Green Asia to be regarded as a company that helps Filipinos achieve that intangible feeling of ‘making good’ in life; a group that helps in concretizing that one dream to prove that all the hard work and sacrifices are worth it. I don’t want to just sell a product, I want to purvey an entire lifestyle and to merge affordability with luxury,” enthuses Gab.