Car vs. house: What would you rather have?
MANILA, Philippines – When deciding between apples and oranges, Ronaldo and Messi, The Beatles and the Beach Boys, it's hard to look for the clincher when you're caught between two good and seemingly equal things.
If you're a hardworking young professional or a millennial who's no stranger to indecision, there will come a time when you will reap the fruits of your hard work and decide where to put your money. Deciding between a pair of shoes and a pair of jeans is a little easy when you can buy both, but what if it's as big as choosing between a car and your own house?
It's no easy decision when you don't want to put your hard-earned money to waste, but let's do away with the analysis paralysis and find out which one is worth investing more than the other.
Your dream car
Advantages
1. Given the horrendous state of public transport in the Philippines, having your own car gives you the advantage of moving from one place to another when you need to, minus the hassle of lining up and getting stressed out in traffic.
2. Having your own car eliminates logistical problems whenever traveling in groups. There's no more need to meet up in a different place and commute together to your destination when you can just pick up friends or family and go straight to where you're heading.
3. A car is a mobile status symbol, a statement that you're serious about your money and you've made it far enough to invest in big things. Also, it's probably a lot easier trying to look "cool" when you have your own car, right... ?
Disadvantages
1. Along with a new car comes a long list of things you need to spend for. Aside from the hefty car insurance, there are also the occasional trips to the casa for maintenance and repairs. It's enticing to pimp your ride with accessories, but they also come at a price.
2. Unless you have your own driver and the patience to get stuck in traffic, maneuvering on your own on the busy streets could be a taxing ordeal.
3. The price of a car depreciates over time, and as the vehicle grows old it becomes riddled with defects. If you're planning to sell your car for another one, it will take an insane buyer to get it from you at a higher price.
Your dream house
Advantages
1. Nothing says "I've made it" more definitively than the idea of having your own house. In the Philippines where about half of the people do not own property, having a place to call your own is no small feat.
2. Unless a major disaster strikes, your house will probably stay with you for good. Not just that, you can hand it over to your kids and their future children, turning the place into tangible family heritage.
3. Unlike cars, the price of a house appreciates over time. A property you bought today can be valued over three times more over the years, so selling it means cashing in on something way, way bigger than what you bought before. For example, a unit at Deca Homes Villa Leyson in Cebu cost P180,000 in 1998. Seventeen years later, it now has a fair value of P750,000, a 317-percent jump.
Disadvantages
What can go wrong when you decide to buy a house? We can't seem to think of anything big enough to weigh more than the potential benefits. However, it's important to choose a trustworthy developer that will give you the bang for your buck, and even make you richer in the future.
Deca homes by 8990 Housing Development Corp. has made quite a name among overseas Filipino workers and young professionals in Visayas and Mindanao, and now that it has made its way to Luzon, the trusted developer is giving hardworking Filipinos an opportunity to spend their money in a tangible investment that gives rewards in the future.
Consider your future when making a purchase today. Consider Deca.
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